To Stu Fields

Hi Stu,

I tried to email this to you directly, but it kept bouncing back
undelivered so I am posting it here.

I didn't realize that you and BJ were close friends. I'm really
saddened (and stunned) by the news of what happened to him.

Although I wont be able to attend the funeral myself, I was
wondering if there would be a split helicopter formation flying
at his funeral. I think that would be a really neat way to send
him off.

Dennis

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."

To find out what an H-1B is and how Congress is using
them to put Americans out of work, visit the following
web site and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news
video: http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm

Dennis: While I wouldn't classify my relationship with BJ as close, it does
go back a few years. I bought one of the single seat Scorpion kits from him
back in the late 60's early 70's time frame and had a few conversations
with him regarding construction and design details. Then due to an overseas
assignment, I didn't come in contact with him again until the 97 fly-in at
El-Mirage dry lake(which wasn't dry so the fly-in was held at Ken Brock's
place) I made my first take and landings off from a dusty road in my Baby
Belle and BJ saw the problem I had trying to see thru the cloud and came
over with some helpful advice. I watched him land neatly on his little
trailer with almost no dirt stirred. Later when I had my accident in the
Baby Belle and was trying to sort out what had happened and was hobbling
around on crutches, BJ came upand we set down for quite a while discussing
the crash and he was able to come up with the probable cause. Without my
understanding of the cause, largely thru his help, I might not have
attempted helo flight again. In the process, we talked about maybe that I
had some protection provided by a supreme being that helped in the crash. I
hadn't realized the religious aspect of BJ before. As we parted, he gave me
an autographed minature Gideon Bible which I treasure. BJ certainly was an
inspiration and treasure to anyone that has the desire to build and fly his
own helicopter.
He certainly will be missed by me...
Stu Fields
wrote in message
...
Hi Stu,

I tried to email this to you directly, but it kept bouncing back
undelivered so I am posting it here.

I didn't realize that you and BJ were close friends. I'm really
saddened (and stunned) by the news of what happened to him.

Although I wont be able to attend the funeral myself, I was
wondering if there would be a split helicopter formation flying
at his funeral. I think that would be a really neat way to send
him off.

Dennis

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."

To find out what an H-1B is and how Congress is using
them to put Americans out of work, visit the following
web site and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news
video: http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm

When I had the pleasure of meeting BJ at his development facility I was
amazed to find that such a brilliant man was also so friendly, honest and
willing to take time to talk with anyone and answer questions at length. We
talked about
how small "hobby" helos were a very novel and scarcly accepted form of
flying. BJ was just beginning to start production of the Helicycle at the
time of the Mini 500 fiasco. He remarked that this had a chilling effect on
the market and he wondered how this would affect the homebuilt kit helo
industry as a whole. I think he'd be very pleased at all of the work that
has happened since that time. I was touched especially by a comment that he
made when we were discussing the life of the
Helicycle. He said something on the order of this machine being a 2000 hour
TBO airframe but then he hastened to add that we won't know this until we
fly one that many hoursG And you guys said it best when you stated that
BJ gave us all hope and inspiration that ordinary people could actually
afford to own and fly a helicopter. What he did was an amazing achievement
and if his life had to end too soon it certainly was on the highest of notes
and at the peak of his work.
Larry