There are those individuals who are more than just pilots. They are people who have managed to make a name for themselves in the Aviation World, and upon whom the rest of us look with awe and respect.
My Junior year in High School, the nearby Community College decided to experiment with offering classes at some of the local High Schools. My school was chosen for an Aeronautics course, held the hour before regular classes three days a week (IIRC), and taught by none other than Art Scholl.
My brother and I both took the course, which was convenient for me since my brother already had his driver's license, and I could ride with him to the early class.
To a kid like me, Scholl was nearly god-like. He flew awesome airplanes in fantastic maneuvers. He drove a classic Cobra Mustang. He worked not only in airshows, but also in movies and television shows. He told flying stories that thrilled us, made us laugh, and even managed to educate us a bit.
And he got out of bed early, to teach Aeronautics to a bunch of high school kids.
It was a sad day, in September 1985, when I learned of his death, during the filming of "Top Gun." Scholl was doing the flat-spin in his Pitts biplane, out over the Pacific Ocean, when he radioed in, "I have a problem." The reports are that he was at 3000' at that time. At 1500', he radioed in what would be his last message - "I really have a problem."
I see his name pop up from time to time, in the credits of old movies and television shows. Over thirty years after his death, and you can still buy RC models of his Super Chipmunk stunt plane, with his paint scheme. Someday, when I'm a much better RC pilot, and can do it justice, I might just have to get one.
I wonder if he ever knew just how much of an impact he had on some of us kids?
Next.
My Junior year in High School, the nearby Community College decided to experiment with offering classes at some of the local High Schools. My school was chosen for an Aeronautics course, held the hour before regular classes three days a week (IIRC), and taught by none other than Art Scholl.
My brother and I both took the course, which was convenient for me since my brother already had his driver's license, and I could ride with him to the early class.
To a kid like me, Scholl was nearly god-like. He flew awesome airplanes in fantastic maneuvers. He drove a classic Cobra Mustang. He worked not only in airshows, but also in movies and television shows. He told flying stories that thrilled us, made us laugh, and even managed to educate us a bit.
And he got out of bed early, to teach Aeronautics to a bunch of high school kids.
It was a sad day, in September 1985, when I learned of his death, during the filming of "Top Gun." Scholl was doing the flat-spin in his Pitts biplane, out over the Pacific Ocean, when he radioed in, "I have a problem." The reports are that he was at 3000' at that time. At 1500', he radioed in what would be his last message - "I really have a problem."
I see his name pop up from time to time, in the credits of old movies and television shows. Over thirty years after his death, and you can still buy RC models of his Super Chipmunk stunt plane, with his paint scheme. Someday, when I'm a much better RC pilot, and can do it justice, I might just have to get one.
I wonder if he ever knew just how much of an impact he had on some of us kids?
Next.
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