Began Taking Flying Lessons At The Age Of 14

The founder of Professional Pilot Magazine, Murray Smith, has Gone West. Smith died Christmas day at the age of 89.

The publication reports that Smith began taking flying lessons at the age of 14 while working at the airport. He earned a journalism degree from the University of Illinois, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy after working briefly at an advertising agency.

While in the Navy, he wrote for multiple government organizations as a technical journalist, and it was during that time that he hatched the idea for Professional Pilot Magazine.

The first issue of the magazine was published in January, 1967. On the cover was a business jet as well as the flight department's chief pilot and the company's vice president. Since then, nearly every cover of the magazine featured planes, pilots, company executives and products.

Smith said in 2017 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the magazine that the publican would continue to innovate, but "the basic people approach remains the same."

He is survived by his wife Eleni, his sons David and Alex, and a granddaughter.

E-I-C Note: I can't think of anyone whom I respected more among the other publications... Murray was an original, a great guy to chat the world away with, and most of all, an honest guy. His wit, his insight, and his true interest in the welfare of aviation inspired me and so many others... and I'm going to miss the chance to ring him up and spend some valued minutes figuring out the aviation world. Once again, the aviation world grows a little smaller because true giants like Murray have Gone West. I'm really going to miss him, and for sure, I'll never forget him. -- Jim Campbell, ANN CEO/E-I-C.

(Source: Professional Pilot Magazine. Image provided)

FMI: Source report