Mar 2015 - United Flying Octogenarians
Transcription
Mar 2015 - United Flying Octogenarians
United Flying Octogenarians The Slip Stream V o l u m e Special Poi nt s of Interest: Volunteer To Be A Board Member Inside This Issue Message From the President and VP of PR 1 2 Announcements, Info & Upcoming Meetings UFO Get Togethers 2-4 New UFO Members 5 The High Flyers 611 Area Reps 12 M a rch 3 1 2 0 1 5 From The Flight Deck The Left Seat Communication - From the Latin 'Communicare', meaning “to share”. That is what we try to do with this quarterly Slipstream, our monthly UFO E-mail notice, “The Leading Edge”, and continuously through our website at www.ufopilots.org. Not to mention a continuous stream of e-mail traffic between and among our members. I make this point in recognition of the dramatic change in how we communicate today compared to a dozen or so years ago when our membership was much smaller. At that time, this Slipstream, for example, was primarily printed and mailed to our members. Today, most of our members receive it via e-mail and our website. We can still make it available in printed form, or it can be printed by downloading it from the website and printed from your home computer. But most of us see it on a computer screen and enjoy scrolling through the pages to learn about our members, their backgrounds and their airplanes.. In whatever form we present it, our goal is to continuously communicate with you and help you connect with other members of the UFO community. And in this regard, it has been suggested that we offer additional means of communication, such as Facebook, Twitter, and a host of other online communication programs. We have all seen younger members of our families actively communicating via iPhones, iPads or equivalent devices, and while I do not believe that the majority of our members are ready, willing or able to exchange information in that manner, I do believe we should keep an open mind to incorporate new technologies into our communication platform. We would like to hear from you and would welcome all comments and or criticisms on this subject. I can be reached at wgwood99@comcast.net. Warren Wood • President Email: wgwood99@comcast.net The Jump Seat WHY? It was in the late eighties when I first learned of the United Flying Octogenarians and although I was about sixty at the time, I thought, hey, that’s an organization I’d like to join if I am still around and flying at the time. Unlike other goals in my life, this one didn't depend entirely upon me. Not like learning to play the guitar or speak French, which I never did. So, what was it that motivated me to join? The allure, the camaraderie, the meetings, fly-ins, the aircraft? Of course, it was all of these things but the essence, the élan vital, was to belong to a group so unique in nature that no amount of money or political influence could gain you admittance. Just two, but difficult to meet, requirements. Call me elitist if you will, but in my case, I believe that the most important factor that motivated me to join was pride. And proud I am to belong to such an elite group of outstanding men and women we call the UFOs. Charlie Lopez, Vice President of Public Relations, Flycam2@comcast.net Page 2 UFO ANNOUNCEMENTS and INFORMATION UFO List of Up and Coming UFO Meetings Central Coast California April 8—11-2 San Luis Obispo, CA Spirit of San Luis Airport Restaurant Grimes Field Drive and Fly-in April 16—11-4 Airport Café Urbana, OH (I74) TEXAS Roundup VII April 29—12-2 “Mixed Up Burger Restaurant”, Grand Prairie TX Airport (GPM) Clearwater Airpark Fly-In, Florida May 6—11-2 Clearwater FL Airport (CLW) Annual North East Regional Fly-In May 13—11-3 Chucks Steak House Danbury, CT Indiana Spring Meeting May21—11-3 Columbus, IN Municipal Airport (BAK) Social UFO Gaggle VIII May 30st—11:30 EAA Hangar Brown Field, San Diego, CA (SDM) Love’s Landing Airpark Fly-In June 6—11:00 Love Field, Weirsdale, FL (97FL) Cameron Park California Get-Together June 24—11-3 Wray Fleming's Hangar (O61) Crystal River Florida Fly-in Aug 1—10-2 Crystal River Airport (CGC) Check the ufopilots.org web page for more