I ns id e Th i s I s su e

Message From the President

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UFO Get Togethers

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New UFO Members

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The High Flyers

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Area Reps 14

V o l u m e 4 6

From The Flight Deck

The Left Seat

HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone! Don't you just love new beginnings? It's a time for renewal as well as a time for reflection; it's a time for looking forward to more camaraderie with our fellow UFO members; and it's a time for "innovation". Innovation, you say? Now, that's not to say that the old ways of doing things are no longer valid, but..aren't there other interesting

venues out there where a bunch of "mature" pilots could get together and enjoy some good hangar talk? Surely, there must be! So, as you're enjoying those good old black-eyed peas and Mexican cornbread (or whatever your local traditional New Year's Day tradition dictates) that was left over from your New Year's Day celebration, how about coming up with a really neat meeting idea or two? And while you're at it, jot down those brilliant (and innovative) ideas and send them in? The address is down there at the bottom of this article. Looking back a bit, 2018 wasn't all bad. As a matter of fact, the UFO had a really good year! As of

December 31st, our membership stood at 1640, a new record. We're growing, folks! Increasingly, we are noticing more of the new member applications coming in with the "referred by" blank filled in with the name of a dedicated UFO member. THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the initiative to spread the word about what a great organization this is! Now, one way to insure that the trend in membership stays positive is through innovation (there's that word again). If a new member senses "inclusiveness", he or she is more inclined to remain faithful over the years. So, if you have a brilliant suggestion about how we can become more inclusive, please let us hear from you. (Once again, use the address below.) Speaking of faithfulness, some of you may not have gotten around to renewing your membership. Those who have not will be receiving reminders through the mail and by email or telephone calls from a dedicated group of volunteers. Please consider taking care of that detail right away. We need the participation of each and every one of our 1640 members. Remember also that those who would prefer to use a credit or debit card may do so by logging on to our website (ufopilots.org), clicking on the big black “Join the UFO button”, and following the prompts to the 2019 UFO Membership page. Please note that although "Renewal" does not appear on the form, it may be used for either purpose. If you think about it, you might write "renewal" in the remarks section. And while we're on the subject, please remember that the UFO is now registered as a 501(c)3 organization. That means that any additional contribution you might make is fully tax deductible. Donations are always welcome. So as we look forward to a brand new year, here is wishing you and yours the very best in 2019. Happy (safe) flying, everyone.

Jim Cavender — President Email: jimsufo@gmail.com

U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

T h e S l i p S t r e a m

Q 1 — 2 0 1 9

List of Up and Coming UFO Meetings

Pennsylvania Meeting —APR 11 11:00 Fiorentino’s Restaurant Lilitz, PA

Check the ufopilots.org web page for more details.

S p e c i a l P o i n t s o f I n t e r e s t :

M e e t o u r n e w P r e s i d e n t

J i m C a v e n d e r .

U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

3 Months of Get-Togethers and Meetings Reports On UFO Members That Had Local Meetings!!

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UFO

On October 12th, a UFO meeting was held at the Lunk-en Airport in Cincinnati. A lecture on the history of Lunken Airport and a tour of the museum was followed by lunch at the Sky Galley Airport Restaurant. Sixteen people were in attendance, including a group from Lou-isville (the Kentuckian Flying Aviators).

Weather tried but couldn’t destroy a celebratory reception for our UFOs most senior member, Eugene Engledow. Gene’s gracious family joined the UFO reception planned for his 105th birthday, October 7, 2018. Since this UFO event combined the family’s birthday celebration with the UFOs, we also invited the local weekly newspaper. Present were several local pilots with family, the editor of the “Bolivar Herald – Free Press”, Gene’s family, UFO MO/IA representative Norman Beyer, local UFO member Sam Swihart, and Kansas UFO member Sarah Ratley. Sarah was one of the UFOs who planned to fly in but couldn’t due to storms, but she drove from Kansas to meet and celebrate with Gene. Happy Birthday Gene!!!

