PIKES PEAK AEROBATIC CLUB NEWSLETTER
March 2004 Vol 1 No. 6
Dear Members,
Time to think about contest preparations! Our members had a cookout and kick-off meeting on the 7th of
Feb. Yours truly was not able to attend due to obligations in Texas. As you are aware, Duane Cole passed
away on the 3rd of Feb. Duane's daughter, Karen requested my presence as a Pallbearer. I was honored for
the second time. I was Pallbearer at Karen's 14-year-old son, Timothy Twaddle 11 year's prior. Tim was
in love with airplanes just like Duane. He was following in the footsteps of his Grandfather and his Uncle,
the late Rolly Cole. The Cole family has had some great ups and downs in their aviation life. Duane and
Judy are dear friends of mine. We had many memorable times during Airshows, Contests, and local
aviation parties. I was honored to fly with Duane (he was smooth) and the also maintaining his Clip Wing
T-Cart and Decathlon for ten years+. I tried for years to get him to let me fly his Clip Wing, but I was
only a hotshot Pitts pilot at the time. ?. Woodie Woods and Marion Cole were the only pilots other than
Duane to fly his Clip Wing. I was in good company, Dan Clark tried also, never got the chance. Duane
protected his T-Cart like a virgin daughter. I have included some words prepared by Melanie Frey-Eppard
(Chapter 24). Melanie's salute was sent to EAA HQ for print. There are many funny stories that can be
put to print about Duane, Melanie is thinking of doing so. So I guess I will have to remember mine and
send to her. One story comes to mine, all I can say is there are lots of parts at the EAA museum just free
for the taking if you know the right people. But watch out for the janitor, he will chase you down with his
shop broom.
As for contest preparations. Here is our 2004 RMI schedule. This has been sent to the IAC and Bill
Thrailkill. Bill will make his presentation this month to the board. The contest will also be listed in the
Lamar Vacation Guide.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN INVITATIONAL "
AEROBATIC CONTEST
BASIC THRU UNLIMITED
SCHEDULED DATES
15 - 17 OCTOBER 2004
RAINDATE 22 - 24 OCTOBER 2004
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Location: Lamar Municipal Airport (LAA), Lamar, CO.
For more info visit: http://www.iac5.org
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Friday 15 Oct 2004 8: 00 AM - 5:00 PM PRACTICE TIME
Saturday 16 Oct 2004
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM CONTEST FLYING
6:00 PM COOKOUT AND AWARDS PARTY AT AIRPORT
Sunday 17 Oct 2004
SUNDAY 9: 00 AM CONTEST FLYING
(RESERVED FOR FLIGHT DELAYS)
Contact Info:
Contest Director: Ted Brewer Em ail BrewerII@aol.com Hm Phone 719-481-6488
Assist Contest Director: Jamie S. Treat Em ail: JamieTreat@direcway.com Hm Phone 303-648-0130
I have requested the IAC HQ sanctioning package in March, still waiting. We are currently listed on the
IAC Website and should be listed in the March issue of Sport Aerobatics. We have been working with
Bill Thrailkill, Lamar Airport Manager on establishing a permanent aerobatic waivered airspace. As of 17
Feb, I have submitted a FAA Waiver package to the Denver FSDO. If all goes well, we should have an
active box by 1 March 2004. IAC 12 has a critiquing session lined up for the third week in April with a
fellow Russian judge/pilot. D.J. Molny is putting this together and asked if we would provide last year's
waiver so that he can submit a request for April. I made him a better offer, I offered to submit the
paperwork for a permanent box. Now we will have a place to fly this summer, do a little flying, judging
and afterwards campout and eat BBQ and drink Soda (yeah right).
Also note that our sister IAC 12 chapter (http://www.iac12.org) has established there contest dates. Our
website is updated and links are provided to there site.
IAC 12 has also established dates for Judge's School. See below. I will be going up for the Advanced
School on the 6th. I need to get recertified. I will be flying the Citabria up if anybody wants a back seat.
