Duane Cole

[Garry Crookham]

Just saw on the EAA website that Taylorcraft aerobatic legend Duane Cole passed away yesterday.
A big loss to the aviation world.

Garry Crookham
N5112M
Tulsa

[Jim Hartley]

passing of a legend

I had the pleasure of talking with him over the phone several years back and he was very candid and straight forward. He told it as he saw it. Refreshing these days when many people are afraid of not being "politically correct". He made a science of his skill and yes, he will be dearly missed.

[dennispip]

I remember very well seeing Duane Cole perform, probably 40 years ago. What a great day that was, especially knowing my dad had a Taylorcraft sitting in the hangar at home! Seeing what Cole did in that clip wing of his made me feel very confident in the integrity of those planes.

Seems like the factory would jump at the chance to produce a few "Duane Cole S/E" planes to honor what he did for advancing the lineage of this species. I recall an article about Duane in Private Pilot or one of the monthly mags several years ago.

Does anyone know if he ever wrote any books or memoirs about his flying days? I imagine he had some great stories from his trips flying VFR from airshow to airshow and his stays in various places across the country. Did he ever take his show out of the States?

[Forrest Barber]

Duane Cole

I was very pleased ( and saddened) today to see that a posting was started on our good friend Duane Cole.....WE have been very busy here with weather & health problems, I am very relieved to see that the "tribe" has carried on this past week.
We just had a nice visit from that old "coonass" Tim Hicks, he even joined the Foundation... more on that later , pictures too! I fired up the computer and learned about the death of Duane just today. . I am probably alive today because of his influence on my life.... I flew with him at one of his last shows up north here at Slate Run , W. Va. Rolly, Judy & Duane will never be equaled. For that other poster ; YES Duane wrote many books , YES he flew many shows out of the Country. maybe do a google search to start your learning about the Greatest Taylorcraft pilot ever born.... I will be back with more information as I get it. I am in contact with the folks doing the Birthday celebration for Gordon Baxter another great friend of the TAylorcraft gang.... YES the factory should offer a clip-wing , WE ahve always felt this would be a great idea. bye For Now Forrest, Patty & Kelli-Belle

[Acroeric]

Duane wrote 9 books to be exact and each is really good. I have collected them all over the years. I only got to meet him a few times but each was memorable- The last time was at Sun-n-Fun in 2000. He was planning his aerobatic contest and I got to have dinner with him at the IAC banquet. I talked to him about my clipwing and he was the one person that really encouraged me to get into the airshow business. I think he was a guy all of us could relate to. After reading some of his books I flew my Tcraft across the US with no radio, no GPS, no transponder just to say I did it. It was a real adventure that I will never forget. Duane told me that it was that type of flying he loved the most- I can see why.

[Dick Smith]

Duane Cole remembered...

In 1991 my wife and I spent our 25th anniversary enjoying 5 days at Oshkosh. I had the opportunity to meet Duane Cole and his wife. He surprised me as the Alaska names rolled off his tongue...Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Seldovia, Port Alsworth, Iliamna. He and his wife had been up here several times and they had flown to all of these places and more. A special couple, to be sure. They would have made great Northlanders! Dick

[Garry Crookham]

On the way back from a family vacation to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole we stopped in Liberal Kansas for fuel and lunch. Duane Cole's Taylorcraft was tied down on the ramp. The family disappeared into the FBO...and reappeared with Duane,,,all heading to his airplane. The kids had found Duane inside and told him that in addition to the 195 we were travelling in, we had a Taylorcraft at home. Duane let the kids sit in his airplane and we had a very memorable lunch with him. We saw him at Oshkosh later that summer and he remembered my boys and gave each of them an autographed book. He was a class act.

Garry Crookham
N5112M
Tulsa, Ok

[Forrest Barber]

Duane Cole

Here in Alliance we will have a Memorial missing man formation for Duane at the Fly-In on Sat , July 10th, time to be determined.
The formation will hopefully be of Clip-Wing Taylorcrafts. I will be flying Leise Marie and can lead or be the pull-out ship in the formation. Any other clip ships are invited.....let me know Forrest

We will be in contact with the family too! more as we get it. there is a lot out there on the internet.

[captjon]

I was saddenned today to hear of the passing of Duane Cole. He was and will continue to be truely a legend in not only the Taylorcraft world, but in the whole world of aviation.




We will always remember him and his Taylorcraft.

[Forrest Barber]

Services for Duane Cole

There are many stories on the passing of Duane , here is one off the EAA site:

http://eaa.org/communications/eaanews/040203_cole.html

I will try to fly around 2PM CST ? on Sunday 2-8-04 during the Funeral.

[ROllerton]

Duane Cole web site (forwarded)

I am putting together a web site in tribute to Duane Cole.

Here is the start:

http://www.aerovents.com/duanecole

I am seeking pictures and amusing anecdotes about Duane, if anyone has something to contribute.

Thanks!

Melanie

[Forrest Barber]

Duane Cole Guestbook

Thank you BOB & Melanie!!!!
I posted as should the rest of our tribe.....