Eugene Engledow 105th Birthday Oct 7, 2018 Bolivar, MO

Northern California UFO Meeting Oct 11 (RDD) Redding, CA

It was beautiful weather for flying and six members flew in for our lunch meeting. Many of the UFO members have their plane at this airport, so they drove. Lew Gage flew his Luscombe from Reno, Nevada, Steve Katzman flew his Bonanza, also from Nevada. Bill Cohen flew his Bonanza from Palo Alto. Kathy Holcombe flew from Oakland in her C150. Hal Stephens and wife Nancy flew from Placerville in their C172. Dean Stahr (92) and his son flew his Tur-bo C182R from Napa. One guest told how valuable his flying was

to his logging business. One of the other members works one day a week now giving medicals and basic meds to pilots as a medical examiner. The other days he is out flying. Annie Orton told of the thrill she had flying in a T-6 two weeks ago at a fly-in. She liked the low, steep banks and wing-overs as well as the fast, low pass over the airport. Good food, good stories and delightful company.

Lunken Ohio Fly-In, Drive-In Oct 12 (LUK) Cincinnati, OH

U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

3 Months of Get-Togethers and Meetings Reports On UFO Members That Had Local Meetings!!

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Southern Maine Gathering Oct 24, 2018 (SFM) Sanford, ME

Fifty UFO members and guests at-tended the inaugural UFOctoberfest at the private Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6) near Port Orange, FL. We probably set a record for the number of people driving to a UFO meeting in Golf Carts. We have a total of 10 UFO members in the community, and hopefully many more will sign up

soon. We probably set another record with 6 female pilots attending. The 4000-foot runway is surrounded by 1500 homes, a golf course, 11 miles of taxiway and is home to 660 aircraft. The Spruce Creek Fly-ing Club set up the luncheon meeting at the Spruce Creek Country Club and provided golf cart tours of the hangar homes and a wide va-riety of the Spruce Creek based aircraft. Spencer Lane, a Spruce Creek resident, co-hosted the meeting and gave a presentation on Billy

Mitchell, who is featured in Spencer’s excellent book, First World Flight, available on Amazon. A Great Read—Also check out the website firstworldflight.com. Spencer also provided signed cop-ies of his book, with the proceeds donated to charity.

Joe Blandford, UFO Florida Area Representative, also co-hosted the meeting and encouraged members to volunteer to help set up more events in the southeast. John Sullivan, UFO VP Mem-bership, gave a presentation on the UFO and reported that we have a record 1590 members.

Twenty-eight had registered and twenty-two members and guests arrived before noon at the Southern Maine Aviation FBO. Nine reg-istered folks couldn’t make it because of the weather. North of Au-gusta, there was measurable snow on I-95, and the KSFM weather didn’t improve as forecast at all. However, UFO members Bernie Asher and Brown Stillman still made it to the meeting, but both had

to make ILS approaches to land. Gentlemen – thank you so much for the effort made to attend this meeting! Our UFO hats are off in a salute to you – IFR qualified, current and competent! Southern Maine Aviation demonstrated fine hospitality to the UFOs, providing us with a very comfortable arrangement in a well heated hangar and a beautiful Cessna 172 Skyhawk as a com-panion. SMA went out of their way for us, setting up tables, chairs, and providing coffee. Special thanks to SMA General Manager Mark Damuth and receptionist Debbie. Our guest speaker, Jake Morrel, accompanied by wife Beth, delivered a narrative and slide show about life in Northern Maine as a commercial wilderness camp owner and bush pilot. The UFO group enjoyed a meal at the Cockpit Café.

Florida UFOctoberfest, Oct 27 (7FL6) Spruce Creek Airport Port Orange, FL

U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

Female UFO Pilots

3 Months of Get-Togethers and Meetings Reports On UFO Members That Had Local Meetings!!

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The 29th of September the UFOctoberfest at Brown Field was outgunned by the Miramar Airshow also that same weekend. Nevertheless, about 30 UFOs, some UFOs in training, and guests en-joyed the Brats, Beans and Kraut served up by chef Danno Johnson.