details. Volunteer To Be A UFO Board Member If you are currently a UFO member and have an interest and some time to serve on the UFO Board Of Directors, we would like to hear from you! Of importance is the ability to work collaboratively with others and computer skills with email service is required. The vast majority of our business is conducted by email and teleconference. Contact Nancy Warren with the interest and/or questions: nancyw99@comcast.net SFO Regional Meeting Jan 23, 2015 San Carlos, CA (SQL) Another great turn out with 47 attending including 8 new members who shared their flying backgrounds. After lunch the speaker, John Lannom, gave a very interesting talk of his experience with a little known airline, Trans Ocean Airlines. Although it was a commercial carrier in business during the 60’s—80’s, the airline's secondary purpose was to transport defectors from the former Soviet Union to the U.S. for re-settlement. John worked for the CIA in support of this activity. Thanks John Lannom for a very interesting talk. United Flying Octogenarians Page 3 UFO 3 Months of Get-Togethers and Meetings Reports On UFO Members That Had Local Meetings!! Dec 31, 2014 Roundup VI Grand Prairie TX (GPM) With scarcely more than a week's notice, ROUNDUP VI was held at the "Mixed Up Burgers" restaurant at the airport at Grand Prairie Texas Municipal. There were 7 members and 1 guest in attendance--on New Year's Eve, no less! There was no program, no speaker, no politicking--just good food and lots of good hangar flying. Pictured here are (left to right) Byron Miller, Jim Cavender, John Jenista, John Kummer, Bob Hughes, Wayne Williamson, Gil Holt and visitor Roger Parsons. The staff and management of both the airport and the restaurant were so gracious and accommodating that we have decided to make KGPM our regular meeting venue. Next up--ROUNDUP VII on April 29. Same place, same time.. Jan 23, 2015 7th Floridia Annual Luncheon Lakeland, FL(LAL) Attended by 71 members and guests of which 19 arrived by plane. International member Charles Strasser from the Isle of Jersey, was instrumental in arranging the appearance and participation of Guest Speaker, Phil Boyer, former AOPA President, who spoke to us on his predictions for the future of General Aviation in the U.S. Unfortunately, rapidly approaching strong winds and heavy rain prompted cutting short the last part of the meeting wherein new members give a short presentation about their aviation backgrounds. The Meeting was presided by Charlie Lopez, Regional Manager for Florida. January 23, 2015 Las Vegas, NV (VGT) Marv Rogge sent us this picture of their meeting in North Las Vegas. Twelve gathered for lots of laughs, jokes and lunch. They are always looking for new members and noted that Rod Kodimer is becoming of age and will join soon. United Flying Octogenarians Page 4 UFO 3 Months of Get-Togethers and Meetings Reports On UFO Members That Had Local Meetings!! January 31, 2015 Gaggle at San Diego, CA (SDM) According to Wikipedia, a Gaggle is a group of geese, NOT in flight. Or in military slang "an unorganized group doing nothing”. In aviation, it is a large, loosely organized tactical formation of aircraft. Sounds like they have picked the right name for "SOCAL UFO Gaggle", doesn't it? This was the first gaggle of the year held at the EAA Chapter 14, Brown Field, San Diego, with a sparse crowd of about a dozen attendees. Bill Browning in his beautiful Diamond TwinStar brought Jack King and Marty Engle, and Art and Joy Goodwin flew in in their equally beautiful Cessna 182. A gourmet lunch was provided for $3 which included Tri-Tip steak and Teriyaki Chicken with all the sides. Jack King and John Jenista added more interesting foreign and domestic flying tales to the program. Thanks Bob Johnson for putting on another great meeting. March 9, 2015 St. George, UT (SGU) The March 9 Fly-in was a great day. Everyone certainly enjoyed the few hours with folks who are quickly becoming "old friends." The local TV station (KCGS) featured the meeting and a link on the UFO web site can be found under the “Members In The News”. Russ Roberts is the Area Representative