The Silver Falcon Staff
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President
Bill Vaden
(770) 939-2774
skyking767@comcast.net
Born on Dec. 23rd, 1936 in Carthage, a small town in middle Tennessee, my family moved soon thereafter to Nashville where I was raised. After attending college at Middle Tennessee State University. I joined the Air Force and earned my wings in class 62-F at Laredo AFB. Joining Eastern in March, 1963, I was based in NY flying the Constellation on the Shuttle. While in initial training in 1963, I met and soon after married a German born EAL stewardess (Rita Heineman) and we were married for 40 years until her death in 2003. We were blessed with two boys and a girl, all of which live in the Atlanta area, where I reside in my home of 40 years in eastern Dekalb County.
After Eastern, in 1989, I flew as a B757 captain for 1 year at Air Holland, 1 year for Sterling Airlines in Copenhagen, 1 year for Transavia in Amsterdam, and 4 years as a B767-ER captain at Lauda Air in Vienna, Austria, retiring at age 60 in Dec.1996. In Jan. 1997, I began training pilots at Delta on the B757/B767/B767-ER and B777 where I am still employed. A pilot once said “Bill, its apparent to me that you can’t hold a job!”
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Vice President
Hank Sanak
Info coming soon
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Secretary
Ron Mussig
(770) 973-7093
ronm@agmtax.com
I was born November 9, 1945 in Coral Gables, FL. Lived there about five miles south of the Miami International Airport and watched DC-6’s and 7’s and Connies fly overhead on their way to who knows where. Decided then that flying airplanes was what I wanted to do. Attended Auburn University on an NROTC scholarship. Entered Navy Flight Training in June of 1967 and got my wings in June of 1968. Flew P-3’s in Patrol Squadron 24. We deployed to Keflavik, Iceland, where we searched for and did a pretty good job of finding Russian submarines at the height of the cold war.
Joined Eastern Air Lines in July of 1972 and flew as B-727, Electra and A-300 S/O and B-727 F/O until 1989. Was hired by United Air Lines and went to my fifth 727 school in one seat or another. Spent most of 16 years on the B-737-300/500 retiring in November 2005 at the age of 60. Served as a 737 LCA mostly providing IOE while the company was growing to first time captains and new hire copilots. Best time I had flying.
Live in Marietta with wife Linda. Devote more time to part-time financial planning/income tax preparation business with two other Silver Falcons, John Andrews and Bob Giuliano. Play some old man’s doubles tennis and volunteer, mostly at the Georgia Aquarium and the new Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.
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Director & E-Mail Editor
Sandy McCulloh
(770) 491-0727
silverfalcons@bellsouth.net
Yanked out early, July 1, 1938, so doctor could have the 4th free of calls. Grew up in Rye, New York. Permanently moved to Miami for more sunshine in 1960. Planned to skip military service due to a heavy schedule of fun and frolic. Draft Board foiled plans in 1962, did 2 years at Fort Bliss Texas. Returned to Miami and with the encouragement of Nat Hazell, Jess Plant and a few other South Miami Eastern types I got my Commercial and was hired September 1966 as a Connie F/O based in BOS. Returned to MIA on 727, moved to ATL in 1975 on 727, did F A300 ATL a few years then C 727 ATL. - GREAT People! - After a stint in the Comm Center was hired by UAL (thanks Gil) in December 1990. SSDA, S 727 SFO, F 727 SFO/ORD, F A320 ORD, C 737 LAX & S 727 ORD, retired 1/1/01, enough!
Got suckered into email duties by Holder. Never been so busy in my life, Lovin’ It!
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Director & Data Base Coordinator
Stuart Hughes
(770) 229-2784
southmetro@mindspring.com
I was born on Jan. 10, 1942 in Hackensack, NJ. Moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 1958 and graduated from Pine Crest School. Learned to fly at the Aero Country Club (the old Brown’s Field in South Miami) while attending the University of Miami. Also during those years, I graduated from the Wilbur Sheffield School of Aeronautics on 36th Street in Miami. Entered the US Navy in 1962 as a Naval Cadet and then flunked the physical. Stayed in as an aviation electronics technician; a job that I really enjoyed and one that has come in very handy since the big strike.