Incoming President Jim Cavender joined them and gave a little UFO history and pep-talk. Fly ins included Bert Bade and his lady in the RV-6, Howard Deevers and friend in the Cherokee from WAAAY over east in Arizona, and Denis Breslin in his Cessna. (Update: Bob Johnson is recovering from a stroke and our thoughts and prayers go out to him.)

On Thursday November 1st, a small group of UFOs met for lunch in Reno at the Bonanza Casino. The hangar doors were definitely open as flying talk was going full blast. It’s nice to dwell on some-thing other than politics. Of the five of us, three had flown this week! It has been nice to get all of our airdrome (Stead) back, as of 08/26—it has been closed for over six months. Life is good in Northern Nevada.

Reno UFO Gathering Nov 1, 2018 Reno, NV

Texas Roundup XVIII Nov 28 (GPM) Grand Prairie, TX

A total of thirteen souls came out to the Radial Cafe at Grand Prairie Municipal airport in Grand Prairie, Texas to break bread and enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow UFO brethren. Of that number, Tom Hamblet filled out an application for membership right on the spot! Two of our number flew in for the meeting and two brought their wives. Also we had one UFO wannabe, Larry Tippit. Even though Larry is only in his early 60s, he is a frequent visitor. Also we want to extend a special welcome to three of our newest members, Reggie Bass, David Dubbs and Doug Koeppen. This may have been their first UFO meeting, but it surely will not be their last. The fact that ROUNDUP XVIII came so close to everyone’s Thanksgiving celebrations, the turnout was gratifying. Well done y’all. Unfortunately the camera we used to take a group photo screwed up, so we don’t have a picture to share.

San Diego Gaggle, Sept 29 (SDM) San Diego, CA

U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

Jim Cavender and Bob Johnson Bob Johnson and son Dan

Look At All The New UFO Members!! P a g e 5

Name St. Phone Frank Miller AK (907)567-3905

Mike Pannone AK (907)229-6763

Robert Ylvisaker AK (907)746-0626

Michael Baldwin AZ (520)882-8275

Jack Censner AZ (520)559-1959

James Eesley AZ (520)904-5666

Walter Kniaz AZ (520)404-8586

Forbess Billy CA (530)990-4628

Edmond Casey CA (310)339-0807

Richard Currie CA (530)308-4960

George Foster CA (209)862-2520

Gary Guilliat CA )530)272-8678

Henry Hirschberg CA (949)624-1248

John Maus CA (760)723-2563

William Meyer CA (949)872-6719

Darrell Radford CA (805)464-9863

John Wilson CA (661)917-3148

James Yakligian CA (559)269-7402

Donald Geddes CO (970)424-7777

Robert Gold CO (303)799-6921

Merle Rypkema CO (303)936-0175

Fred Forst CT (860)693-4840

Robert Mench DE (484)883-1275

Don Abbott FL (239)357-4330

Enrico Bernardi FL (203)915-8779

Joseph Braden FL (239)405-4200

Sam Broady FL (813)961-3324

We now have 1640 members. Since Sept 30, 2018 we added

81 new members.

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We have 9 Members that are over 100 Gene Engledow (105) Bolivar, MO Robert Leslie (100) Biloxi, MS Peter Goutiere (104) Katonah, NY Martin Geraghty (100) Englewood, FL Walter Ribeiro (102) Voorhees, NJ Charles Tinker (100) Columbiaville, MIEugene Etchart (102) Billings, MT Mayetta Behringer (100) San Jose, CA Vern Foster (101) Enid, OK

