High Flight – John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
you have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
high in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
my eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
and, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand, and touched the face of God
In memory of our friend and fellow Grumman pilot

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

After a courageous ten month battle with brain cancer, Ed Manning passed away peacefully on January 18th surrounded by his loving family.

A native of Idaho, Ed spent most of his childhood in Fresno, where he graduated from Bullard High School and Fresno State College with a BS in Chemistry. He lived in Aptos for the past 43 years.

Ed served in the California Air National Guard as an F-102 pilot. As a United Airlines pilot, he flew the world for 33 years. His passion for flying included private, military, and commercial aircraft. Retirement was spent continuing his travels throughout the world.

Although a long standing military and commercial pilot, Ed retained his passion for small aero planes right until the end. A loyal supporter and long serving officer of the American Yankee Association, he was a frequent visitor to European AYA events even as late as June 2019 when he attended the European AYA Fly-In in Hungary, together with his lovely wife Pat and many members of his family. Ed was always a popular visitor to Europe and made many personal friends here.

Ed was laid to rest on January 29th 2020 in a private ceremony at Santa Cruz Memorial Park.

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

Brian was born in London and spent his early years growing up in India. By the time he was 18 he joined the RAF with a commission and flew Vampire Jets. During a visit to Plymouth to visit his parents, he met his wife Laurie and they were married in 1956. A year later he graduated from Cambridge in Natural Sciences and Engineering and took up a role in engineering with Garringtons in Bromsgrove. His career in engineering went from strength to strength and included a role at Fielding and Platt (latterly Heenan and Froude) designing dynamometers for testing Formula One Ferrari engines. One trip to Maranello included a lift to the factory by none other than John Surtees!

He then took the brave decision to start out on his own designing and manufacturing products for sailing dinghies, office furniture, light aircraft and then MRI scanners. After retiring in 2000, he was able to concentrate on spending more time flying his AA5 on many adventurous flying tours and driving his Singer Le Mans all around Europe. He made friends wherever he went. In the last few years he fought a brave fight with cancer. Scott Roberts, a close friend and business partner, said – “It was one of my proudest moments to have flown with him to his final fly-out with the Gang to Berlin in 2016”.

Brian leaves behind his dear wife Laurie, two daughters, grand-children and great-grandchildren. We miss him every day but can take comfort in the fact that he is with us in spirit as we continue to have adventures in the sky.

It was with great sadness that in February 2017, our dear flying friend Brian, passed away peacefully at his home in Woughton on the Green.

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

We lost Paul in a tragic accident on the 22-07-2006, his pilot Kevin Crossley also suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Paul will be forever missed by his wife Kay, family and friends.

Paul died doing what he loved…flying. Deep sympathy also to Kevins partner Tina, family and friends. Kevin was an excellent instructor and a brilliant controller. He will be sadly missed by all.

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

Norman was a regular attender of European Fly-Ins.

He died from a stroke after a forced landing accident in his AA1B EI-CCY at Galway Airport Ireland in the winter of 1994.

Five years later in 1999 a new award “The Norman Whisler Trophy” was presented for the first time to his wife Colette in recognition for the efforts he and Colette made in attending past events. Many of these flights were made in IFR conditions in their little plane.

This award is to go every year to the person who has made the most meritorious flight in attending the fly-in, not necessarily the longest flight.