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.
![halguitar.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg104.imageshack.us%2Fimg104%2F1958%2Fhalguitar.jpg&hash=425352501db1e6b80cd8f5943b6e88d3)
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.
![luscombe.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg520.imageshack.us%2Fimg520%2F9913%2Fluscombe.jpg&hash=5f5256489d35e60bbc46b7ca6000802c)
![t6rr2.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg7.imageshack.us%2Fimg7%2F6310%2Ft6rr2.jpg&hash=62c61e747fbf4fd5bd8d83cb8e808940)
![halvernpitts045.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg40.imageshack.us%2Fimg40%2F3436%2Fhalvernpitts045.jpg&hash=9a31d15a2f88b31d59a068f776b3cb67)
![luscombe8e.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg25.imageshack.us%2Fimg25%2F1750%2Fluscombe8e.jpg&hash=9bd43e1a6b1a78f5b8768a2999679f23)
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.
![hal.png](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg198.imageshack.us%2Fimg198%2F8954%2Fhal.png&hash=4e881b9155dd6613064370b0ca19ae3b)
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.
![streakingmacon047.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg406.imageshack.us%2Fimg406%2F8403%2Fstreakingmacon047.jpg&hash=33a1cddb02ad9f7fde27857503caacee)
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