Steve Buso

What is his story, beyond fantastic designs?

Steve is a past PAMPA Pres., and a NATS competitor. I know he suffered some serious health problems but I understand he is doing fine now. I do not know the nature of problems that drove him out of PAMPA, but I am very happy to hear he is recovering/recovered.
A really great guy, period.
Bill <><

>Steve is a past PAMPA Pres., and a NATS competitor. I know
>he suffered some serious health problems but I understand he
>is doing fine now. I do not know the nature of problems
>that drove him out of PAMPA, but I am very happy to hear he
>is recovering/recovered.
>A really great guy, period.
>Bill <><
>
>When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his
>friends.
>Japanese Proverb

Friends,
Steve is a former stunt flyer who resided in upstate New York and teamed up with Scott Smith to design and manufacture som e of the best stuff stunt offered during that time frame...Scott cut wings and kitted several models including Bob Hunts "Prowler" profile 35 sized ship...Steve was an immaculate builder, with the infamous "Zap Machine" winning the concours in the 1990's..Steve flew competitively from the late 1980's up through 1990's...He was a great host for the famous "Cocksackie" upstate New York contest, which was always attended by Urtnowski and all of the NEST guys from Mass...
He flew a model called the "Tidal Wave" and then designed the now famous model "Kestral"--His plans are excellent, he is just one of those stunt guys with talents in many areas..Steve flew and acheived success flying the advanced circut in the New Jersey and New York, meets, which by the way were highly competitive back then..He then went to enter open and acheived some success flying some very pretty and competitive airplanes..I guess he is best remembered for his designs and building capacity, and paint schemes..His use of "neon" colors back in the 90's caused some eyes to open..The famous "no neon" phase entered the picture..I do believe his Zap Machine received 20 points, but I could be wrong...Steve is a very friendly supportive person, who I hope is recovering and maybe I will see him again..If you read this Steve, thanks for your friendship. Love David..

Steve won a Pilot's Choice at the Nats, I believe, as well as "Rookie of the Year"....for an 8th place finish in his first Open attempt.
I believe that his plans should be an example for all that attempt to draw them...Steve's attention to detail is terrific!
And, he looks good in cheap clothes.

See Ya

>Steve won a Pilot's Choice at the Nats, I believe, as well
>as "Rookie of the Year"....for an 8th place finish in his
>first Open attempt.

I don't think it was 8th, but I could be wrong. It was the '93 NATs, if anyone wants to go back and look it up. I know it well, since he beat me out for ROY on appearance points! I was 18th that year. I would guess he was maybe around 15th. That's nothing to sneeze at - any time you make the Top 20 at the NATs, its a pretty good year.

That was quite a memorable NATs for several of us.

Steve is a great guy. What he had to put up with as PAMPA president, I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I can easily understand why someone might want out.

You guys have been great with your replies to my original inquiry. That is more info than I thought I would ever get back. My reason for asking the question in the first place has to do with my appreciation of his designs because of their artistic "form". Top that off with spectacular finishing graphics and I really admire his "art". Being a musician myself, I was just drawn to ask the question. Boy, this is one of the great things about building stunt planes.......CREATIVITY!

steve drew the cardinal plans, i know the '92 ones for sure and man honestly the are art work, i mean he just put so much into them u know, i think he did the '89 cardinal as well but i may be wrong.

Didn't he design the PAMPA logo too?

Yes, he did (design the PAMPA logo).

Isn't the Vegas his design as well? And the Cascades (550 and 700).

A very talented and fine man, an artist - I certainly wish him the best.

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"A celebrity is one who is known to many persons he is glad he doesn't know." -H.L. Mencken

What models did Scott Smith kit other than Bob Hunt's Prowler? Is there a list?

BIGS

" What constitutes the dignity of a craft is that it creates a fellowship, that it binds men together and fashions for them a common language. For there is but one problem - the problem of human relations."

Steve was vice-President of PAMPA while I was President back around 1990-94, something like that. He was a marvelous asset. As many have noted he is an artist of the first order in anything he does. If you're familiar with the PAMPA P.R. handout he was the guy that designed and had it produced. I took credit for the idea but he did all the design, development and production. In addition, he was the guy that did the hard work to develop the PAMPA Hall of Fame now, and for many years, managed by Stunt's Ultimate Historian, Wynn Paul.

He also drew the beautiful plans for the Trivial Pursuit (the first construction article to be published in Stunt News) from my very basic working drawings. His were and are, typically, works of art.