Name St. Phone Victor Collin FL (561)809-5047

Walter Eisenmann FL (321)795-9309

Allen Maxwell FL (713)291-3499

Darrell Merrill FL (406)270-7007

Herbert Stern FL (401)742-4599

Ray Arnold ID (208)634-9284

Don Pischner ID (208)667-5770

Fred Johnson IL (217)369-9620

Harrel Timmons IL (309)368-7290

Warren Whittington IN (812)243-3804

Kent Kallenberger KS (316)323-4702

Ed Hatch ME (207)288-4420

Gary Kahn MI (586)659-2422

Lynn Matteson MI (517)945-4381

John Lacey MN (952)212-8776

William Taack MN (651)459-1448

Kenneth Corcoran MO (314)662-2788

Andrew Bink MS (530)713-9746

Charles Kemp MS (601)894-1167

Bill Werner MT (406)892-5146

Max Coates NC (910)862-8110

Robert Kurzawa NC (919)749-7613

Harry Barr NE (402)475-2611

Ronye McKay NE (402)557-8771

Morris Sweat NE (402)990-2468

Clifford Henderson NH (603)727-8535

Richard Meyers NH (603)527-0010

Name St. Phone Martin Indursky NJ (732)620-1076

Samuel Barner NY (518)877-6200

John Sackett Jr. NY (585)548-2434

Frank Coulter OH (419)308-1132

Walter Murphy OH (740)498-7265

Larry Notziger OH (614)582-4006

Sam Archer OR (360)270-0444

James Campbell OR (503)440-1539

Frank Depetrillo RI (401)647-7043

Ralph Grigg SC (803)327-2133

Louis Bass TX (254)291-9522

Charles Brame TX (210)493-5512

William Cooke TX (281)507-1142

Daryl Dubbs TX (817)946-0811

Tom Hamblet TX (214)354-6248

James Henderson TX (903)455-3202

Alfred McInturff TX (972)723-3440

Larry Wheelock TX (812)342-3033

Harold Christiansen UT (801)541-2755

Douglas Cook VA (860)350-3066

Robert Tyler VA (703)754-3027

Fred Wimberly VA (804)529-5753

Bill Babcock WA

Richard Ciccone WA (509)628-8606

Donald Walls WA (360)437-5064

Jon Meriwether WV (304)737-1110

Ron Innes Canada (780)945-1199

Mike started his aviation life in 1958 as an Air Traffic Controller with the U.S. Marine Corp. He began his ca-reer with the FAA in Chicago in 1963, and moved to An-chorage in 1965, retiring in 1984. He began flying in 1968, soloing in the plane pictured here, which is on its 3rd engine. He flew CAP in Alaska for 25 years, is quali-fied in C-172, C-206, DHC-3 land, sea and ski. He taught Air Traffic Control at U of Alaska for over 25 years and was lead aircraft in Friendship Flight Nome.

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Ellis Mickey (84) Summerville, OR

Don has logged over 7500 hours and has over 20,000 take offs and landings. He has flown over 63 differ-ent airplanes, 7 gliders and 2 helicopters. He has

landed as PIC or copilot in 143 US Airports. Don has many ratings, including Private-PPL, Commercial, Instrument, CFI, CFII, Multi Engine, CFMEI, CFMEII, ATP, and CFIG, as well as several other ratings and sign-offs.

Mike Pannone (85) Anchorage, AK

Ellis entered the USAF in 1957 and got his wings in 1958 in a J-3. After leaving the Air Force, he began flying for an oil drilling company and then for Shell Oil, flying 40 hours /week. He has logged almost 5,000 hours. Ellis has a Commercial Glider rating, and has flown in over 30 different SEL, 7 different MEL, and 15 different gliders. He belongs to EAA and AOPA and owns this Piper Super Pacer, has flown coast to coast and Border to Border.

Donald Geddes (80) Crawford, CO

Charlie Kemp (81) Hazlehurst, MS

Charlie started flying lessons in 1955 and soloed in 1956. He has been flying ever since and has flown over 30 different air-craft. At one time he owned a P51 Mustang and flew in air-shows with it for 25 years. He has owned a Stinson Gull-wing, Meyers 200D, T-6, Piper Navajo, and now a Beechcraft B55 Baron, a Bellanca Super Decathlon, a J-3 and a Cessna 182. He was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2013.

