30 years and counting...

Thirty years and counting

Last month an old crop duster friend stopped by the office for a visit. Unfortunately, I was out of town. Charlie Foster and I go back to 1974 when he was flying a Stearman in the next county, while I was in my first season flying a 235 Hutch-wing, metalized Pawnee. 

Charlie’s purpose in the visit was to give me four old “AgAir Updates” he had found. Until his visit, I had always thought I became editor of AgAir Update in 1988. His gift exposed my poor memory (hey, it was over 23 years ago). 

Of the four editions, the September 1981, Volume 1, Number 2, was the oldest. There was no masthead to determine who was the editor of the 10-page newsletter, unless you call the author of the “President’s Swath”, Dave McDaniel, the editor and assume the GAAA was the publisher. I guess it would be proper to believe, AgAir Update’s roots started in 1981, 30 years ago. Heck, I was about to miss celebrating AgAir Update’s 30th year!

The next oldest edition was the March/April 1982, Vol. 2, No. 1. My guess is in 1982 the publication changed from a biannual to quarterly editions. The publication still did not have a masthead, but now its editor was Donna McDaniel (Dave’s wife). 

The third edition was dated February 1986, Vol. 5, No. 4. How did that happen? The publication still claims to be a quarterly, but my math says it should have been Vol. 6, No. 1. I suppose there was a missing edition in 1985. Maybe that was when the transition was to me becoming the editor. That means I have been punching away at this keyboard for 25 years. Well, not quite, since I couldn’t type at the time! 

Looking through those old 1980s four editions of AgAir Update brought back many memories. A number of the faces in the pictures have flown west, while many others are no longer in the business. Even more remarkable are the advertisers supporting the publication then that still do today: Gregory Flying Service (now Airforce Turbine Service), Souther Field Aviation, Covington Aircraft Engines, Micronair Sales and Service (now Micron Sprayers), AirSouth Insurance, MId-Continent Aircraft Sales, Southeastern Aircraft Sales and Service, Stainless Steel Spray Systems and Tulsa Aircraft Engines. These companies have been with AgAir Update, and oddly enough, every edition printed since, for over 25 years. I am grateful of the support from those first advertisers. There would be many more to come.

By April 1986, the publication was 20 pages. In 198???, after being the editor of AgAir Update as a publication of the GAAA for ??? years, I made a proposal to purchase it from the Association. In May 2011, AgAir Update, including all printed editions, was 208 pages. From the borders of Georgia, Alabama and Florida, AgAir Update has grown to be read worldwide in three languages; English, Portuguese and Spanish. 

For me, the “ride” has been a good one and I intend to continue until I no longer can. As publisher/editor in the 1990s, with AgAir Update expanding to meet the needs of agricultural aviation, I could no longer focus on ag-flying and eventually retired from flying for a hire in 2000, after 27 years. It was a easy/hard decision.

At first, I missed those early morning spray jobs, or finishing up the ends after a long, satisfying day with many acres having passed under the wheels. Today, I can only imagine how trying a long day in the cockpit can be for a pilot in his late 50s, early 60s and older. I believe the way it is done is with pacing and many, many years of experience to lean on. You don’t see older pilots making high-G turns, overloaded takeoffs and pushing the envelop. Maybe there is something to the saying, “There are bold pilots and old pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots”. Did I get that right? 

Until next month, 
Blue Sky and Tailwinds...