and was interviewed for this special day. Russ remembers learning to fly in 1946 after joining the Navy. He learned to fly in a single engine Stearman Bi-Plane at the age of 18. Russ spent 25 years in the Navy. Those that attended visited the local Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum then had lunch at the Riverwalk Grill at Sun River. They discussed a plan to hold the next meeting in Logan, UT in late June. March 26, 2015 Grass Valley, CA (GOO) Twenty-four UFOs met at Grass Valley airport then had lunch at Tofanelli’s restaurant. Many flew in and Kael Newton from the local newspaper “The Union” covered the story and posted a video and several pictures on line. To see it all, visit our UFO website (ufopilots.org) under “Members In The News” or go to theunion.com/15638619-113. Harold Wolfe was interPhoto Supplied by John Hart “The Union” viewed and talked about the organization., Also Warren Wood, our president, attended and was quoted as saying, “To be able to fly an airplane over age 80 is a pretty incredible thing”. Perry Thomas (just turning 99) was also highlighted with his 36 years of experience flying for United Airlines. United Flying Octogenarians Page 5 Look At All The New UFO Members!! St. Phone Name St. Phone Bodo Diehn AZ (480)941-4311 Harry Harden IN Bill McCreary Dale Williams Jack Williams Robert Bissiri Martin Bol James Chapman Harold Clark Don Draper William Hesse Gene Myers Jacques Naviaux Ray O'Neal Rufus Rhoades Donn Sheeders Steve Spragens Ralph Goulds John Simmermon Joe Haycraft Ed Katzen AZ AZ AZ CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CO DE FL FL (602)821-5911 (928)202-0776 (509)781-4214 (707)537-7173 (916)966-2249 (530)222-2350 (714)325-8275 (707)894-6258 (805)983-8784 (619)972-5848 (949)632-9465 (831)659-3308 (626)795-5111 (916)722-3666 (831)457-1437 (970)946-3659 (302)738-9492 (270)485-2559 (917)807-5947 John Attebury M. George MD (410)326-1914 MA (978)278-5111 Eugene Engledow MO (417)761-1927 Skip Rawson III Ralph Fox NJ NM (508)325-2926 Donald Green Steven Smith OH (937)426-0241 OK (918)299-4715 Bob Bement Justin Strauss OR (503)347-2949 RI (401)316-6910 Newt Courtney Ollie Crawford TX TX (936)635-6888 (210)497-4849 Clyde Ehlers TX (817)361-0408 Gary Ellis VA (804)435-2947 Joseph Steele VA (434)361-1597 David Graebner Michael Katz WA (509)863-9605 WA (509)899-4348 F. McGinnis William Stoneman WA (206)842-7110 WA (425)255-7972 Mervin Wingard WA (360)477-4474 William Elliott HI (808)668-4190 Name INTERNATIONAL Ruth Moore Canada (812)338-3845 (807)223-6178 We have 6 Members that are over 100 George Levis (105) Doris Lockness (105) Gordon Ebbert (101) Eugene Engledow (101) Helen Kuhn (101) Ike Leighty (100) Baltimore, MD Folsom, CA Moses Lake, WA Bolivar, MO Orlando, FL Waterloo, IA We now have 1447 members. Since December 29, 2014 we added 42 new members. United Flying Octogenarians Page 6 THE HIGH FLYERS Eugene Engledow, (101) Bolivar, MO Well UFO readers—Mr. Engledow is one for the record book. At 101 years of age, Eugene is still flying and has had quite a flying career. He first took lessons in a 38hp Aeronca C-3 and soloed in a Piper J-2 Cub back in the mid 1930s. He became an A&P in the 1940s and was a civil-service mechanic working on military aircraft in California during WWII. He operated the Kern County Airport in Taft, California and then moved back to Missouri to work for General Motors building Republic F-84 jet fighters. He then worked on Boeing B-47s at Whiteman Air Force Base and then at Boeing’s Rocketdyne subsidiary working on rocket engines for the space program. He became the airport operator of Neosho in Missouri and retired in 1975. Gene holds the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award as well as the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award and the Bolivar Airport is named the “Gene Engledow Field” where he has a parking spot reserved for “100Year Old Pilots” Quite a story Gene. Welcome to the UFO Organization. Thomas Guy Reynolds, Jr. (102) Montgomery Village, MD It is with much sadness that we report the passing of one of the oldest members of the UFO