Frank got his 1st airplane ride in a Piper J-3 at age 11 and that ride set in motion a love of flying which has never left him. He soloed in 1961 in Germany, but marriage, college and family intervened for several years. He earned his private license in 1971, and now holds Commercial, Sin-gle Engine Land & Sea and CFI tickets. Frank’s logbook is approaching 3500 hours, most of that being instruction. His wife Roswitha is also a UFO member and they own a Cessna 150 and a Taylor Craft.

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U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

Darrell Radford (80) Templeton, CA

Al was a student pilot in 1968 getting his private, then commercial and instrument in 1970 and later a static line JM rating. Most of his flying then involved sky diving. He has owned a Cessna 152, 172 and 182. He flew some in England and Switzerland, flying a Turbo 207. Pres-ently he flies a 1970 Skylane RG, which was upgraded with a 300hp Lycoming 540 and a 3 blade prop. He has put over 3000 hours on his plane.

Frank Miller (80) Ninilchik, AK

Darrell was a senior in high school in 1956 when he took a ride with a buddy in a Piper Tri-Pacer. He was hooked, but could not pursue his dream until 1970, when he got his private license in a Cessna 150 with a Superhoner. He joined the Taylorcraft club and has owned sev-eral planes, including two Champs, EAA Bi-Plane, a homebuilt Paz-many, two Cessna 170-Bs and a Christen Eagle II which he built in 1981. He has given over 350 Young Eagle rides and has 3500+ hours.

Alfred McInturff (81) Midlothian, TX

Howard Tobin (80) Abilene, TX

Dr. Howard Tobin served in the USAF with the rank of Major, has had a 45 year career in Cosmetic Surgery, and is an accomplished jet rated pilot, holding an airline transport certificate. Howard has been flying for over 50 years with over 6000 hours in his logbook. He has owned and flown, single pilot, in his Citation 501-Stallion, flying about 125 hours per year and is one of the principal volun-teer pilots for the Veterans Airlift Command flying wounded warriors on hu-manitarian missions.

Robert was always interested in aviation as a kid, drawing planes and building models—but life put dreams on hold until 1993 at age 55, when he got his private. He flew in Cessna 152s and 172s, and then he and a friend bought this Piper Cherokee 180. He has over 1000 VFR hours and flies just for the fun of it.

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Darrell Merrill (80) The Villages, FL

Victor learned to fly in England in a Tiger Moth DH.82a. Flying jobs in England were limited, so he came to the US. He instructed and did crop dusting and then for 30 years was employed by TWA. He started as flight engineer on the Lockheed Constella-tions and finished as Captain on the L-1011 and B-747. After TWA, Victor flew for Air Lanka . He has

experience in B707, 720, 727, 747, and has ratings in Helicopter, Glider and LTA Balloon and others.

Robert Kurzawa (80) Cary, NC

Darrell (Captain Merrill) soloed in an Aeronca Champ in 1956 in Boise, Idaho. He flew F-102 jet fighters in the US Air Force, and then for 34 years he commanded all jet transports flown by TWA from DC-9s to B-747s. He now owns and flies a C-185F. All his years of flying were accident, incident, and FAA Violation FREE.

Victor Collin (83) Delray Beach, FL

Don Pischner (80) Coeur d’Alene, ID

Don served in the US Army Amphibious, and began flying around age 20, earning a Commercial rating. His flights are always personal/recreational with over 250 flight logs with friends/acquaintances. Don flew the Lewis-Clark route, Chief Joseph’s escape trail and Idaho’s border. He has dedicated four terms as an Idaho State Legislator, which allowed him to

fight for preserving Idaho’s state owned back country airstrips. He owns this Cess-na 172 and operates it out of his own airstrip in North Idaho (ID65). Don says “We live in a GREAT country.”

