Vern
Well Known Member
Hal Darley died in June 2009. Although he had a stated goal of living long enough to fly my RV-6A, his health prevented it. Hal was my mentor-more like a big brother than an uncle.
Hal restored the prettiest Luscombe 8-E ever and owned a T-6 and several Pitt's Specials. He let me fly them all.I had the Luscombe at college before I ever had a car there.
Hal was at Edwards AFB during the glory years and knew most of the early x-series test pilots and early astronauts. He flew with Paul Mantz and others in a movie filming there at Edwards in the 50's called 'Toward the Unknown'-(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toward_the_Unknown). He knew Wernher_von_Braun. Later he was an Air Traffic Controller and was at Atlanta Center when it got its first radar-off a battleship!
Building time and seeking a job with Delta Airlines, Hal eventually got his chance when he by-passed HR and had an appointment with Delta president CE Woolman,who raised the age limit and hired Hal the next day. Hal flew the DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, DC-9, Convair 880, L-100, 727, and L-1011.
He was an active IAC member and judge.
Besides mentoring me, he would teach anyone with a sincere interest in flying, even at his own expense.
He could pick a mean guitar and loved all things Chet Atkins.
He was great friends of George Cowan and Frank English,listed elsewhere in this forum.
Hal loved a good prank. An EAA member decided to 'streak' Macon, GA in his Breezy. Hal in his Luscombe was there to record the event for us.
Hal restored the prettiest Luscombe 8-E ever and owned a T-6 and several Pitt's Specials. He let me fly them all.I had the Luscombe at college before I ever had a car there.
Hal was at Edwards AFB during the glory years and knew most of the early x-series test pilots and early astronauts. He flew with Paul Mantz and others in a movie filming there at Edwards in the 50's called 'Toward the Unknown'-(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toward_the_Unknown). He knew Wernher_von_Braun. Later he was an Air Traffic Controller and was at Atlanta Center when it got its first radar-off a battleship!
Building time and seeking a job with Delta Airlines, Hal eventually got his chance when he by-passed HR and had an appointment with Delta president CE Woolman,who raised the age limit and hired Hal the next day. Hal flew the DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, DC-9, Convair 880, L-100, 727, and L-1011.
He was an active IAC member and judge.
Besides mentoring me, he would teach anyone with a sincere interest in flying, even at his own expense.
He could pick a mean guitar and loved all things Chet Atkins.
He was great friends of George Cowan and Frank English,listed elsewhere in this forum.
Hal loved a good prank. An EAA member decided to 'streak' Macon, GA in his Breezy. Hal in his Luscombe was there to record the event for us.
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