organization. Thomas Reynolds passed away in January after a great life and an amazing flying career. He started flying at age 17 and was called a ’gentleman pilot’. He never lost his skills and flew every year on his birthday. He founded the Martinsburg Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol in the 1940s and in 2014 received the Congressional Gold Medal for CAP volunteers. Guy also received numerous civic and educational awards during his life. He was a great family man and an inspirational pilot all of his life. Jim Chapman, (80) Carmel Valley, CA Jim decided he wanted to be in the UFO Organization, so 3 months after turning 80, he flew as PIC in a Cessna 195 so he could qualify. His instructor said he did a great job!!! Jim owned a North American Navion for years and flew a Cessna 180 for his work. He has logged about 1700 hours. Welcome to the UFO Jim. United Flying Octogenarians Page 7 THE HIGH FLYERS Ronald Vanbeek, (80) Sequin, TX Ron is pictured here with his N99V airplane. He has been flying since 1966 and has owned or co-owned and built or partnered in building a Cub, a StardusterTwo, A Mooney and this RV. Ron worked all over the US in Air Force missile programs. Gabe Sunshine, (80) Glen Cove, NY Gabe Sunshine entered the Air Force in 1956 and retired in 1986. Some of the planes he flew in the military included the T-34, T-28, T-33, F-86, C229, and C-141. He retired as a Colonel, and was awarded multiple awards and decorations while in the Air Force. Gabe also earned the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2010. He has more than 5000 Command Pilot hours and more than 1000 civilian flying hours and holds certificates for single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument. Gabe has had a stellar military career and personal flying career. Welcome to the UFO. Ronald Judy (80) Gate, OK Ron soloed in 1950 in a Cessna 140 and has been flying ever since. He was awarded the FAA Master Pilot Award in 2009. He has over 5300 hours and is still actively flying his two Navions. Way to go Ron. Kyler Nelson, (80) Fremont, NE In 1986, Kyler, along with two partners, bought this 1961 Cessna 172. It has gone through 3 engines, but has been a very reliable airplane. Kyler has been very active as an Angel Flight Pilot and an AOPA convention attendee where he first learned about the UFO. Welcome to this new member. Dale Williams, (80) Cottonwood, AZ Dale got his Private License in 1954. After graduating with an Aeronautical Engineering degree, his career included work with the space activities at Douglas Aircraft and Lockheed. Dale is currently active with EAA as a Young Eagle Flight Leader and he is an Angel Flight West pilot. Dale’s wife is also a pilot and they own this 1974 Cessna Cardinal. United Flying Octogenarians Page 8 THE HIGH FLYERS Melvin Fitzpatrick, (82) Queen Creek, AZ Melvin bought his first airplane from a flight instructor in 1961 (a 1946 Taylorcraft) and took lessons from him on the fast track, flying about 15 hours, 2 landings, and learning everything he could about the plane. He rented a Cessna 150 to take his private check ride. Melvin sold the Taylorcraft and over time owned a Cessna 170B, a Cessna 182 and this 182 that he still owns. Ultimately, he added commercial, instrument, multi-engine and float plane ratings. In 1969, he went to school to become an A&P, worked at that and taught it for 21 years. Melvin still does lots of annuals and certifications on aircraft and hot air balloons,. Melvin Barto, (80) Pueblo West, CO Melvin got is private pilot ticket in 1965. Through the years, he has owned a Cessna 120, Cessna 150, a Beechcraft Sport and an original Yankee, and he built the RV—6A pictured here. Melvin had a career in the Texas School System and worked as a seasonal park ranger in the summers at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. He claims to be a fair-weather flyer only. Gary Ellis, (80) White Stone, VA Gary started flying in the 1950s in a J-3, but ran out of money and didn’t start up again for 10 years, where in Greece, he became the first foreigner to obtain a Greek pilot license. In 1970, he bought his