Kess built u-control planes as a youngster and started flying ultralights in 1984. In 1987, he and a partner got a C-150G, and soon after he bought an A-150L Aerobat which he owned for 12 years. A few years later, he bought the Earthstar Gull 2000, slicker and faster and a true E-LSA. He has over 375 hours in it, He has a total logged flying time of over 2000 hours.

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U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

Art Sussman (92) Toledo, OH

For Richard, flying all started in high school in 1955 at the Spanaway airport in Tacoma, WA in two training planes, PA-20 Pipers and a 20 foot wide runway that remains today, surrounded by wall to wall growth. Over the years slowed by College, Marriage, Viet Nam and living outside of the USA, Richard managed to acquire a Commercial Certificate and an Instrument rating. Three times retired, he now flies a couple of times a month on his current 3d Class Medical in rental aircraft, still practicing the basics.

Kess Blaswich (81) Camano Island, WA

Art got the flying bug as a Navy Radio/Radar technician flying in B24s & B25s. He soloed in a J-3 and got his private license in 1960 and instrument in 1968. He has 2800 hours with this Glasair, which he helped build. Art received the Wright Broth-ers Safety Award in 2010.

Richard Ciccone (80) Kennewick, WA

Robert Tyler (81) Great Falls, VA

Robert began his flying career in the US Navy in 1958 and flew with the Navy and the Naval Re-serve Squadrons until 1970. He has over 200 carri-er landings and mostly flew in S-2 D, E, and F. He has about 1900 hours of military flying and about 1750 civilian flying, mostly in a Cessna 170B. He is currently owns and flies this 1946 Aeronca 11AC “Chief”.

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In 1952, Bob had his first airplane ride in a Bonanza at North Philadelphia. Then 21 years later at his farm in Tranquility, NJ, a friend was doing Lazy-8s over-head...it looked like a lot of fun. Bob earned his tick-et at Hackettstown in 1976. In 1983, he bought a C-182P, and now is based at X09 Covey Trails, Fulshear, TX. Besides playing with 6 pre-war Packard's, he and Gail spent 5 weeks recently flying on the B-17 Texas Raiders where he is training to be the Flight Engineer.

Richard Leonetti (80) Portland, OR

Adolfo came to the USA in 1962 from Cuba when a family from Detroit, Michigan sponsored his family. He obtained his private license in 1978 in Miami, FL, renting a Cessna 152, and in 1996 he got into ultralight flying and fabricated a Javelin. Then in 2016, Adolfo bought a C-150. Adolfo has been flying almost every Saturday, weather permitting—just around the patch, and nearby airports. Flying is the ultimate.

Bob Supina (80) Richmond, TX

David Keen (81) Ft. Myers, FL

David’s first flight took place 77 years ago in Ocean City, NJ when his dad took him up at the age of 3 and later gave him some lessons. David soloed in 1958 at Emporia, VA in an Er-coupe. Since then, he as enjoyed over 4000 hours in 42 different makes and model aircraft

and has owned 11 of those. His wife Elizabeth and he enjoy many hours of flying and they now fly a Light Sport “Sting Sport”.

Richard started to flying in Portland OR. in 1960 after his Dad, who was also a pilot, paid for his lessons because Richard just completed his Electrical En-gineering Degree. He completed his license in a C-210 and later bought in on 1/2 of his father’s furniture manufacturing business. Richard used the 210 to make sales and collection calls all over the Northwest and Northern Califor-nia. He ended up selling the 210 to buy out his dad from the business. He later became part of an after-school program for 12-14 year old at-risk chil-

dren in the 1980s and used aviation as a motivation tool to get kids excited about learning in school. Richard was flying a C-172 and then in 2001 he bought a Cirrus SR-22 (N2ZH) which he flies mostly in WA, OR and CA.

Adolfo Graupera (88) Miami, FL

Sam started serious flying when his family owned a special-ized maintenance business which took them all over 35 states in the U.S. For 30 years, they owned and flew a Beechcraft, Piper, Cessna and Bellanca/Viking. Sam has over 6300 total hours. His current plane is an A23 Beechcraft Musketeer II which he is in the process of selling. He told his wife that

this is his last plane, and she reminded him that he has said that for the past 10 planes.

