ANN's Annual Review Of The Year That Was: Our Treasured Friends Who Have Gone West in 2009

Aero-News pays tribute to the following aviators -- in body and in spirit -- who slipped the surly bonds of Earth in 2009 -- some of whom were close friends, and all others our friends in spirit -- and extends our sincere sympathies to their families, and to any of our readers who also lost a loved one last year...

Nancy Bird Walton was the first woman in Australia to operate a commercial aircraft. She learned to fly in 1933 at the age of 17, becoming the youngest Australian woman to earn a pilot license. She was taught by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith -- the first man to fly across the mid-Pacific. ANN Report January 14.

Harry J. Hillaker, known to many as the "Father of the F-16," passed away Sunday at the age of 89. Hillaker worked as an aeronautical engineer at General Dynamics for 44 years. He started his career with Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego in 1941, later transferring to the company's plant in North Texas. He had a hand in some of the most exciting aircraft designs of the post-World War II era, including the B-36 Peacemaker, B-58 Hustler and F-111 Aardvark fighter-bomber. ANN Report February 11.

Robert G. Ferry served as an Air Force lieutenant colonel, and flew 90 helicopter missions in the Korean War. He was a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base from 1954 to 1960 where, according to his wife, Marti, "He flew everything... He'd break the sound barrier one day, and fly a helicopter the next." ANN Report February 13.

Former Icelandair CEO Sigurdur Helgason. Helgason, who passed away February 8 at the age of 87, revolutionized low-cost airline travel in the 1960s. His airline, Loftleidir, started budget airline flights from the US to Scandinavia, via Iceland, in 1955. In the early 1960s, the airline started service to Luxembourg... which may seem like an odd destination at first, but since Luxembourg had no national flag carrier to call its own, it was the only European country to allow Icelandic flights to land there. ANN Report February 18.

Paul Lopez, up-and-coming airshow performer, was a loan officer by trade until he was let go. Lopez owned Aerobatic Activities Inc. and had performed at events around the country. According to an online profile, Lopez competed intermittently since 1998, and began flying airshows in 2006. ANN Report March 9.

Paul Wesley Airey, First Chief Master Sergeant Of Air Force. Chief Airey held the top enlisted position at the USAF from April 3, 1967 to July 31, 1969. During his tenure, he worked to change loan establishments charging exorbitant rates outside the air base gates and to improve low retention during the Vietnam Conflict. ANN Report March 12.

'Showcopters' Helo Pilot Jim Cheatham, who pioneered advances in helicopter-mounted aerial photography and headed the world's only civilian helicopter demonstration team, Showcopters. ANN Report March 14.

Aerospace Medicine Pioneer Dr. Earl Wood, the Mayo Clinic investigator credited with inventing the high-altitude pressure suit worn by pilots and astronauts. ANN Report March 24.

"The Blue Max" Author Jack D. Hunter. His World War I novel was published in 1964, became the basis for a motion picture of the same title starring George Peppard two years later, and continues to find an audience today. The story of a lower-class 18-year-old German who sets his sights on shooting down 20 enemy aircraft to earn his nation's highest decoration held echoes of its author's own personal conflicts. ANN Report April 16.

Alan Bristow, a former chief executive of British United Airways was the founder of one of the world's largest helicopter companies, Bristow Helicopters, where he served as managing director and then chairman from 1954 to 1985. ANN Report April 30.

Joseph S. Algranti was one of those "been there and done most of it" flyers who helped build NASA from the launch pad up. Among the responsibilities he undertook was his ascension to Chief of Aircraft Operations at the Johnson Space Center during the heady years of the Apollo Program, even directing the Lunar Lander Training Vehicle (LLTV) program that was used to build skills and familiarity with the flying chores that were to eventually land men on the moon. ANN Report May 9.

World War II Bomber Pilot Tom Holmes Jr. a businessman in Jasper, Texas died on Memorial day, a day his family called "appropriate." Homes was born in 1919 in Higgins, Texas, and joined the Army in 1941 immediately after graduating from North Texas State Teachers College in Denton, now the University of North Texas. Holmes was a B-24 pilot in World War II. ANN Report May 28.

Retired Sgt. James F. Travis Sr., an original Tuskegee Airman, served in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946 and became an aerial engineer, gunner and crew chief attached to the 477th Bombardment Group during World War II. ANN Report June 2.

Dr. Sam B. Williams, founder and Chairman of turbine engine maker Williams International, who was best known for his patented invention of the small fanjet engine that enabled the creation of small efficient business jets. ANN Report June 24.

Annie 'Belle' Lawrence, had been a member of The Ninety-Nines, Amelia Earhart's international organization for female pilots. She ferried military aircraft across the country during WWII, once making an emergency landing in a cabbage field. The farmer had apparently never seen an airplane before, let alone one being flown by a woman. The farmer took her to buy parts, and already an accomplished mechanic, Mrs. Lawrence repaired the airplane and continued to her destination. ANN Report June 30.

