Foil: 17 Panel: 2 Column: 4 Line: 27

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Emi Yoshida

He was born in New Meadows, Idaho in 1943. Joined U.S. Army in 1960, and started flying helicopter. Then, he flew in Germany from 1964 to 1965, and served in the Viet Nam war from 1966 to 1967. After he was released from Army as an honorable discharge, he flew different kinds of helicopters and fixed wing airplanes for civilian work, such as agriculture, spraying, fire support, survey, external loads, rope pulling on power line, oil support, offshore, hospital"-and so on. He experienced most of operations that helicopter can do. His flying history is not only in the U.S. but in overseas, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Zaire, South Africa and United Arab Emirates. As a both helicopter and fixed wing pilot, he has more than 14,000 hours, and still flies for a freight transport company.
As a flight instructor, he has given lots of instructions to flight students who want spin training and tail wheel airplane training. His long experience and good skill got a reputation as people say "Spin training? Go to Gene”.
Besides flying as a pilot, he is well-known in Hawaii as a skillful airplane mechanic. He got mechanic license, Airframe and Powerplant in 1971, and also got Inspector license. After he moved to Hawaii in 1991, he opened up his own restoration business and has been working on his customer’s airplane restorations, own projects, engine rebuilding, annual inspections-"etc. Especially, he is one of a few mechanic in Hawaii who can do "dope' n fabric" work on airplanes. He spends all day long at his shop and work hard. But it is what he likes the most. He is a real aviation enthusiast whose life is full of passion.