Special to ANN, by Rob Stapleton

Calling him a legend and a pioneer; friends, officials and pilots gathered in Anchorage last week to remember Mike Jacober.

"Mike (seen above with the FAA's Sue Gardner) was a bigger name in aviation in the lower-48 than he is here," said Kurt Wien, an airline captain, who met Jacober when he was 12 years old. Even so, over 400 people crowded into the Central Lutheran Church in Anchorage to pay their respects to Jacober's family.

From California, Vermont, Oklahoma, Washington, Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic, friends and pilots gathered to hear remembrances of family and friends.

"He was the consummate teacher and one of the best instructors I have ever met or flown with," said Leonard Oakley. All eulogies reiterated that Jacober, 53 was friendly, always had a smile, and was a great teacher, and had a passion for flying.

One of the FAA officials that first 'busted' Jacober for flying an EasyRizer on skis (seen right) in 1976 said, "Mike was truly a pioneer in sport aviation, said Mark Stella. "At the time we knew we had no jurisdiction over him, but we asked him to come to the GATO headquarters to talk to us the next day anyway. Mike showed up, he beat us to work the next day."

Statements, and eulogies by dozens of friends painted a picture of Jacober as a likeable, enthusiastic, pilot who would always stop to help any builder, or pilot with their projects.
Perhaps the highlight of a day of mourning was brightened when four ultralights flew into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, using the Lake Hood gravel strip.

Piloting Antares flexwings were, Roy Benton, Craig Walker, and Rob Stapleton, with Arctic Sparrow Aircraft instructor and Jacober's close friend Rick Huggett who flew in a two place Challenger.
"It was a beautiful day, a beautiful service, and it was unbelievable that the FAA let those ultralights fly-in for the memorial at the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, said Ginny Jacober. "Mike would have loved to see that!"

Jacober and student Robert Pelkey were killed on June 5, 2003 when the trike they were flying crashed two miles north of Birchwood Airport. FAA officials and family members indicate that an official investigation may begin into the accidents cause early next week.

FMI: www.arcticsparrowaircraft.com