2nd Quarter 2008

Hi Twirly Birds,

It has been difficult for me to start this letter, as most of you already know our Twirly Bird anchor, John (Slats) Slattery passed away early in the morning of March 6th. This past Twirly Bird meeting in Houston was only the second meeting Slats had missed in over 30 years. Slats, for many, many years was the glue that held the T-Birds together and the compass that kept us heading in the right direction. His energy, enthusiasm, and love for the Twirly Birds was obvious to all who knew him.

Slats was born on June 15, 1927 and grew up in Bay City, Michigan. He served as a U.S. Marine in the Pacific and China. After WWII, Slats returned to Bay City and college. Called back to active duty in the Marines in 1951, he was sent to Korea. As a Marine infantryman suffering from frostbite, Slats was evacuated to a hospital in a Bell H-13, which Slats would later say was the beginning of his life-long love affair with helicopters.

Slats was accepted into and graduated from Air Force flight training, qualifying in both fixed-wing and helicopters. He served as a pilot in the U.S., Libya, and two tours in Vietnam. As a flight instructor in Vietnam, Slats trained a number of Vietnamese pilots to fly the Sikorsky H-34 and the UH-1 Iroquois, two of his favorite aircraft. He also flew the H-43 Husky, primarily as a crash-rescue pilot and standardization pilot.

Slats donated massive man hours in the preservation and documentation of the Helicopter Foundation International's (HFI’s) historical collection. That collection included one of world's largest scale model helicopter displays. Approximately 400 completed one-of-a-kind models on display and another 715 models in their original cartons.

In addition, Slats also oversaw a card file collection of historical documents and artifacts. These files include photographs, documents, articles, letters, brochures, decals, calendars, and other printed materials, estimated to be more than 25,000 items.

Retiring from the Air Force in 1974 as a highly decorated Lt.Col. Slats settled his family in Washington, D.C., where he began his association with HAl, HFI, and the Twirly Birds. Slats is survived by his wife, Jane, two sons Mike, Matt and grandchildren. Slats will be sorely missed by all in the rotary-wing industry, but especially missed by all Twirly Birds.

           
The T-Bird meeting and reception in Houston was again a great success with about 75 to 80 T-Birds and their guests in attendance. Our high-pocketed Treasurer, Bill Yarber, spent many hours in arranging a sizeable room, fully equipped with a bar, snacks, and all the necessities for a great annual meeting. A "tip of the rotor" to Bill for his efforts which made for another great reception/meeting.

           
We had the pleasure of accepting three new Associate Twirly Birds, first Mr. Tom Sullivan who has served in key helicopter maintenance positions for over 30 years. I first met Tom, back in the early 60's when he was #1 mechanic for Cully Weadock of Chesapeake & Potomac Airways in Baltimore.

           
The second Associate was Twirly Bird, Brenda Halvorson, daughter of Twirly Bird, Elling Halvorson. Brenda has been associated with helicopters and aviation operations for many years and is currently the President/CEO of Papillion Grand Canyon Helicopters Inc. As a professional experienced in the Helicopter Tour Industry/CFR-135 operations, Brenda, has played a key role in the company growth which now includes 600+ employees and operates 37 helicopters and 25 airplanes in various locations.  Her leadership and business acumen have expanded the Papillion operations by the acquisition of several companies including Scenic Airlines in Las Vegas.  Papillion also has an extensive history of contracts with several State and Federal Agencies.  The Papillion operation includes locations at the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Boulder City and is considered a leader in the Flight seeing/Tour industry.  

