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  #91  
Old 09-22-2013, 02:49 AM
David-aviator David-aviator is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
Posts: 4,514
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tkatc View Post
Thank you for all of your kind words and happy memories. Tony is the love of my life, my best friend, and my soul mate and I miss him terribly. I saw the crash site today and it is awful. I will tell you that whatever happened in my mind had to be catastrophic. Tony was a great pilot, a great man and a great husband and friend. Please feel free to reach out to me -
And thank you for the message at this very difficult time for you and your family. Many here are having a tough time dealing with what happened and this from you at this time is helpful.

We here share a passion. Flying is very intense in some persons, nothing will keep them from it. Tony was in that category. He would never give it up if it had been someone else. You could sense it in his messages, he was driven, he was intense, and he shared it with others who felt it also.

Some of us have been around a while and been through this before. It is never easy and always leaves unanswered the question, why the other guy and not me?

I believe we live in this physical world governed by the laws of physics (and other laws), have the freedom to make choices, and beyond that are on a journey returning to where we came from and there is no guarantee the ride will be easy. Aviation happens to be an advocation appropriate to that end - when we fly we feel it, a sense of personal freedom, we are going somewhere. It is a risky ride but we would not miss it for anything. Not everyone senses this but some do.

Again, thank you for taking the time to say what you said. Tony is OK. The spirit, the soul, does not die. You will meet your soul mate again.
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Last edited by DeltaRomeo : 09-22-2013 at 08:27 AM.
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  #92  
Old 09-22-2013, 05:19 AM
pierre smith's Avatar
pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
Default Thank you, Amy.

Amy, thank you for your kind words.

May I suggest that you stay in touch on here for some great company, compassion, remembrance and as a continuing RV family who loves you.

Best,
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Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
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Louisville, Ga

It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
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Dues gladly paid!
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  #93  
Old 09-22-2013, 05:41 AM
IFlySlow IFlySlow is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Reading, PA
Posts: 59
Default Just too sad...

I'm sad to say I'd heard about a plane crash in NJ on Friday, and it never occurred to me it would be anyone I "knew". Devastating to come back to the computer to catch up and discover this news.

I only met Tony once, at the RV-1 visit to Pottstown Limerick Airport, and only exchanged a few words with him and with Vlad, but have followed his adventures since he first bought his RV and flew it across the country to its new home. He always impressed me as a great guy, a professional at his job, very giving of his knowledge and expertise, and a genuinely fun person. God Bless his wife Amy and their families as they deal with this tragedy.

PS - Has anyone reached out to Vlad? I know he must be hurting even more than any of us this weekend.

David Kilmer
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  #94  
Old 09-22-2013, 06:49 AM
Adam Adam is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 269
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Amy, I'm so sad for your loss. Tony and Vlad would come to our airport Sky Manor quite often. I have a RV-8, Tony and I would talk about the building of his new 8. I am the Fly In chairman in our EAA 643 Chapter and I was so happy to give him an award for such a beautiful plane at our event, this was Sept 07, 2013, he was a great guy and we will all miss him.
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  #95  
Old 09-22-2013, 07:49 AM
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N546RV N546RV is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Brookshire, TX
Posts: 1,036
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Sucker punched.

I never met Tony. Never even talked to him directly that I know of. But I followed his -8 build, and the "Ask a Controller" thread was always a must-read. You didn't have to talk to him directly to see his passion bleed through every word.

I feel a great loss and my only contact was through the electrons in this laptop screen. I can't begin to imagine the loss felt by those close to him.
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  #96  
Old 09-22-2013, 08:01 AM
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sbal0906 sbal0906 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Posts: 214
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Like everyone else here, I was stunned to read of the news on Friday. I never met Tony but I got a picture of the kind of guy he was through his posts. As a low time pilot, I always felt there was something I can learn from him and I was never wrong. He was insightful, thoughtful and always respected others and their views. And he always took the time to contribute. A class act all the way.

To Amy, his family and friends, I offer my condolences. Like I said, I never met him but I truly wish I had.

Take care,
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http://www.flyaroundthesun.com
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  #97  
Old 09-22-2013, 08:02 AM
humptybump humptybump is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 3,179
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Tony will be missed. He was always listening and learning and served us well.

Tony was there for me last summer when I was down. He knew the remedy was to tell the good stories and share the fun memories.

So here is one of my favorite "Tony" pictures - captured by Vlad ...

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  #98  
Old 09-22-2013, 08:04 AM
sailvi767 sailvi767 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Charlotte NC
Posts: 1,166
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I never met TK but like most on the forum enjoyed his posts and how much he loved the community and the RV. Any accident is disturbing however I think this accident has hit close to home for many VAF members. It also suggests and that is all at this point that there could have been a inflight breakup of the aircraft on what appears to be a routine flight. Hopefully regardless of the final cause there will be lessons to be learned and the accident can improve RV safety for all of us. I don't think TK would have wanted it any other way.
One thing I might add for the moderators. Amy's post was great to see and I know it took a lot of courage to write anything at this point. I would however ask that the moderators remove her phone number and perhaps the email address. Sadly we live in a world where there are a lot of bad people and some may choose to use this information in ways that are not right. Perhaps the mods could retain the information and give it out to a member who wants to contact her. [[ed. Done. I have the contact info if anyone needs it. dr]

George

Last edited by DeltaRomeo : 09-22-2013 at 08:28 AM.
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  #99  
Old 09-22-2013, 08:30 AM
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Eddie P Eddie P is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Aptos, CA (previously Reno, 21 years!)
Posts: 247
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To all of you, and especially Amy, my sincere condolences. This one hurts a lot because of the circumstances of the crash. But also, to even people like me who did not know Tony, it's very hard to see this happen to someone clearly so passionate about life and who are in their prime. I've read many of his posts in the past and always thought he had so much to share and add to the sport aviation community. Like many here, I know from my earliest memories I was born to fly and that's why I've made it my life's work and even my life's favorite past time when I'm not working in aviation. It's in our blood, souls, and it is a critical part of our life. I think Tony exemplified this same passion, and especially to many of us aviation "lifer's" out there, his passion will be sorely missed. To all of you who were his family and close friends, be strong...
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  #100  
Old 09-22-2013, 08:39 AM
John Owen John Owen is offline
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Liberty, MO
Posts: 252
Default Too sad

I can only echo the incredible, heart-felt sentiments already expressed.

It hurt when I read the words. I thought "what can I do to help?" I decided that saying a solemn prayer for Amy, Tony Jr and all of those who loved and knew him was first. Then I went for a flight for the friend that I had never met.

Amy, if there is anything that you need, someone here can likely help.

John
RV-8
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