first plane, a 1946 Aeronca Chief, and then a 1946 Stinson Voyager, and later a 1959 Skylane and a Skylane RG, and then this 1946 Ercoupe. Gary has logged over 3400 hours. Harry Harden, (80) English, IN Harry has had d a very successful 35 year flying career with more than 26,000 hours logged. In the Air Force, he flew the KC-97 tanker and the F-86 in the Air National Guard, then 30 years with the airlines in Martins, Convairs and MD-80s. He has owned a 1956 Cessna 180 for all these years. Harry has written a book titled “West By 180” in which he describes flying the some of the most rugged wilderness in America in the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Northwest and Arizona and Utah wilderness. United Flying Octogenarians Page 9 THE HIGH FLYERS Gene Myers, (80) San Diego CA Gene started flying in 1956 and got his private license in 1958. In 1958, he and his wife owned a 1946 Taylorcraft and they currently own this 1979 Archer II. John Simmermon, (80) Newark, DE John started flying in 1964 and has his multi, commercial, and sea plane ratings. He has logged 4000 plus hours . Since 1980, he has been the proud owner of this Cardinal. Robert Bissiri, (90) Santa Rosa, Bob Bissiri (right) and his instructor Art Hayssen Bob first flew in a Kinner Sportster in 1938 but didn’t have time to get his license. He was an aviation mechanic in WWII and later worked at Douglas Aircraft and Garret Air Research. He is a member of EAA and flew his FIRST SOLO in January 2015 at the age of 90 in this rented Tecnam Sierra. Way to go Bob!!! Rufus Rhoades, (82) Pasadena, CA Rufus is pictured here with a Columbia 350 that he used to rent. He is now being checked out in a Cessna 182. He is an Angel Flight pilot. Rufus has logged more than 900 hours and belongs to the CalTech Flyers. Billy Bouldin, (84) 29 Palms, CA Billy first soloed in a BC 12D Taylorcraft in 1948. He was in the USMC for 30 years flying jets, props, turboprops and helos. He flew in both the Korean and Vietnam wars and later few as a corporate pilot for 10 years. His experience in planes includes AD4 Skyraider, Huey Gunship, OV-10, O-1 Birddog, Hawker-Siddley 3A, Beechcraft Kingair C-90, Cessna 421, Maule 235, and Skymaster. He has owned a 1948 Swift 125 and a 1964 Piper Pawnee 235 (glider tow) for 18 years. He has logged over 11,000 flight hours. United Flying Octogenarians Page 10 THE HIGH FLYERS Richard Wimbish, (80) Clemmons, NC Richard began flying in a J-3 Piper Cub in 1955 when he joined the Air Force. His military training had him flying a Texan AT-6, a B-25, a C-123, and a C-119. As a civilian, he has flown a Navion, Piper Colt, Stinson, many Cessnas, Piper Cherokee Arrow, Twin Comanche, Grob glider and Piper Aerostar, pictured here. He has many ratings and received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Ray O’Neal, (81) Carmel, CA Ray started his flying career in the USAF flying T-33s and C-47s. After active duty, he flew for small airlines and in the Air Guard. He spent many years in and out of the Guard, and then started flying for Pacific Airlines, flying Martin 404s, DC-3s, F-27s, and B-727s. Pacific Airlines went through many mergers, one of which became Northwest Airlines where Ray flew for many years and retired in 1988. This picture shows Ray flying in a Microlite, which he has flown over most of Asia, Western US, Mexico and Egypt, and this made the cover of the Smithsonian Air & Space magazine in 1991. Mervin Wingard, (80) Sequim, WA Merv learned to fly in an Aeronca 7AC in 1950. He spent three years in the Navy at Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle. After his Navy years, his flying career was interrupted by marriage, children and career, and he resumed flying upon his retirement in 1996. It took him a bit to Sam Swihart, (82) Bolivar, MO Sam was introduced to flying by his father in 1943 in a yellow Piper Cub. He didn’t actually get to be a pilot until after 1960, when he needed to be able to fly for his job doing Government Contracts. He has owned a Cherokee 140, a Cherokee 180 and a Meyers 200D, and has flown many other models. He now owns this 1947 Bonanza and has logged