           
And last but not least, Gene Munson. Gene has very broad experience in the aviation industry.  He started as an Instrumentation Technician at Bell Helicopter in 1963.  From 1968 to 1977, he was a Flight Test Engineer/Analyst.  Gene’s numerous projects include the OH-58, UH/AH1 military models, and the 205, 206, 212, 214, 214ST, 222 commercial models plus research rotorcraft models.  From 1977 to 1981, Gene was a Bell Research Project Manager supporting various rotorcraft engineering projects for the Army, Navy, and NASA. In 1981, Gene joined Boeing Rotorcraft (Hughes Helicopters/McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems) as a Flight Test Engineer/ Test Director responsible for programs related to the YAH-64, AH64A, OH-6A and 500 series helicopters. From 1985 to 2005 with Boeing Rotorcraft, Gene held several managerial positions including Manager of Developmental Flight Controls and Avionics Labs, Manager Flight Test Instrumentation and Telemetry Ground Stations. Additionally, he supported engineering activities at the U.S. Naval Academy and the Naval Post Graduate School.  In 2005 Gene started GPM & Associates as a consultant for engineering flight test for Military and Commercial programs.  Gene is a rated commercial fixed wing pilot and has an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a MPM (Masters Project Management).   

Congratulations and welcome aboard, Brenda, Tom, and Gene!

           
In addition to the three new Associate members, through the diligent efforts of Bill Yarber, Gary Young, and many other T-Birds, we had 21 new members attend our annual meeting. When I receive all the details of their bios, addresses, etc., I will list them in the next letter.

           
You may be interested to know that I called Slats a couple days after our annual meeting, giving Slats the highlights and he was positively delighted to hear all the details. Slats passed away a few days later, knowing that his beloved Twirly Birds are increasing in number and alive and well.

           
The highlight of the meeting was the recognition and presentation of the Twirly Birds most prestigious "LES MORRIS" awards. This year, the recipients were two very famous pioneers of the rotary wing industry, Alan Bristow and Sergei Sikorsky .Sergei was in attendance and personally received his Les Morris Award.  Alan was unable to make the trip, but was represented by Bill Chiles, CEO of Bristow International, of Houston, TX. Alan had supplied us with a message on a DVD expressing his appreciation of being selected for the LES MORRIS award. We were not able to arrange with the hotel for a large TV monitor to show the award, but with the use of my lap top computer and the hotel's PA system, we managed to broadcast Alan's message to the assembled Twirly Birds.

           
Sergei and Alan were both stationed at Floyd Bennett Coast Guard base in the early 1940"s where various British and American pilots were taking helicopter training from Twirly Bird Lieutenant Commander Frank Erickson, USCG. By February 1945, after 13 months of operation, 102 aviators had qualified as helicopter pilots. Just eight graduates were Navy aviators, 71 were Coast Guard, and the rest were British, U.S. Army, a couple CAA, and civilian test pilots. As 1945 progressed, the word was out that Sergei was to be promoted. The Japanese were thus forced to reconsider their position and, no doubt" brought about a prompt end of the war.

           
While thinking about Alan Bristow, Sergei Sikorsky and Lt.Cdr. Frank Erickson, Twirly Bird Pioneers stationed at NAS Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, NY reminded me of another early helicopter pilot and charter Twirly Bird member, Steve Tremper. Steve soloed a Sikorsky HNS-1 on June 23, 1944. Steve was trained by Frank Erickson and Stu Graham and was designated helicopter pilot # 19. Following his tour with the USCG, Steve was hired by Frank Piasecki to test fly the first tandem rotor helicopters in 1946. Recalling the early days at Piasecki in 1946 and 47, "you were a test pilot in the morning and were writing the flight manual in the afternoon. You were demonstrating the aircraft to the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics one day and to Operations people the next. You did demonstration flying as part of the Navy team, and checking out the Marine Corps pilot-training program at Quantico, VA.”

           
Tramper was Chief of Piasecki's pilot group from 1947 to 1953 and delivered the first Piasecki helicopter to the U.S. Military in 1947. Tremper was involved with flight test and marketing and had assisted in the sales of all Piasecki and Boeing Vertol models to the Canadian government. Steve later became the director of Boeing Canada Ltd. And was Vice President from 1963 to 1985. From 1947 to 1980 he was either directly responsible or involved in the sale of 1,034 helicopters.

           
In the course of his career, Steve received the U.S. Treasury Life Saving medal for saving 2 lives flying the HNS-1 in December 1945. In August 1955, he was one of the Piasecki pilots who rescued 143 girl campers stranded in the Delaware River following a hurricane that blew through the area. For his actions, he received a U.S. Coast Guard commendation for saving 25 lives flying an H-21.

