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Dave I remember the Piaggio and Otter. I think later on they had those "flying pencils" going into south base.
I worked on AV3 - 7. I'm the guy who named "Christine," I think it was AV4 or 5.
Yep - I'm one of those "derriere's."Yikes! A QA guy!
Thanks - most of my time was in QA although I did a lot of sidework to stay connected with my GA roots. The thing I hated most about the manufacturing side of the business were the people that were there for the paycheck and had no pride or passion about aviation, or the know it alls that spent 15 years putting jo-bolts into a wing splice - I used to call them "bomber builders" because between the B-1 and B-2 that's all they knew. One of my last bosses at Mojave was that way, a former Lockheed guy, he knew nothing about flight test, modifications or heavy maintenance and I think I got laid off because of his jealousy. Anyway I'm ranting but things worked out for me.Sounds like you have had a varied background in aerospace. Quite impressive.
I am looking for information or article about David R. Barnes who was killed in a plane crash maybe in late 70's or early 80's . His family owned Barnes Aviation in Lancaster, California. He was married to Janet Barnes, formally Janet Hendrickson from Quartz Hill. I am only investigating for a friend.
Myself, I am a mom of a Severely wounded SPC injured in the war in Iraq.
Thank you for your help.
Vicky
Thanks FLYBOYJ. I didn't even have the date right, which just goes to show how much I didn't know about his death. I started there when the FBO was called Willbanks Aviation before Bill bought it. I haven't been back to Antelope Valley since the early 70s and the photo brings back memories. I remember the graveyard in the background was full of Constellations and made the airport real easy for a novice pilot to find his way around the vicinity.
Anyway, I wonder how it happened. Mechanical failure, perhaps? I see that he only had a few hours in the P-51, so maybe it just got away from him, though with all those hours that really doesn't seem likely. Thanks for the info.
Michael
Hey Joe! Shouling Barnes and her sons still run Barnes Aviation. Shouling and Bill never had children together. Her children are from a previous marriage and she is Chinese. Steve Ma, Shouling's son, was in the office last time I was there.
I think Bill had a son when he was married before, but the son was killed in an aircraft accident, I think at Rosamond. He never had any other children to my knowledge. I have never heard of a "David Barnes." No relation to Bill and Shouling.
Thanks for the annual! A little less windy today!)