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U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

Ed Warnock (81) Van Nuys, CA

Dick got his license in 1960 followed with his A&P license in 1962 and his IA in 1979. Dick has his commercial with single engine land and sea. He says that he was born back when dirt was new in the year 1938. He currently is work-ing at Concord Aviation Services in Concord NH as an IA mechanic.

Sam Swihart (86) Bolivar, MO

Ed joined the UFO a year after he cel-ebrated his 80th birthday flying a B-727-100, Super 27 from the Bahamas to Van Nuys, CA. It was an 80 year old pilot flying PIC in a 50 year old B-727. Ed started flying in 1956 and flew as Air Commander, Instructor and Flight Examiner. for the Air Force and followed his military service with many air carriers, including Conti-

nental, MGM Grand, American International and Champion Air. He presently flies the B-727 for Malibu Consulting, which every year he flies it around the world. He just completed his 11th trip.

Dick Meyers (80) Belmont, NH

Richard Chaltry (80) Menominee, MI

That's Richard in black shirt with his friends who flew to Door County, Wisconsin this summer. Dick has put 120 hours on his Cardinal in the past year flying to Florida and Texas out of Ontonagon MI where he is a physician. The day he flew to Door County Wisconsin, he biked 30 miles to and from the airport with some good hills—not bad for 80 years old.

Clifford served in the Marine Corp for 5 years as a radar operator in AD Skyriders. He then served in Law Enforcement for 22 years. He was in the EAA Chapter 740 in Lebanon serving as charter president for many years. He built a copy of a PA-18 pic-tured here and has close to 1000 hours in it and is still flying it and is looking forward to being a UFO member and meeting people.

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U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

Jon Meriwether (81) Wellsburg, WV

Don has had a career in the radio and television industry. His love for aviation prompted him to get his pilot’s license in 1961, getting his private, commercial instrument & multi-engine rat-ings. In 2011, he received the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. Don regularly flies his F33A Beechcraft Bonanza for business and pleasure and has just completed his memoirs which includes an extended chapter about his flying experience called “Confessions of a Master Pilot”.

Clifford Henderson (80) West Lebanon, NH

Jon belongs to EAA Chapter 859 in Steuben-ville, OH and has been Chair for the Young Ea-gles the past 4 years. Jon also has flown over 100 kids teaching scouts about flying for the Aviation Merit Badge. He is one of 17 in WV to have received the Master Pilot Award (2016). He has built 7 planes and owns an RV12 and a Lightning.

Don Abbott (80) Sanibel, FL

Merle ’Rip’ Rypkema (80) Erie, CO

Rip started flying lessons in Minnesota in 1961, soloed in Arkan-sas in 1963, then paused training to enjoy an all-expense-paid va-cation to Vietnam where he was an aviation mechanic for Uncle Sam. Finally in 1966, Rip earned his pilot license in Denver, where he “spent 30 years practicing for retirement just sitting around” as a Denver Firefighter. He claims that, “All I had to know was, Put the Wet Stuff on the Orange Stuff”, but we suspect there was a bit more to it and that he didn't actually do much sit-ting around. For many years Rip flew his Cessna 205 to northern Canada for hunting/fishing trips and for the past 15 years has lived on a residential airpark where about once a week he flies his Cessna 172 to nearby airports hunting for breakfast.

Bill just turned 80 and is an active pilot and regularly flies a Citabria 7ECA hangared at LaPorte TX. He got his private license in 1974 in the old Baton Rouge Downtown Airport, and has his CFI. He has logged about 1000 hours, mostly in taildraggers and was an aerobatic instructor and flew in several National Aero-batic Championships at Grayson County. Bill is cur-rently working toward his glider rating, and flies the Cessna Agwagon tow planes for his glider club in

Houston.

