?»?Dannie D. Slone?€™s love of aviation began as a child growing up in Southern California where he shared this interest with his father who worked at Douglas Aircraft Company producing DC-3 and C-47 aircraft. He and his father enjoyed identifying World War I and II military aircraft and civilian commercial aircraft. In 1959, Dannie received his private pilot certificate at age 17. He was hooked and has been flying ever since. Dannie attended Santa Monica City College (1964?€“1966). Dannie joined the Navy and served two cruises in Southeast Asia on the aircraft carriers Constellation and Coral Sea where he was a plane captain and mechanic (66?€“68). He received a degree in engineering and earn multi-engine airplane ratings that furthered his flying career. His first engineering position was at McDonnell Douglas. He worked as a flight instructor for Fleet Wings Aviation and Swift Air flying deHavilland Heron. He has been the Operations Manager for a FBO, a flight instructor and a pilot on his beloved DC-3 for fog and weather disbursal. Dan joined the Ted Smith Aerostar Company as a Test Pilot in Santa Maria, CA. In 1983 he joined FAA as a Flight Test Pilot in Aircraft Certification where he served until his passing in September of 2009.

Dannie added to his Pilot certificate, the Cessna Citation CE-500 (77), Douglas DC-3 (84), LR-JET (85), Gulfstream G-1159 (86), Dassault Falcon 50 (87), DC-3TP (90), DC-9 (92), Lear LR-60 (96), Fairchild SA-227 (89), and the Lear LR-45 (02) ratings. His contribution to aviation safety is his legacy during his 26 years of public service. Dannie participated the in initial development and certification of various safety enhancements in avionics, including FMS, autopilots, windshear detection, EGPWS, TCAS, and advanced air data systems in support of RVSM qualifications. Dannie logged thousands of hours flying various types of small and large general aviation and transport category airplanes. As Dannie often said, no other job would have offered him the opportunity to have such a profound effect on aviation safety. Dannie can be proud that his career has successfully concluded during the safest period in US aviation history. His contributions have had a significant and continuing effect on global aviation and aviation safety.

Dannie Dale Slone: September 16, 1942 to September 27, 2009 - Final Flight, Airborne Forever.