over 6100 hours. United Flying Octogenarians Page 11 THE HIGH FLYERS Robert Bement, (80) Vale, OR Bob got the flying bug in 1960, but didn’t get his private license until 1980. He learned in a Cessna 170, and then 11 years and 835 hours later, bought and restored a Cessna 182 in which he has about 2100 flying hours now. Bob is the airport manager of the Miller Memorial Airport in Vale and does a lot of charity benefit flying. Way to go Bob. Jim Walton, (84) Anchorage, AK Jim started flying in 1954 at Oklahoma A&M. Life got busy with work and kids and didn't fly again until I moved to Alaska in 1970. Jim has owned an Aeronca Sedan AC-15 and a C-150 in which he, his wife and the youngest kid got their licenses. The "Kid" now flies left seat of 737s for American Airlines. Jim flew a C182 for over 30 years and joined the UFO in 2010. In 2013 he started building the Progressive Aerodyne Searey. In 2014 he started flying it and flew from Florida to Anchorage with a 9 day stop at Oshkosh. The trip included 104 water landings, 92 on land, 99.6 hours flying, about 9000 miles, about 600gal fuel. Jim says that this plane is his ultimate Christmas present to himself. It is a fun little airplane to have and fly. Raymond Kleber, (89) Goldsboro, NC Pictured here is Colonel Ray Kleber USAF (retired) next to General Mike Hostage, Commander of Combat Air Command. General Hostage was one of the distinguished speakers at the ceremony for Ray Kleber who received the highest honor Congress can bestow to a civilian. The Civil Air Patrol medal was awarded on December 10, 2014 for service to the Nation during the period of 1941 to 1945 where volunteers performed duties which our own Armed Forces could not do after Pearl Harbor. This medal was presented to 45 members and to 55 family members who had lost a loved one during this period. Ray said that he was humbled but proud to receive this honor and continues to be a member of CAP after thirty two plus years with the Army and Air Force. He was 16 years old and a new solo pilot as of August 28th when he joined the CAP on December 1, 1941. He is still blessed to be flying light planes and gliders to this day. United Flying Octogenarians UFO Area Representatives AK AZ (North) AZ (South) CA Northwest CA, Palm Springs CA, San Francisco CA, San Diego CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN KS ME & MA MD MN MT Buck Stewart (907) 495-6527 Harry Amster (602) 954-0998 Kayl Craig (520) 881-0988 Richard Dennis (707) 538-1976 Tony Terrigno (760) 772-8480 Warren Wood (831) 659-7523 Robert Johnson (619) 475-4732 Bob Barker (203) 321-1073 Wayne Peters (301) 299-1775 Charlie Lopez (305) 232-2878 Ray Bell (404) 634-4531 Willy Schauer (808) 833-9880 John Harns (208) 777-8389 Red Bainbridge (815) 282-5083 Nancy Warren (812) 372-2769 Alfred Shippy (785) 200-3059 Alex Hasapis (978) 462-9817 Wayne Peters (301) 299-1775 Bob Ward (608) 274-0849 Ed Gonsalves (406) 381-2975 NM NV North NV South NY, Rhinebeck NY, South OH OK OR RI SC TX North Central TX North East UT Virgin Islands VA VT WA WI WY Argentina Vern Dudley (505) 266-2491 Charles Kettering (775) 826-5161 Marvin D. Rogge (702) 655-9005 Bill King (845) 268-7077 Harold Levy (631) 329-0425 Charlie DeBerry (937) 435-9229 Frank Lowry (918) 640– 6619 Bert Zimmerman (503) 708-5703 Bob Barker (203) 321-1073 Ray Bell (404) 634-4531 Jim Cavender (817) 292-1044 Wayne Collins (903) 850-2611 Russ Roberts (435) 590-7610 Charlie Lopez (305) 232-2878 Sara Parmenter (804) 492-4474 Bob Barker (203) 321-1073 William Webber (509) 466-2026 Bob Ward (608) 274-0849 Bernie Peterson (307) 673-8414 Hugo Casadella (5411) 4815-8779 UFO Regional Managers Northeast Bob Barker (203) 321-1073 Southeast Charlie Lopez (305) 232-2878 Midwest West Southwest William Webber (509) 466-2026 Jim Cavender (817) 292-1044 Red Bainbridge (815) 282-5083 The Slip Stream United Flying Octogenarians United Flying Octogenarians P.O. Box 1765 Carmel Valley, CA 93924 Tel. 831-659-7523 E-mail: wgwood99@comcast.net UFO Bill Webber 11910 N. Country Club Dr. Spokane, WA 99218 Visit the Web Site—www.UFOPILOTS.org
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