NEWS FROM HQ
MEMBER CENTRAL
Former
Sport Aviation
Editor Passes
JACK COX, EAA LIFETIME 14286, who influenced
generations of aviators as the longtime editor-in-
chief of EAA Sport Aviation magazine, passed away
Sunday, March 6, 2011.
Jack joined the EAA staff in 1970 when he
and his wife, Golda, moved from North Carolina
to Wisconsin at the invitation of Paul Poberezny.
In 1972, Jack was named editor-in-chief of Sport
Aviation, a position he held until his retirement in
1999. During his tenure, Golda was his partner on
the magazine, as she was in all aspects of his life,
serving in the role of managing editor.
Jack grew up enamored with aviation, building
model airplanes and reading everything available on aviation. After
graduating from college and beginning a teaching career, he began
taking flight instruction and soloed a J- 3 Cub at Air Harbor Airport
in Greensboro, North Carolina, in April 1956. As a private pilot, Jack
logged more than 3,350 flying hours in a total of 137 different makes
and models of aircraft.
Jack was instrumental in the formation of EAA’s Antique/
Classic Division (now the EAA Vintage Airplane Association),
which included his new Classic category for post-war aircraft,
then the largest unaffiliated entity in aviation. He was inducted
into the EAA Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame and
the EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame. In 1986 he received a
prestigious award from the Aviation/Space Writers Association
for his article on the around-the-world flight of the Voyager in
the February 1987 issue of Sport Aviation.
Upon retirement, Jack and Golda returned to Asheboro
and remained active in aviation. Along with his lifetime EAA
membership, Jack was a member of AOPA, a director of EAA/VAA
Chapter 3, and a member of the Asheboro Airport Authority. He was
also a member of the voting panel of the Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Visit www.SportAviation.org for a link to an online obituary
where EAA members are invited to share memories of Jack. We offer
our deepest sympathy to Golda and Jack’s family and many friends.
OLE YELLER TO FLY IN
HOOVER TRIBUTE
EAA’S SALUTE TO Bob Hoover at AirVenture 2011 will
include one of the special aircraft made famous
by the man known as the pilot’s pilot: his P-51D
Mustang N51RH, better known as Ole Yeller.
Hoover flew Ole Yeller for 20 years as the Reno
Unlimited Class’s official pace and safety plane. He
also set a still-standing world speed record in 1985
when he flew Ole Yeller from Los Angeles to Daytona
Beach in five hours, 20 minutes.
Hoover owned the airplane through 1997, selling
it to good friend John Bagley, owner of the Legacy
Flight Museum in Rexburg, Idaho. “It’s a national
monument,” Bagley said. “It’s the most recognized
Mustang there is.”
EAA’s Tribute to Bob Hoover Day is scheduled
for Tuesday, July 26.
WIN YOUR OWN FORD MUSTANG!
THE ANNUAL YOUNG EAGLES RAFFLE features one
sweet ride—a 2011 Ford Mustang GT convertible
valued at $42,000. The raffle, which supports EAA’s
Young Eagles program and other youth aviation
education initiatives, offers only 1,500 tickets
at $100 each, and can be purchased at the EAA
AirVenture Museum as well as during AirVenture
through July 31. Other prizes include four cash
prizes ranging from $500 to $5,000.
The prize drawings will be held after the
afternoon air show on Sunday, July 31, the final
day of the fly-in. The Mustang is provided with
assistance from Ford Motor Company and
Kocourek Ford of Wausau, Wisconsin.