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U n i t e d F l y i n g O c t o g e n a r i a n s

Gary Guilliat (80) Incline Village, NV

Bill Cooke (80) Houston, TX

Gary got his start in flying at Whitman Airpark in 1957 as a gas boy working for Coffin Air Service flying an Aeronca Champ 7EC. He went on to get his CFI and multiengine. Gary taught flying for Coffin Air following up with sev-eral jobs flying DC-2s and 3s and flew DC-4s in Japan. In 1960, he flew Con-vair 240 and DC-6 and later B727 and 737 for Western Airlines. He finished his career with Delta flying B-757 and 767. He now lives in Incline Village, NV and flies restored aircraft in airshows.

Allan Yeomans (87) Queensland, Australia

Our own UFO member, Allan Yeomans, broke the Guinness World Record by competing in the Queensland State Aerobatic Championship. In July of this year, he flew his Pitts S2B (YYU) and he was 86 years and 9 months old and is the oldest competing aerobatic pilot. The previous Guinness World Record was made in 2002 by Ian Metcher who was 85 and was also an Australian. An application to Guinness is in the works. Thanks to his wife, Chris, for sending this in. It’s great to hear about our members from down under.

United Flying Octogenarians P.O. Box 1765 Carmel Valley, CA 93924 Tel. 831-521-9109 E-mail: wgwood99@comcast.net

T h e S l i p

S t r e a m

United Flying Octogenarians

UFO Warren Wood P.O. Box 1765 Carmel Velley, CA 93924

Visit the Web Site—www.UFOPILOTS.org

UFO Regional Managers

AL Skeet Vaughan (256) 881-2566

AR Jim Stamps (479) 293-4147

AZ Howard Deevers (520)241-3382

CA North Annie Orton (530) 529-4108

CA Northwest Richard Dennis (707) 538-1976

CA San Diego Robert Johnson (619) 475-4732

CO Jack Cronin (303) 333-3000

CT, MA, NH, RI, VT Bob Barker (203) 321-1073

DE, MD Dan Brown (410) 757-0774

FL Joe Blandford (850) 894-8634

GA, SC Ray Bell (404) 634-4531

HI Jack DeTour (808) 487-2842

ID Norm Kinney (208) 639-1456

IL Red Bainbridge (815) 282-5083

IN Bill Frazier (765) 282-0957

ME Ray Gibouleau (207) 852-5796

MN, WI Bob Ward (608) 274-0849

MO, IA Norm Beyer (417) 709-3045

MT West Ed Gonsalves (406) 381-2975

NE Bill Ramsay (402) 489-2067

NC Tom Van Petten (252) 586-5853

ND, SD Forest Wixon (605) 222-1365

NM Vern Dudley (505) 266-2491

NV North Charles Kettering (775) 826-5161

NV South Marvin D. Rogge (702) 655-9005

NY Upstate, NJ Bob Barker (203) 321-1073

NY Metro Harold Levy (631) 329-0425

OH Charlie DeBerry (937) 435-9229

OK Jack Kearbey (918) 636-8867

OR Bert Zimmerly (503) 708-5703

PA Tom Johnston (717)761-0195

TX North Jim Cavender (817) 292-1044

TX South Central John Larrison (210) 313-2868

TX South East Dan Nicholson (713) 703-9333

UT Russ Roberts (435) 590-7610

VA Tom Van Petten (252) 586-5853

WA William Webber (509) 466-2026

WA DC John Sullivan (410) 266-6517

WY Bernie Peterson (307) 673-8414

Argentina Hugo Casadella (5411) 4815-8779

Europe Charles Strasser 44-1534-851681

Canada Cyril Mosher (902) 681-4347

UFO Area Representatives

West William Webber (509) 466-2026

Southwest Jim Cavender (817) 292-1044

Northeast Bob Barker (203) 321-1073

Midwest Red Bainbridge (815) 282-5083

Mid Alantic John Sullivan (410) 266-6517