Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, And Janice Voss, Four Tuskegee Airmen, And 'Mama Bird' Johnson

It is always appropriate to spend a few moments to remember those who were pioneers and visionaries in aviation. But some who passed this year were just men and women doing their jobs, and drawn to flying for the pure joy they could experience from it. Here is the roll call of those who have "Gone West" in 2012.

January

Lieutenant Colonel Luke Weathers, Jr.

Another of the real Tuskegee Airmen was being interred at Arlington National Cemetery near the nation's capital. Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Luke Weathers, Jr. was one of the thousands of men associated with the first opportunity for black pilots to fly for the US in combat.

February

Astronaut Janice Voss

NASA astronaut Janice Voss was one of only six women to have flown in space five times. Her career was highlighted by her work and dedication to scientific payloads and exploration.

Florence Green, Last Veteran Of WWI, Who Served In The RAF

Florence Green passed away just shy of her 111th birthday. She had been a mess steward for the RAF during the war. The BBC reports that Green joined the RAF at the age of 17.

March

Clarence Dart, Tuskegee Airman

Captain Clarence Dart, who flew 95 missions with the Red Tail Squadron and was shot down twice flying Curtiss P-40s during WWII, passed away at Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Past HAI Chairman Thomas H. Marlow

Tom Marlow, who served as Chairman of the HAI Board of Directors in 1996, passed away just prior to HELI-EXPO 2012.

Capt. Carroll 'Lex' LeFon (RET) 1960-2012

Carroll "Lex" LeFon, ATAC F-21 pilot, retired Naval Aviator, TOPGUN Graduate and prominent military blogger known as Neptunus Lex, was killed in a plane crash when his F-21 Kfir crashed at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada.

Former McDonnell Douglas Head Sandy McDonnell

Sanford N. "Sandy" McDonnell, who at one time led McDonnell Douglas Corp., passed away at his home in Clayton, MO, on March 19th. McDonnell was 89 years old.

Edward Allen Jr., Last Of The 'Flying Allens' Balloon Act

The last of a family of balloonists who traveled the country as The Flying Allens passed away in Colorado Springs, CO, March 1st at the age of 93.

May

UAL Pilot Denny Fitch

United Airlines pilot and instructor Denny Fitch was deadheading home on a DC-10 in 1989 when an explosion in the back of the jet got his attention.

Evelyn 'Mama Bird' Johnson

Evelyn "Mama Bird" Johnson, who began flying in 1944 and amassed a Guinness World Record 57,635 hours, passed away at the age of 102 at an assisted living facility in Jefferson City, TN.

Modeler And Legend, Bill Northrop

One of the Academy of Model Aeronautics and aeromodeling legends has passed away. Bill Northrop, 89, was a champion free flight and radio control competitor, columnist, publisher and model builder in an aeromodeling career that began in 1936.

June

ECi CEO Gary Garvens

Danbury AeroSpace owner and Chief Executive Officer, Gary H. Garvens passed away after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer.

Avionics Pioneer Edward J. King, Jr.

Edward J. King Jr, a pioneer in the avionics industry and the founder of King Radios, passed away at the age of 90.

Maureen Dunlop de Popp

Maureen Dunlop de Popp, who had flown Spitfires, Hurricanes, and Lancaster bombers during the Second World War, passed away at the age on 91 in Britain.

July

Wichita Philanthropist Velma Wallace

Velma Wallace, was the widow of Cessna Aircraft chairman Dwane Wallace and a longtime supporter of Wichita State University, passed away following an illness of several months.

Former Kennedy Director Forrest McCartney

Forrest S. McCartney, former director of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center, died July 17, 2012, with his family in attendance. He was 81 years old.

Sally Ride

Sally Ride, who became a household name after becoming the first American woman to fly in space, passed away at the age of 61. Ride had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

August

Tuskegee Airman George Hickman

Former Capt. George Hickman, who was among the first of the ground crews of the segregated unit, died in Seattle, WA, at the age of 88.

Flightline Television's Hank and Carole Austin

Hank (Henry) and Carole Austin, two of powered parachuting's most active proponents (and experts) were lost in a PPC accident in Michigan. Two of the early pioneers in a number of sport aviation venues, Hank and Carole were reported to be flying at Silver Lake State Park when their two seat PPC went down in the evening.

Neil Armstrong

The first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, passed away as a result of complications following coronary surgery at the age of 82.

September

Air Race Organizer Erik Anderson

AirVenture Cup Co-founder and aviation educator Kjell Erik "Da Swede" Anderson, suffered a massive heart attack Monday September 10, 2012 and passed away while at work in Madison, Wisconsin. He was 51.

October

Former SAC Commander Gen. Bennie L. Davis

Retired Gen. Bennie L. Davis, former commander in chief of Strategic Air Command and director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, NE, died in Georgetown, Texas. He was 84 years-old.

Former AEA President And Industry Icon Monte R. Mitchell 

Monte R. Mitchell, former president of the association and a legend in the avionics industry, who served nearly 40 years in the general aviation industry, passed away in Lee's Summit, MO, at the age of 83, following a brief illness.

Business Aviation Safety Champion Al Ueltschi

95-year-old Albert Lee Ueltschi was founder and chairman emeritus of FlightSafety International, Inc.

Aircraft Designer Martin Hollmann

Martin Hollmann, who spent a career as an engineer and designer in the aerospace industry, passed away after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 72.

British Pilot Flt. Lt. William Walker

Thought to be the oldest surviving pilot from the Battle of Britain, Spitfire pilot and poet Flt. Lt. William Walker AE died in an unspecified hospital in the U.K. on Sunday at the age of 99

November

Chuck Bush, First African-American Academy Grad

The first African-American to graduate from the Air Force Academy passed away at his home in Lolo, MT.

Tuskegee Airman Herbert Carter

Retired Col. Herbert E. Carter died at East Alabama Medical Center, according to a news release from Tuskegee University. He was 95.

 
December

Television Helicopter Pioneer John D. Silva
It all began in Los Angeles. In 1958, after KTLA television chief engineer John D. Silva convinced station management to allocate $40,000 to equip a rented Bell 47 helicopter with the ability to transmit live pictures from the aircraft ... the era of airborne television news coverage was born.

'Thunderbirds' Television Show Creator Gerry Anderson
He called his method of production "Supermarionation", and his principal characters were all marionettes. Employing the puppets and scale models, Garry Anderson created a cult television classic "Thunderbirds" which ran for two seasons on Britain's ITV.

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