A Friend Goes Down

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:08 pm

A friend and fellow pilot and warbird enthusiast was lost Sat in a mid air collision apparently.
Bryan Sax was from Aspen, in college at CU he won the NCAA Giant Slalom national championship. He coached my Son Charles racing for the Aspen Ski Club. Charles really liked him and twice he made the regional junior olympics. Under Bryan he was good enough at 17 to run a downhill race on the same course on Aspen Mt used for Klammer and the world cup guys, just a little shorter on the easy top part. Bryan himself raced twice in the 24 hour downhill race in Aspen at speeds up to 90 mphonce fell at about 70 and got up and kept going.
Bryan was a bartender, then started two popular eating places, Saxy's in Boulder, etc.
He flew my Bonanza as the photo plane when we made a video about flying the Spitfire a few years ago. He was too heavy to ride in it but he enjoyed the view and did a good job, despite no formation experience. His Dad owned a nice Be 36 TC like mine but newer.
He had become an instructor and revived flight instruction in Aspen that had died out in favor of courting G 5s. He was in Florida west of Ft. Lauderdale to get his multi rating when the accident happened, fatal to both in both planes.
He is gone at 37 and leaves 2 daughters. In my mind, in that deep place where you keep things like this, it sure is full.

EXPAT0149 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:44 am **Posts:** 163

So sorry to hear this news

DenverWarbirdFan · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:59 pm

I'm sorry to hear the news Bill. My condolences are with you.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:06 pm

High Flight
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 windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:07 pm

I am sorry to hear that Bill.

spookythecat · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:11 pm

Sorry to hear the news

RickH · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:21 pm

Heard about the midair in Fl. Apparently both aircraft, taking off from different airports headed to the same known practice area where they midaired over the Everglades. Clearing turns are essential.

An awfully sad day, sorry to hear of your loss, Bill.

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:37 pm

Yeah, Rick clearing turns are good. He might even had a hood on, don't know. And a twin is harder to see out of.

Why is is the good guys who are lost, when there are so many OJ types in the world?

I never saw Bryan have a down day. He was a bundle of optimism and enthusiasm.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:39 pm

Especially sad given the closeness of the relationship and the time of year-all my best thoughts at this moment.

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:46 pm

Gary, that poem is on the headstone of the man who taught me to fly the Spitfire. Maybe it will be on mine.

Bluedharma · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:52 pm

Bill, my condolences.
I am sorry to hear this news.

DenverWarbirdFan · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:52 pm

Bill-

Here's to hoping that you won't be needing a headstone anytime soon!

Scott

Nathan · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:58 pm

I am very sorry bill. I know I am not a very important person around here but I just want to say how sorry I am of your loss and I hope brighter days are coming to you.

Regards and best wishes,
Nathan

muddyboots · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:39 pm

Sorry to hear it Bill. The good ones are the ones who dare most. And taht's why we lose them more often than the ones who choose the safer path. I hope his family will be all right.

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

I'm sorry to hear about your loss, Bill. Sounds like he was a great man. I've lost many friends in aviation over the last few decades, but each time it happens, it doesn't get any easier.

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A Friend Goes Down

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