The Silver Falcon Staff

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President

Ron Shoop

Born August,1935 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Same year as Elvis but I’m doing better). Graduated Aspinwall High School June,1953 and entered Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics which was completed November,1954 and earned FAA Aircraft and Engine license also with Ground Instructor rating.

Joined Pennsylvania Air National Guard 147th FIS October,1953 and entered USAF Aviation Cadet Training March,1955 through ANG opening. Graduated June,1956 from Del Rio, Texas and proceeded to Luke AFB for gunnery and combat training. Returned to Pennsylvania Air National Guard in December,1956 flying F-84F.

Left in March,1957 for employment in Miami Florida with Air Carrier Engine Service. Married Judy in November,1958. Still married to this day. This happy Union produced one daughter and two sons with seven grandchildren following.

Hired for Pilot/Flight Engineer position with Pacific Northern Airlines March,1960. Based in Seattle and Anchorage flying the L-749 and DC-3/C-47 equipment until furloughed in May,1962. Also served with the Alaska Air National Guard 144th ATS during this time flying the C-123J. (One of the actual birds I flew is on static display in a park in Anchorage as a museum piece. Doesn’t that make you realize just how old you really are?)

Proceeded to Newark, Delaware for Flight Engineer with Capitol International Airways. Hired at Eastern after the strike in October,1962 and proceeded to Boston, Massachusetts for first base. Also flew in Massachuetts Air National Guard 101 FIS flying the F-86H.

Moved to Miami,Florida in March,1964. Called Atlanta home from March,1973 until now with 18 months in New York in 1976-7 as the exception. I have flown every series Eastern aircraft during this time frame except the Electra, B-747 and DC-10.

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Vice President

Hank Sanak

Info coming soon

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Secretary

Bob Ramsey

Info coming soon

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Director

Bill Frank

I started my career at Eastern in 1948 at age 17 after completing high school. I started as an apprentice Mechanic making $.90 an hour. Three years later I was promoted to Mechanic making $2.50 an hour. Four years later I bought a 1946 Aeronca Champ for $600 and that was the beginning of my flying career.

In 1957 I was hired as a Co-Pilot by Eastern and paid $375 a month the first year and then got a raise to $475 the second year. In 1963 I went from senior C0-Pilot in Charlotte to the infamous 272 group and became an instant Flight Engineer. I flew as Flight Engineer on the DC-7 for eighteen months before joining the exalted C0-Pilot ranks once again.

I finally checked out as Captain on the Constellation in 1967, DC-9 in 1969, 727 in1971, and A-300 in 1983. The hand writing was on the wall! Frank Lorenzo began stirring the pot and I happily retired January 1, 1987. The picture in my uniform was taken on my last flight and the smile has never left my face since!

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Director

Dave Ingle

crashingle@bellsouth.net

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana in September, 1939 to a couple of really great parents. We didn’t have much in the way of worldly goods but no one seemed to notice. Graduated from Tech High School at Indianapolis in 1957 and then on to one year of college at Butler University. Shortly after that I took my first flying lesson in a Piper Cub at Franklin, Indiana. By the time I was 19, I had my “Private Pilot License” and had bought myself a Stinson Voyager.

Despite all predictions, I did not kill myself and got my first 500 hours in tail wheel airplanes. During that time I managed to get a “Commercial License“, an “Instrument Rating” and an “Instructors Rating” all in that Stinson. Also during this time I joined the Air Force Reserve in 1961 and served most of a 6 year hitch at Bakalar AFB in Columbus, Indiana, working on C- 119’s.

About 1964 most airlines started big expansion programs with all the new Jets, so I put my name in the hat. Everyone said the same thing, “you need more College” I applied to, and was excepted by Purdue University’s Pro Pilot Program.

They got me thinking in terms of big airplanes and Eastern hired me after one year with Purdue. On March 16th 1966 I showed up for work and my life took a drastic turn for the better.
During my 25 years with Eastern I was privileged to fly the Lockheed Electra, the DC- 9, the 727, the A- 300, the L- 1011, and Captain on the DC- 9 for 8 years.

How can a guy get a better job than that?

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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!

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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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Newsletter Editor

Dick Borrelli

(770) 254-1748
conob@newnanpc.com

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.