Bruce's dear friend, artist and wing walker Teresa Stokes, has been in contact with the OSH airshow announcer who will be making an announcement at today's airshow. God speed, Bruce!Oh no! This is sad to hear. An aviation legend flies west…
This brought tears. Great writing. Thanks for sharing.
Did a Pitts check out with him too. It was like having the voice of god coming over the intercom. And I have never seen a better ground instruction explanation of stability and control and the physics of landings, including the use of aileron adverse yaw to augment rudder in a cross-wind landing. As far as rudder inputs he would hold up a small baseball bat and hang it down by the handle to explain positive stability of a tri-gear. Then he would turn the bat over and put the handle knob on his palm and then keep the bat balanced by quickly moving his hand in and out as necessary to keep the bat from falling over. It was a great emulation of the rudder inputs where a lot time you put it in and take it out in whatever direction is necessary. This was all after I already had 2,000 hours of tailwheel but it had never been explained better up till then.Did my Pitts check out with Bruce. After one landing in the circuit he announced, If you can do that the training is over. Take me back to my airport. I said if he’s that sure, I guess I’m ready to go pick up my plane solo! Some of the best instruction I’ve ever gotten and great stories.
If you notice right by the Pitts main tire, the little golf mat. He would take 20 slices and go through 2 cigarettes before getting a ball on the island by the windsock. The bat illustration was the best tailwheel visual I’ve ever seen taught. Hopefully 81D will remain open…..There’s no better place to practice short field grass landings than Bruce’s place.My Pitts partners and I referred to Bruce as "Tin Cup" in honor of the movie that has a similar character who is golf pro living in a trailer in the middle of dusty West Texas course. Bruce was kind of living the Tin Cup life at Flyin' Tiger Field. He did not conform to societal norms and was a character and a half. Here is a photo I took looking out of his hangar at Flyin' Tiger Field.
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Oh Dale,Hi All,
Bruce's older brother Dale here. I would like to thank all for all the kind comments here and elsewhere on this site. He was one of a kind to say the least, but he will be missed. Here's a little video that was aimed mostly at family, but those involved have approved wider release.
Again, many thanks!
Dale
Hi Donah,Oh Dale,
You made me cry. Just to hear his voice again…I miss him every…single…day. Thank you for this beautiful tribute.
- Donah Bohannon
Hi Donah,
We'll chat at the memorial/party.
Dale
Bruce and I passed quite often ever since he was at Clover Field with Pushy. I have a small airport TA97 down the road from his . Quite the character and will be sorely missed. Blue skys, tailwinds RIP Bruce.Hi All,
Bruce's older brother Dale here. I would like to thank all for all the kind comments here and elsewhere on this site. He was one of a kind to say the least, but he will be missed. Here's a little video that was aimed mostly at family, but those involved have approved wider release.
Again, many thanks!
Dale