The intrepid Mike Jones will lead two 2004 Judges Schools in Colorado:
•
Advanced Judge's School on Sat March 6, and
•
Introduction to Aerobatic Judging on March 13-14 (two-day course)
All classes will be held in Glen Marshman's hangar; please arrive by 8:30am to sign in.
Many thanks to Mike and his able assistant Roz, and to host Glen for supplying the venue.
Sincerely yours,
Jamie S. Treat, Vice President
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Hello everyone!
Just wanted to throw in a quick note to say thanks for all those that participated in the cookout
on the 7th of Feb. In March, I am planning on going down to Lamar to see the condition of the
current panels. After the assessment, we will figure out a good date to re-align the panels and
then follow up the day with practice and judging. One push this year will be to have
coordinated practice weekends either at Lamar or Sterling. I will try to keep everyone posted.
Just a reminder, lets make sure the EAA 72 folks know that we are friendly and would love to
have their participation as well. Jamie has enclosed a great article on one of the best. Duane's
influence on aerobatics will be sorely missed. Thanks Jamie!
Fly safe and let's have fun!
Ted Brewer, President
A Grand Finalé Salutes Duane Cole's Life
By Melanie Frey-Eppard
The funeral home was a shrine to Duane, displaying many of his trophies, awards, plaques, and photographs. Above
the casket was a picture of Duane smiling, standing in front of his air show Taylorcraft. A beautiful spray of red roses and
cream mums was on top of the casket, which was surrounded by many beautiful flower arrangements from well wishers.
Duane looked peaceful and serene.
"Woodie" Woods, a retired airline pilot from the Chicago area, an IAC member and former student of Duane's, and
the Reverend Joe Breneman from the Church of Burleson, officiated. "Woodie" described Duane's many achievements - from
the Cole Brothers Air Show, to his being instrumental in starting the Reno Air Races, and being a founding member of the
Experimental Aircraft Association.
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Duane Cole's Cub, "Little Bit", Kewanee, IL Photo credit: Roy Timm
Duane won the National Aerobatics championships in 1962 and 1964, and was a member of the first U. S. aerobatic
team to compete in the World Aerobatic Competition at Budapest, Hungary in 1962.
An acclaimed aviation author, he has won numerous writing awards, including the 1972 and 1974 Writer Award for
non-fiction by the Aviation Space Writers Association. He also won the Reader's Choice Award from Flyer Magazine in 1997
and wrote a monthly column for Flying Magazine . Duane wrote nine books and produced several videos.
He was inducted into the State of Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame in 1983 and the International Aerobatic Hall of Fame
in 1987. In 1996, he was inducted into the ICAS Foundation Hall of Fame and was also the recipient of the ICAS Sword of
Excellence. He was also awarded Lifetime Friend of the Fly-in at the EAA Northwest Regional Fly-in at Arlington,
Washington in 1996 and an EAA President's Award at the Southwest EAA Regional fly-in at Abilene, Texas in 1999.
Duane disdained using instruments and radios when flying. In fact, he flew all over the country using pilotage and
dead reckoning, a skill fast disappearing in this age of electronics.
On the day before the funeral, while driving to Burleson for this final tribute, "Woodie" reflected back to the day 25
years earlier when he first met Duane. He'd thought all air show performers were unapproachable, but he finally got up the
courage to ask Duane for a lesson. His memories from that day on came flooding back, and he realized all that had happened
in his life since that fateful day.
When "Woodie" offered to ferry the Taylorcraft to air shows so Duane could drive up with Judy, Duane usually
declined. One day Duane told him why - he just enjoyed flying his airplane. "Woodie" was finally allowed to fly the plane
when Duane lost his medical, but was allowed to continue flying in air shows with "Woodie" as safety pilot. "Woodie's"
greatest honor was flying Duane's beloved Taylorcraft to the Oshkosh Museum on its last flight.
Duane was a man whom movie stars and celebrities looked up to. He took it all in stride, being a true talent who
possessed great charisma.
