The Silver Falcon Staff

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President

Joe Wolbert

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Vice President

Phil Hutchinson

I was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico on June 8, 1939.
I have three children from my first marriage, Charlene Hutchinson Faust, Philip C. Hutchinson, and Viveca Hutchinson.

God gave me a second chance, and now I have been happily married for 11 years to Mary Kays Hutchinson, who I met while flying for Eastern Airlines.

I graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Miami, Florida in September of 1958. I then joined the Puerto Rico National Guard (PRANG), and was hired by Caribbean Atlantic Airlines in December 16 of that same year.

I checked out as Captain on the DC-3 on May 22, 1963. I went on to fly the DC-3, Cv-340, CV-640, and the DC-9 as Captain, instructor and check airman on all of these aircrafts for Caribair.

In December 2, 1973 when the Eastern/Caribair Merger was officially integrated, I was based in Atlanta, GA, but during my career with Eastern I also commuted to Chicago, New York and Miami, but never moved from Georgia.

During my Eastern career as a Captain, I flew the B-727, B-757, A-300 and the L-1011.

During the strike I went to Saudi Arabia and flew as Captain for Saudi Arabian Airlines on the L-1011. I was recalled by Eastern Airlines on September of 1990 by order of a court decree, and proudly became one of the fabulous 50 strikers that were called back before Eastern finally shut its doors forever on January 19, 1991.

After Eastern, I went on to fly for Private Jet, and then for American International Airlines, (Kallita), where I ended my flying career as a Captain on a B-747.

After Kalitta, I worked 8 years for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and two years in the Miami Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), as an Aviation Safety Inspector. I then spent 6 years in the Atlanta FSDO working as the Aircraft Program Manager (APM) for World Airways on the DC-10 and for the FAA Southern Region as a Wide-Body Aircraft Specialist.

I am rated on the DC-3, CV-440/340/240, CV-600/640, DC-9, DC-10, B-727, B-757/767, B-747 and L-1011.

I came to Georgia in 1973 after the Eastern/Caribair merger, and I still make my home in Georgia. I currently live in Cumming, GA.

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Secretary

Mary Hutchinson

In 1963 I was teaching 2nd grade in Louisville, KY, sharing an apartment with my sister. (I mention Sara since she was one who started it all by suggesting I go for an interview after reading the ad in the paper). Thus began my long and happy career with Eastern Airlines, in July 1964. After flying for 3 years, I was asked to become a supervisor, which I did for a short period prior the strike in 1965. Being junior supervisor, I had to go back on the line after the strike. What a blessing! I never regretted the change from teaching to becoming an F/A and still today have wonderful memories. I will always cherish all the great people I worked and played with– plus I also met my wonderful husband, Philip during that time. We were married in 1999. In fact, we just celebrated our 11th anniversary. We are active in our church and related work. We continue to travel– a lot more by car these days now that we have the time and can appreciate our surroundings.

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Director

Collins Bomar

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Director

Don Teel

I was born a long, long time ago in Oklahoma City. In 1955, after five years in the United States Air Force, I returned home to Long Beach, California and enrolled in college intending to major in Geology. At the time I was also working at United Airlines smashing bags. One night I decided I’d rather fly airplanes than load them. I took myself over to Long beach Airport and started taking flying lessons under the G.I. Bill. By 1956 I had my Commercial, Instrument, IP Certificate and was instructing at the Hawthorne airport. I built up my time (about 2000 hours) and was able to get a co-pilot job with Stewart Air Services flying a DC-3. On my next career move I was #2 on the Samoan Airlines seniority list, the downside being that there were only two people on the seniority list! We flew one DC-3 trip a day between American and British Samoa. After six months in the beautiful south seas I returned to California and made the rounds of the airlines with no luck so I went to the FAA and became an Air Traffic Controller. Lo and behold, after four months with the FAA I was hired by United Airlines. At last I had made it to the big time! I went to work for United in the fall of 1961 as a Flight Engineer on the DC-6/7. My career at United ended about eleven months later as ninety eight new hires were “released without cause!” Two weeks later I was hired as a First Officer by Eastern Air Lines. I went to work for Eastern in October of 1962 and enjoyed it for twenty seven years. On September 1, 1989 I took early retirement rather  then become a part of the “NEW” Eastern. During my career at Eastern I flew the Connie, DC-7, Electra, DC-9, B-727, A-300, and B-757. I was a Second Officer Check Airman and a B-727 and A-300 Instructor.

My retirement lasted about six months, then I was hired as a B-767 Captain at Lauda Airlines based in Vienna, Austria. After two years, I was able to relate to the Hank Snow song “I’ve been everywhere” and retirement looked great, so home  I came. My retirement lasted about a year this time around. I got a call from ATA, they were looking for simulator instructors, so here we go again! I worked as a B-757 simulator instructor for about five years. A number of Eastern Pilots were with ATA. One night, in the simulator at 4 A.M, I decided enough is enough, I don’t want to do this anymore, let’s try retirement one more time. This time I FINALLY got it right, so for the last dozen years I’ve been doing as little as possible and enjoying it. Eastern was a great airline and I’ll always be proud to have worked in the airline industry when it was at its peak!

In my personal life, my storm and strife and I have been together 53 years. We have three daughters, two sons-in-law, three grandsons and two granddaughters.  All in all, life has been pretty good to this Okie!

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E-Mail Editor

Sandy McCulloh

(770) 491-0727
silverfalcons@bellsouth.net

Yanked out early, July 1, 1938, so the 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 license and was hired in September 1966 as a Connie F/O, based in BOS. Returned to MIA on 727, moved to ATL in 1975 flying on a 727, did F A300 ATL a few years and then C 727 ATL. GREAT People! – After a stint in the Comm Center I was hired by UAL (thanks Gil) in December, 1990. From there I flew SSDA, S 727 SFO, F 727 SFO/ORD, F A320 ORD, C 737 LAX & S 727 ORD. I 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 with them until I had had enough in June, 2000, quitting at age 58 and a half.

My family consists of three daughters and their husbands, eight grandchildren and my same, wonderful wife of forty-one years. 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 (a big Italian area). Attended Abraham Lincoln High School near Coney Island, (Brooklyn) and attended New York University’s College of Engineering in the Bronx.

After entering the U.S. Navy in 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 in 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 on 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.