Frank Scott reports that Free Flight Legend, Bill Warner, went into hospice last week and passed away last evening (12 March 2020). Frank also says “Jeanie wants us to keep encouraging kids!“
Personally, I give Bill a large amount of credit for helping me (indirectly) get into and learn Free Flight. I was picking up Model Builder magazines about the same time he was writing his “Hey Kid…” articles. They helped me tremendously. I didn’t know him personally, but we had a very brief email correspondence a few years ago and I found him to be a very kind and generous person – you could just tell in how he was writing and what he said.
He was a member of the NFFS and FAC Halls of Fame. You can read his AMA biography here: https://www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/files/WarnerBill.pdf
Henry Toews
Thanks for having this available. Its an honour just to read about the man. There have been many instances where more experienced modellers than I have mentioned his many and diverse contributions. Does a source exist where one might find his ” Hey kid, Ya wanna build an airplane?” series.
Thanks again : Henry Toews
David Aronstein
The entire run of Model Builder magazine is available on disc from :
Roland Friestad
DIGITEK BOOKS
1640 N Kellogg Street
Galesburg, Illinois 61401
USA
e-mail – cardinal.eng@grics.net
FACwebAdmin
That’s right, Dave! I have this and I reference it often!
Jeff Renz
Wow…a legend…his article on the Moth in model builder….got me out of arc and into freeflight!
Bill Inglot
I’m not in the hobby anymore but I can absolutely say Bill Warner was one of the most influential teachers I ever had. And that was just from being part of his after-school and weekend Balsa Butchers meetings and indoor flying meets. Always encouraging knowledge and discovery and never treating you like a kid. Most of all he helped me learn how to pay attention. Sad to hear he has passed but his time spent here sure made a difference.