Aviation has been good to Sam. Not many of us get to do what we love for a living. But he paid his dues: Aviation Machinist Mate First Class in both World War II and the Korean War.

Spartan School of Aviation was where he got his civilian training, and where he received his pilot's license, way back in 1948. After 36 years with American Airlines as a Professional Flight Engineer, he retired to continue his love for airplanes.

Living on a private airstrip, surrounded by homes, he works (plays) in his hanger. Currently he is restoring a 1951 Navion while flying a 1974 Beech Sierra. Old airplanes have been his passion. Over the years he has rebuilt a 1941 J-3 Piper Cub, 1941 Aeronca L-3, and a 1941 BL-65 Taylorcraft. He was also one of the volunteers who built the Spirit of St. Louis at Oshkosh, and the one at San Diego's Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park. To his delight, a grandson has inherited his love of flying.

The photo on the right was taken in an American Airlines DC-10 in Octoer 1981.