Gone west: WW1 collector-pilot Javier Arango killed

[Zac Yates]

Awful news. Javier had, I think, the largest collection of Great War aircraft outside of TVAL/Sir Peter. His aircraft have featured in Phil Makanna's GHOSTS Of The Great War Calendars.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local ... 20439.html

[k5083]

Very sad, and so young. A great blow to the WWI replica community. Yagen's WWI collection might rival his in numbers, but not in quality/accuracy. Makanna did a whole book on him and his collection when he started that branch of his calendar line.

August

[JohnB]

When a friend built an authentic Pup replica, I learned more about his work and collection through mutual acquaintances.

He had a great collection of airframe and power plants. In addition to his WWI collection, he also had a Ford Tri-Motor which was recently featured in Flying magazine.

As a board member of the NASM, he was the leading collection, restorer and pilot of airworthy WWI-era types in the country.
Aside from the obvious loss to friends and family, it's hard to overstate what his passing might mean to the early aviation community in America.
RIP and condolences to friends and family.

[Warbirdnerd]

Here is an Air & Space article about Mr Arango and his collection:
http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-f ... s-3409154/
A great loss, my condolences to his friends and family.

[T J Johansen]

Apart from the WWI stuff, did he not also have an FG-1D?

T J

[old iron]

The plane was the Nieuport 28 replica built by Jim Appleby in 1976.

[JohnH]

Apart from the WWI stuff, did he not also have an FG-1D?

T J

Yes. I thought Wentworth owned it but he's the restorer and pilot, not the owner.