Hired by Eastern on April 10, 1967 and checked out as captain in September of ‘86. The best and the worst years of my life! After EAL, I flew DC-9 slick-winged freighters for USA Jet in Detroit. We hauled autoparts all over the country. It was with USAJ that I perfected the DME-only approach in Saltillo, Mexico. In 1997, I went with airTran and flew there until I had enough in June of 2000, quitting at age 58 and a half.
My family consists of three daughters and their husbands, eight grandchildren and the same, wonderful wife of forty-one years. And I would be delighted to do most of the above all over again!
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Finance Officer
Joe Zito
(770) 252-0761
jezdc9@numail.org
I was born Sep. 28, 1934, on New York City’s Lower East Side (Manhattan) and grew up in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn (big Italian area). Attended Abraham Lincoln High School near Coney Island, (Brooklyn) and New York University, College of Engineering, in the Bronx.
After entering the U.S. Navy Aug 1955 in the NAVCAD program I was commissioned a Naval Aviator, in April, 1957 at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. I served as a flight instructor at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida, instructing in T-28’s (transition and basic instrument training) and then served a tour at NAS Jacksonville, Florida.
My total active duty time was seven years four months flying both single engine prop and single engine jet aircraft. With another 13 years in the Naval Air Reserve I retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
I joined Eastern April 1967 and flew the Connie, Electra, L1011 and DC-9 as First Officer, retiring in 1989 as a DC-9 Captain after twenty-two years of service.
My wife Eileen and I currently live in Newnan, Georgia.
Along with two other Pilots I helped found The Silver Falcons to keep the spirit of Eastern Air Lines alive. This is my first non-paying full time position and is by far the most gratifying.
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Media
Jerry Frost
(770) 947-6376
jealer@comcast.net
I was born in Urbana, Illinois on September 27, 1939. I came from a flying family. My dad was in the first Army pilot class at Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas right after World War I.
My older brother was a pilot too and was a Captain with TACA Airlines until a tragic accident took his life in the early 1970’s.
I started my aviation career at age 20 working for several non-scheduled airlines in Southern California flying as co-pilot on DC-3’s. Back then non-sked’s had a short life span, so many of us just changed hat and wing insignias and reported the next day to another air carrier. I received that fateful letter of class assignment with Eastern Airlines from Captain O.B. Bivens in June, 1963 and made a mad dash across country to Miami.
I started my Eastern career as a L-1049 Super Constellation co-pilot and had the pleasure flying as Flight Engineer on the DC-7, S/O, F/O on DC-8’s, Captain DC-9’s, S/O, F/O on the L-1011, S/O, F/O and Captain on the B-727’s.
Other interests include computers, photography and wood working. I am currently on the Douglas County Film Commission assisting motion picture companies while filming in our county. And now at the old age of 66, I am learning to play the Cello!
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Newsletter Editor
Dick Borrelli
(770) 254-1748
conob@numail.org
I was born in Queens, New York on July 18, 1931, a red headed freckle faced kid with an Irish Mother and an Italian name. After enlisting in the Marine Corps February 1, 1951 it was determined that my career would probably peak at PFC. Since becoming a corporal was apparently not an option, the Commandant, in his infinite wisdom, made me an officer and a fighter pilot. I spent two years as a fighter pilot happily defending Hawaii!
After leaving the Marines I became an Eastern Air Lines Pilot and enjoyed a thirty-two year career, retiring as an A-300 instructor and DC-10 Captain in 1989. After leaving Eastern I spent nearly seven years as an MD-11 Instructor for McDonnell-Douglas and then an additional three years as an MD-11 Instructor for Delta Air Lines before finally retiring for good at age 68. I now spend my time publishing The rEAL Word for The Silver Falcons which takes nearly fourteen months a year. In my free time I generally sleep except when Holder calls to ask a question!