At the funeral, Randy Henderson and Chuck Bodine offered eulogies, with Randy describing Duane as a man who
was dedicated to safety, professionalism, and entertainment. Although known as a prankster, he was always the teacher and
believed in enjoying the moment. Chuck, a boyhood friend of Duane's son, Rolly, was full of emotion as he began to speak.
He admitted that Duane was the only person who ever got him sick in an airplane. At that time, Chuck knew that he would
never become an aerobatic pilot.
After "Woodie" had shared some of his personal anecdotes regarding Duane, he then asked those in attendance to
relate their stories about Duane.
Scott Edgerton, another former student, said that during a lesson, he cherished the moments when Duane wasn't
yelling.
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Dana Ziegler stated that, during a lesson learning rolls, he thought he would get kudos for his performance. Instead,
Duane remarked, "That was OK, but watching that stick looked like grandma killing a snake.".
Granddaughter Julie Allard then related that she had never fully realized Duane's fame - to her he was just
"Grandpa". At one time, Duane had been encouraged to enter her in the Miss EAA contest, which she won. Ironically, that
was the same year Duane lost his medical, which, she said, broke his heart. She read excerpts from an online Guest Book
sponsored by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Di Henderson told about taking Duane and Judy, both of whom were in a nursing home, to the ICAS convention in
Dallas in 2003. Duane said it was the best day in his life, as he was surrounded by his air show friends. Photographs from this
event were displayed in the funeral home lobby, showing Duane with Patty Wagstaff, Patty Johnson, and many of his former
students, as well as with his "namesake," baby Jedediah Duane Henderson.
A highlight of Duane's funeral service was a moving original song, written and performed by Stan Denman, Music
Director at the Church of Burleson. The lyrics follow:
EAGLE'S SONG
There's a song the eagle sings, in the heavens up above
As she soars beyond these chains of earth below
And I have sung her anthem of freedom on the wind
As I'm lifted up where few will ever go
And when I fly away, like the bird upon the wing
Broken from these chains of earth, up where the angels sing
And when I dance the sky, and go where few have trod
I put out my hand and I touch the face of God
I have tried to split the sky into, and the clouds have covered me
I've topped the wind-swept heights with ease and grace
I've felt the pull of mother earth while reaching for the sky
But the freedom that awaits me there, earth could not replace
And when I fly away, like the bird upon the wing
Broken from these chains of earth, up where the angels sing
And when I dance the sky, and go where few have trod
I put out my hand and I touch the face of God
And when it comes my time to go, I know where I will be
Flying higher once again, to reach eternity
And then I'll fly away, like the bird upon the wing
I'll be broken from these chains of earth, up where the angels sing
And when I dance the sky, and go where few have trod
I'll put out my hand and touch the face of God
I'll put out my hand and touch… the face of God
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In addition to several theatrical songs selected by John to be played as tributes to his father,
several hymns were also part of the service. Karen and Judy could be heard singing along when "He
Walks With Me and He Talks With Me" was played. The last song played was "The Rose", which was a
fitting song for so greatly loved a man.
Graveside services were brief. Karen Cole's husband, Charles Allard, Ken Larson, Scott
Edgerton, John Newman, Jamie Treat, and Chuck Bodine served as Pallbearers. "Woodie" read a passage
from the Bible and then directed all to look skyward for the fly-by.
Although the day was overcast with low clouds and blowing winds, the show would go on -
Duane would have wanted it that way.
Aircraft used were representative of those flown in the Cole Brothers Air Show - a 1946
Taylorcraft flown by Randy Henderson, a 1941 J3 Cub flown by John MacGuire, and a Stearman from the
Cavanaugh Museum flown by Kevin Raulie. They performed a missing man formation, followed by
Randy's solo tribute showcasing maneuvers that Duane had made famous. The event was captured by area
television stations and aired that evening.
As the planes faded into the distance, Duane Cole's memorable life as a legendary pilot will never
be forgotten. He will be remembered as an outstanding air show performer and a daunting taskmaster who
demanded the best from his students, and settled for nothing less. All the people whose lives Duane
touched are fuller and richer because they have known him.
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