Pogo wrote:
Heartbreaking indeed.
I never knew a lot about this airplane except that it was an astonishing thing to know was still operational, and I loved it for that plus other reasons that should be fairly easy to guess. I'm sad to say I know even less of who flew it. Can someone please tell those of us who out of this loop about that pilot? Seems like a bit of a tribute wouldn't be out of order just now.
The pilot was David Vopat. Though I had talked to him a few times recently, I didn't really know him well. I do know that he was an excellent warbird pilot and well versed in many, many taildraggers and had a very good reputation as a fantastic stick from what I know. He had a TON of experience flying everything from Piper Cubs to Mustangs to commercial Airliners. He was associated with several museums/organizations over the years including Planes of Fame, Collings foundation, Slattery's collection, and at least 5 other private owners (probably more?) who let him fly their personal aircraft. I also know that he was an airline pilot with a major air carrier.
In recent times, the main warbirds he flew, IIRC, were the P-51, P-40, T-6, and Flying Wing.
The main impression I got from my limited interactions with him was that he was extremely passionate about aviation and warbirds and would go out of his way to help people with an interest in it. I do remember a story he told me about being involved in a "youth outreach" program to help inspire and motivate disadvantaged youth in the L.A. area. He told me that was one of his most memorable experiences in aviation - getting to share the joy of flying with children that otherwise might not have had the opportunity to do so. When he told me that, I knew he was in this for all the right reasons.
He was one of the "good ones" who was an up and coming rising star in the warbird world. It broke my heart when I heard this news, as I knew when the N9M went down, that he probably was the pilot and his life was cut tragically short.
My condolences to David's family, the POF staff/volunteers and everyone impacted by this tragedy.
I give a toast to David - blue skies and tailwinds to my fellow departed aviator.
Here is an excellent video that POF put out last year with David flying the Wing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ZyBbhcqbUThis is how I prefer to remember him - happy and content to be in any cockpit he could fly in.