           
Steve was also the President of the Twirly Birds in 1950-1951. He also served as V.P. and Secretary/Treasurer in subsequent years. In 1983, the Twirly Birds presented the prestigious William McGuire Award (later named the Les Morris Award) to Tremper. Steve was one of many colorful historic pioneers of the rotary wing industry.  He passed away in April 1987.

           
Along with this line of thought, I would like to re-issue my previous challenge to all Twirly Birds:  Write/record your own history in the helicopter industry and mail us a copy for the Twirly Bird Archives. Your descendants will love you for the memories.

           
We have certainly missed Slats and his close connections to HAl and his help in setting up the Twirly Bird annual reception and meeting. However, our tight-fisted Treasurer  Bill Yarber has taken on the added load these past three years and has done a marvelous job in laisoning with HAl, the convention hotels, bartenders, facility managers, negotiating the bills downward, paying the bills, etc., etc.. Thanks again, Bill.

           
In addition, we need to give a "tip of the rotor" to our volunteer photographers, Jeff Evans and Bob Petite. Jeff and Bob have been taking pictures of our annual reception and meetings for more years than I can remember and have done all at their own expense. Have offered to reimburse expenses of their wonderful work for the T-Birds, but they insist they love what they are doing and very much enjoy being around the Twirly Birds.  If you have not introduced yourself to Jeff and Bob, take the opportunity at the next meeting and get to know them and tell them how much we appreciate their efforts on behalf of the Twirly Birds.

           
The pictures lead me to talk about our T-Bird online Web Master, Roger Gould. If you want to view a really great web site with pictures of our meetings, receptions, and history---log on to: www .twirlybirds.org. Many years ago, Roger, on his own initiative, reserved the name and the site for the Twirly Birds. Isn't it great to have a forward-thinking, computer genius as a member of the Twirly Birds? Our collective hats off to Roger and a "tip of the rotor" to our Gallant Web Master.

           
Just in from Jim Ricklefs: Our good friend and Twirly Bird, Keith Harvey passed away April 22nd at age 80 in Lodi, CA from a stroke.  Keith was in the helicopter rotor blade manufacturing and repair business most of his life and operated facilities in Stockton, Texas, Canada, and Singapore.  About 20 years ago, Keith sold Composite Technology and built his colonial style retirement home in the middle of a cherry orchard with room enough to gather a huge collection of antique cars, helicopter, and airplanes.

          
 Keith's helicopter collection consisted of a 1947 Bell 47 D-l, a Bell 47 B-3, a 1963 Bell J-2, a 1960 Djinn SO 1124S, and a 1962 Boelkow 102B.  He also had a modem Bell Jet Ranger II.  His autogiro (donated to the Hiller Aviation Museum) was a 1931 Buhl.

           
Twirly Birds Jim Ricklefs and Jean Tinsley drove to the services in Lodi at the Temple Baptist Church. Military honors were done with an honor guard presenting the flag to Keith's wife, Tommie. A three gun salute and a trumpet playing taps concluded the church services followed by a reception at the family home, which was high-lighted by a "Missing Man" flyover flown by Keith's pilot and good friend, Greg Hartman in a Bell 206. Greg slowly, at low altitude, circled the house several times and then headed west into the sunset. Keith was a very remarkable man. Talented, hard working, personable, but above all a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

           
Jim's heads-up about Keith Harvey's passing was most appreciated.  Jim has been very good about submitting items that we need for the Twirly Bird newsletter. In order to keep our letter interesting and informative, I need to have all of you keep your eyes and ears open for articles/happenings that will keep the Twirly Birds newsletter an item that you will look forward to receiving and reading.

           
Please note that you may contact me by my new e-mail address: Jimchris@gvtc.com. My address remains the same, so let me hear from you. Now that my computer problems seem to be solved, I hope our communications will be significantly improved.

  Jim Hamilton,  Gallant Leader

Back to the top

Home