On Aug 23, 12:00*pm, wrote:
I had the experience of flying in the back seat of Vern's "Big Bird"
last summer *Although in significant pain after 3.4 hrs, I was able to
extract myself with a little help, and even walk after a while.

It was an amazing experience to be able to fly a 50 yr old homebuilt
with the designer/builder. *It was a good day, and I captured a bit of
video of Vern flying over the San Gabriels at 13k with Catalina in the
distance. *As the day began to wane, Vern headed out over El Mirage
dry lake and showed an incredible ability to work a few bumps into a
usable thermal.

One thing that must be said is what an outstanding example Vern set as
a club member, always helpful and supportive, he encouraged other
members to explore local soaring conditions in ways no one else I know
has. *To say he will be missed is an understatement, words cannot
express his impact on our club over the many years we were priveledged
enough to know him.

Mike Malis

The nicest guy I ever met

The Old Buzzard, The Old Toad & The Old Goat

Vern Hutchinson



Vern joined the Antelope Valley Soaring Club in 1989.
He fit right in with this Club.

Slowly over a beer or two, we found out who Vern is. If
there was something to be fixed such as an airplane, clubhouse,
trailers he was always there to give a helping hand.

If you landed out, he came to get you. When you were
rigging your plane to fly that day he was on the wingtip, and to this
day it is the same way. A more loyal friend and club member you could
never meet.

A few club members enjoy cooking dinner and having a
campfire after flying on Saturday evenings. Vern is always the guy
that gets the fire going, the chips and beer out, while we sit around
the fire, doing what we do best, hanger flying.

After joining the Club, Vern met Bob Gravance. We all
know Bob, his 1-26 was C Note.

Vern crewed for Bob at the 1-26 Nationals in 1994. When
Bob and Vern returned Vern was hooked on the 1-26 contest. Vern went
right out and bought his 1-26 390.

Vern was born in 1925 to Marie and Frank Hutchinson,
who had two sons, Harold and Vern. Both of the boys learned to fly at
a very young age. Their dad Frank was a Glider pilot and builder in
the 20’s and 30’s.

Vern’s dad had built the Lady Marie a 72 ft. glider
that the boys used to stick-fly (windjam) on the cliffs near Redondo
and the Palisades.

Rumor has it that his mom and dad took the boys to San
Diego to see The Spirit of Saint Louis, the aircraft had not been
completely covered at that time. In all the excitement Vern got loose
and decided to take a look at the inside of The Spirit for some ideas
for his new glider. The date 1927, Vern was two.

Vern was discharged from the Navy Sub Marine Corp. at
the end of the WWII—the stories of those adventures are for another
time. If you remember the movie “Run Silent, Run Deep” he was a
crewman on that sub.

Vern went to A&P School to get his rating at
Northrup. He was hired after graduation and started with Northrup. At
that time he started building his first glider VHS1. It was in the
late 40’s in Gardena. (See photo of Vern, and his mother, Marie and
VHS1 N4264 in 1949) VHS1 first flew in 1950.

In 1951 Vern then started on his two place side-by-
side glider VHS127 N629. The plane was featured in the Sailplane
Directory in 1974 page 42. This glider was an all metal bird, it had a
57 ft. wing span with a 132 sq. ft. of area, with an aspect ratio of
24.6. It had a V-tail and a 15 G wing, and a retractable landing gear.
The Max LD 33, Sink rate 2.5 fps and a wing loading of 9 lbs per sq.
ft. with a sink rate of 6 fps at 110 mph. The plane first flew in
1956.

In August 1960, he mounted the wing on a new tandem
fuselage with a conventional tail. This plane is still flying today
VHS127-2. Years later he sold the VHS127-2 to Jaap Schmidt.



In 1967 Vern had completed his VHS128, this was an
all metal 15 meter glider that had rotating trailing edge drag brakes.
This plane was featured in Soaring Magazine in 1968 (See Soaring
Magazine 8-68-Pg 7). This 15 meter glider VHS128 flew for about two
years at El Mirage in 1967/68 it was very good in climb and run. It
was so good that one day at Torrey Pines he had to land on the beach,
it was a good landing, unfortunately the tide was in and it was a
water landing. Vern had to swim. The plane was not so lucky, one piece
was found two weeks later.(See photo VHS128)





Vern bought the two place back after many years from
Jaap Schmidt in 1994. Vern spent many years reworking the glider

I have flown this glider and although it is a bit tight
for me 6 ft. 200 lbs. several other club members have also enjoyed
many hours flying with Vern. It’s rare when you get to fly in a piece
of history.

One of the things about Vern is his ability to try new
things. One day at his shop the wings on the VHS127-2 were on saw
horses. I noticed a round tube sticking out of the wing tips and
looked for a long time-I concluded it was for wing tip extentions.
Vern said nothing at that time, he was working on the fuselage. A
couple of weeks later I asked him about the tips, he said, “move the
ailerons”, I did, they moved like an all flying V Tail on a SHK. WOW!
Vern is always up to something.

Vern was good friends with Irv Prue, Gus Briegleb,
along with many other of the glider builders of those days.

Besides flying any glider that Vern can get his hands
on, he asked me a few years back while rigging at John Krey
International, which is just two miles from El Mirage, about my Ventus
KV, and about an ASW20 that was located in New York. Why go to New
York? I know where a Ventus B is in Santa Barbara, you guessed it,
within a week we were on the road to Santa Barbara to buy 75 Fred
Ebner’s,1985 Ventus B/16.6 VH1. He likes that glider almost as much as
his 1-26. He said, I got tired of you always passing me. We have had
lots of good flying over the years. He has been flying in every
contest that he can over the past several years. Cal City, Avenol,
Warner Springs, and the latest at the Parowan Region 9 2008 contest
just before the 1-26 Nationals. Not too bad for The Old Buzzard, The
Old Toad and The Old Goat.

My Good Friend Vern.



VvVVVV Vern passed away at 0300 hours Saturday August 15th--
I'mm going to miss my friend of 20 years.