Badger52
04-04-2012, 10:13
LINK (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wisconsin-wife-80-lands-plane-dying-pilot-husband/story?id=16062534)
A breath of something different in the midst of primaries & whiny-assed fired TV hosts.
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My take:
He literally died doing what he loved. Got some more details on this last night; was on the HF with gent in Sturgeon Bay who is, coincidentally, literally their next-door neighbor.
What many of the accounts don't indicate is that the twin had already lost one engine due to low-fuel condition; until someone was able to show her how to crank in some rudder trim, she was probably standing on the rudder to counteract the torque as well. Pretty good for a li'l ol' lady of eighty. Another HF ham listening to the CTAF said that, even though she had expressed some doubts to the pilot who was shadowing her in, she told him:
"Don't think for a minute that I can't pull this off."
John was much beloved, extremely successful yet unpretentious. Even separate from his support to Angel Flight, he didn't even need to be approached with a request. If he even heard that someone was in need, he & his plane were at their disposal, whether for frequent trips over to Mayo, or to bring a young child with leukemia home to die.
One of those folks who leave a hole when they go.
John, squawk 1200, VFR the rest of the way & a life well lived.
:lifter
A breath of something different in the midst of primaries & whiny-assed fired TV hosts.
-----------------------
My take:
He literally died doing what he loved. Got some more details on this last night; was on the HF with gent in Sturgeon Bay who is, coincidentally, literally their next-door neighbor.
What many of the accounts don't indicate is that the twin had already lost one engine due to low-fuel condition; until someone was able to show her how to crank in some rudder trim, she was probably standing on the rudder to counteract the torque as well. Pretty good for a li'l ol' lady of eighty. Another HF ham listening to the CTAF said that, even though she had expressed some doubts to the pilot who was shadowing her in, she told him:
"Don't think for a minute that I can't pull this off."
John was much beloved, extremely successful yet unpretentious. Even separate from his support to Angel Flight, he didn't even need to be approached with a request. If he even heard that someone was in need, he & his plane were at their disposal, whether for frequent trips over to Mayo, or to bring a young child with leukemia home to die.
One of those folks who leave a hole when they go.
John, squawk 1200, VFR the rest of the way & a life well lived.
:lifter