Airshow Pilot Chandy Clanton's monoplane went down in a bean field during the practice session for a show the next day. Local law enforcement reports that the accident occurred near US Hwy 136 some 75 miles southeast of Omaha, NE. ANN Report July 11.

Ultralight pioneer/mentor Homer Kolb hailed from Phoenixville, Pa., and developed a number of highly regarded ultralight and experimental airframes starting with the release of his first commercially successful designs in 1980. Preceding the formal definitions of FAR Part 103, Homer's excellent designs withstood the test of time in terms of handling qualities, integrity and utility. ANN Report July 13.

Margaret 'Peggy' LoPresti, wife of aviation speed pioneer Roy LoPresti. She was the chairman of the board of LoPresti Speed Merchants and LoPresti Aviation of Vero Beach and Sebastian. ANN Report July 20.

After years of regrettably reporting the tragedies that befall others, ANN's Jim Campbell found himself reporting on the worst news imaginable... the loss of IAC President Vicki Cruse at the World Aerobatic Championships in the UK on August 22nd. Jim and Vicki were once husband and wife, and despite the years since then, the impact was considerable and, frankly, still is. A more vibrant spirit would be hard to find than that which started to emerge with her first aerobatic lesson from Jim on one of their early dates, to a truly formidable presence on the world aerobatic scene a few short years later. She was an amazing lady, and the world is so much poorer without her... ANN Report August 22

Decorated WWII Flying Tiger pilot Major General Charles Bond Jr., one of the last surviving Flying Tiger pilots of World War II. General Bond retired in 1968 as commander of the 12th Air Force in Waco TX after more than 30 years of service. He had been decorated by multiple governments during his career, and was credited with shooting down 9 and a half enemy planes. ANN Report August 27.

Barbara Robinson of Robinson Helicopter Company was instrumental in marketing the newly certificated R22 and developing Robinson’s worldwide dealer network. In 1983 Barbara earned her pilot’s license and became Whirly-Girl #385, that same year she married Frank Robinson, president and founder of Robinson Helicopter. Barbara remained a key figure at the growing company until 1995. ANN Report September 13.

Tom Rogers, the owner of Avionics West, Tennessee had retired as the owner and operator of Avionics West Inc. in Santa Maria, California. He was a United States Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War. He lived formerly in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Santa Maria, California and lived in Savannah, Tennessee for 5 years, where he opened Avionics West of Tennessee. ANN Report October 9.

William 'Bud' Evans, creator of the Evans Volksplane. Evans had been an aeronautical project and design engineer, and created the plans for the kit-built Volksplane back in the 1960's. Plans for the single-place wooden aircraft have been sold to thousands of home-builders around the world. The plans called for the plane to be powered by a modified Volkswagen engine. ANN Report October 13.

Richard Whitcomb was an engineer at Langley for nearly 4 decades. While there, he developed three important innovations for aviation: How to achieve practical, efficient transonic and supersonic flight by changing the shape of the fuselage, the supercritical wing that revolutionized the design of jet liners, and, perhaps most ubiquitous now, the winglets that improve efficiency and fuel performance on aircraft ranging from LSA's to private jets and major airlines. ANN Report October 15.

'Rocket Man' Hal Graham, designer of the original jet pack, as an engineer who developed the jet pack in the early 1960's even demonstrating his "Bell Rocket" to President Kennedy in 1961. He also showed it to representatives of the Pentagon. ANN Report October 31.

Ed Stimpson, began his career in aviation as the head of Congressional Affairs for the Federal Aviation Administration under the Kennedy Administration. In 1970, he became president of the newly formed General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). ANN Report November 26.

Eddie Edwards was a famed WWII Civil Air Patrol pilot and a winner of the first Air Medal of WWII to be presented personally by the President of the United States to any U.S. airman. Edwards accepted his Air Medal from Franklin D. Roosevelt, along with one awarded to his anti-sub base commander Major. Hugh Sharp, CAP, in the White House Oval Office in 1943. ANN Report December 10.

U.S. Navy photo 1943 courtesy of CAP Historical Foundation

Tuskegee Airman Luther H. Smith served three tours in Europe during WWII, survived a German prison camp, and later had a distinguished career as an aerospace engineer. ANN Report December 13.

Wes Lematta, Columbia Helicopters’ Founder and Chairman of the Board, pioneered the concept of commercial heavy-lift helicopter operations, developing techniques and processes that are industry standards to this day. He provided significant contributions to the helicopter industry as a whole, as well as within the state of Oregon. He also leaves behind significant philanthropic contributions throughout Oregon and Washington. ANN Report December 25.

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