Clay Klabo?

Speedy · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:44 am

NOT wanting to start rumors here, but I heard that Clay Klabo had fallen ill and may have passed away in the last few days. Anyone confirm?

Clay used to own/fly/race the P-51 N311G "Iron Mistress"/"Fat Cat" back in the 1970's and early '80's.

In recent years he had moved from his longtime home in Scottsdale, AZ to Las Vegas...and I know as recently as a few weeks ago had renewed his National Air-Racing Group dues and such.

Stoney · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:12 pm

I'd like to know also, he's an old friend.

P51Mstg · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:36 am **Posts:** 1202

It really doesn't mean anything, but he isn't in the LV Review Journal Obits......

Mark H

AVATRBR · **Posted:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 3:30 pm

Clay called me about four weeks ago and told me he was moving to Sun City, he said his email would be down a few days and would let me know when he was settled.
Emails to him have been rejected since that time and his cell phone drops the call as soon as I dial it.
I just now called Sam Korth and inquired.....
Sam told him Clay passed away a few weeks ago in a Vegas Hospital.
He had been ill for quite a while but the final blow was some kind of a growth in his throat.

Pooner · **Posted:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:54 pm

I'm sorry to hear the news.

Clay was always a gentleman and a wealth of knowledge, and always full of encouragement on my many projects.

For quite awhile now I've missed seeing him driving around FFZ with old dog in tow, checking to see what was going on inside the hangars.

I always thought it something ironic when a fellow whom I'd always considered a great legend in the "been there, done that" world of aviation would spare the time to stop and shoot the breeze and talk about airplanes in front of our hangar. His queries from me of "What was it like to fly that Mustang?" were always met with a shrug of his big old shoulders as if it was something everybody does to pass a little time...

And no matter how busy we'd get in the hangar we'd always walk outside to see Clay climbing out in his T-28 when he'd go for a grind around the pattern. I never did get a chance to see him handle the Mustang those many years ago, but he sure knew how to fly his "other" airplane.

God Speed, Clay. It truly was an honor and priviledge to have spent some time with you.

Chris · **Posted:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:09 pm

SUCKS!!!! I echo Pooners thoughts. Every time we went to Falcons Roost for lunch, Clay was usually there. One of the absolutely nicest gentlemen you could ever meet. Always had time to talk about warbirds. We'll miss you Clay!!!

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Clay Klabo?

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