After my four years as PAMPA President Steve was elected to the office and, along with Mike (Mr. VSC) Keville as vice President it looked like we had a real "get things done" collaboration going for us. Unfortunately, issues of a personal nature with a handful of people caused Steve to throw up his hands in frustration and he left not only PAMPA but stunt for a number of years.

I've heard (and am hopeful) that he has resolved his health issues and is participating again at some level in stunt. That would be very, very good news. He's a special guy.

I met Steve in Vinnces 1993. A wonderful man a natural leader. I sent my 10 year old boy over to get some information from Steve..... Ray is now 22 he remembers Steve as a nice person. I won't speculate on his reasons for leaving PAMPA however when Steve left a void was created. We lost a tremdeous asset.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-30-04 AT 08:56 AM (CST)
 
The first time I met Steve was at the '93 NATS.
We were in the parking lot and he was doing something with the Zap Machine. Best looking finish on a stunter I had ever seen. We were talking about "paper towels", and surmised on a TV commercial for the brand we had as being the "Choice for Stunt Fliers"! Just a funny exchange of crazy ideas, but he was, for sure, a great guy to talk with for basically being "total strangers".

That was the first NATS I attended, I had Aaron (17 at the time) with me, and the friendliness of everyone I met was amazing.

Leonard and Matt the "Stuka Stunt Team" dressed in black.
Ron Burn with his Macchi molded tuned pipe "monster".
Jimmy Paul.
Noel Drindak.
Bill Calkins.
Ted Fancher.
Bill Rich.
Bob Whitely and his Dago Red (and pristine "Swith and Wesson" protected '57 Chevy! )
Windy and the purple/yellow Cardinal.
Paul and his Impact.
"Bear" outside his motel room late at night.
Bob and Robby Hunt.
Billy "mixing" fuel at the truck.

I could go on, but I can't mention everyone. The whole point, to me, is that everyone I met there was about as friendly as anyone could ever expect! The group of CLPA pilots are really a bunch of great guys.
I do not believe that this has changed. That's what bothers me when some of the "stink" emerges here about the "top guys" or anyone else.

Bill <><

LAST EDITED ON Nov-30-04 AT 01:52 PM (CST)
 
>Yes, he did (design the PAMPA logo).
>
>Isn't the Vegas his design as well? And the Cascades (550
>and 700).
>
>A very talented and fine man, an artist - I certainly wish
>him the best.
>
>[photo not recovered: 3e69bb3870f12ad5.jpg]
>
>"A celebrity is one who is known to many persons he is glad
>he doesn't know." -H.L. Mencken

Larry, Yes Steve did design the Cascade and Vegas stunt ships--He also used and was successful sporting the old OS-FSR-46 motor. The same one that I believe P. Walker and B. Baron used on some 80's airplanes..The Avanti(Baron) and Bad News(Walker)I could be wrong so dont' qoute me...Steve would fly this obnoxious sounding motor that he had set up for stunt..Many heads would turn would he flew the plane because of the "bratty" noise it made..I think what is important is that he got the engine to work at a time when a 4-2 break was the theme; and that particular motor could not spell 4-2 break...Steve should be noted for his casual style, demeanor, and physical presence. He had the longish blond hair, tall lanky skinny frame, his appearance was somewhat different from the "stunt" "norm" back then...Get well Steve..Love David

Steve Buso has been a good friend of mine for many years. He had a bout with cancer in 2003. His treatment was successful and he is currently cancer-free. Steve lives in Red Hook, New York. Steve has attended some recent area contests, but he is not currently competing. However, he is building a just-for-fun Fox 35 design which he calls the Bobcat.

Steve is one of the most prolific designers of controlline stunt planes ever. All of his designs are good-looking, and I don't know of any that don't also fly well (with the possible exception of the Viper Bipe). I believe that Steve has the best eye for appearance of anyone. His Concours-winning Zap Machine (a Super Kestrel) was perhaps the most the most visually striking model ever. (My third Super Kestrel is on the cover of the Nov/Dec 2004 Stunt News).

Here's a list of Steve's designs in semi-chronological order:

Cascade 545
Cascade 700
Kestrel
Jaguar
Super Kestrel
Lite Wave
Tidal Wave
Heat Wave
Sound Wave
Little Legends of Stunt
Vegas
Psyclone
Viper Bipe
Knockout 40
Knockout 60
Hercules
Bobcat

Plans for a number of these designs are available from Randy Smith at Aero Products. All of Steve's plans are works of art.

Yours in Stunt,