GOOD OLE DAYS!

 At this time of the year, most people reminisce about the ‘good ole days’.  I am reminded of the song that says, “These are the good old days!”  They, indeed, are the good old days.  Perhaps a little sadder for our losses… a little brighter for our gains… and a lot of thanks for our tremendous blessings.  These are still the ‘good ole days’.    

GONE WEST 

This year has been good in many ways, but has been bad due to the departure to the west of a close friend.  There seems to be no good way to say a final goodbye.  Arnie Sims taught me to fly in the early eighties.  This month he went west.  He was an excellent pilot, having won three Distinguished Flying Crosses in Vietnam/Cambodia.  He fought in a war that he opposed and despised.  He fought and flew out of Cambodia when we, back in the states, were told that the U. S. had no presence there.  I did a story on him for a Veterans issue a few years ago.  He was never proud of his participation in the Vietnam War.  He was proud of the story, in spite of his feelings of the war.  He never told me that, but he shared the story to others with a smile.   

PROUD AMERICAN

 Arnie was a proud American!  I wish I could write his complete story.  He was very private and yet he shared his love of flight with many.  That time didn’t include his hours in the B-52.  He hated that machine…  except when it was time for a mid-air refueling, that he enjoyed.  He flew the OV-10 Warthog, F-4, and lots of others.   

I don’t think he ever felt that he had done enough, even in the last days.  He was one of those individuals that one either hated or loved, sometimes at the same time.  I met him in the early eighties, after the meeting, I felt he was the best instructor for me.  It was a good choice.  He passed on many good and safe procedures that have kept me alive and flying for 25 years.  For what it is worth, he taught me to FLY LOW. 

The one thing he loved so much was his Zlin 526 F (pictured above with him at the controls).  He passed that legacy on to me a few years ago when he knew his health was so bad he could never get another FAA medical.  I purchased his lady with the understanding that he always be able to fly in her at his request.  This we did.  He handled her with such finesse and grace.  I envy his flying ability.   

Arnie was only sixty-five years old.  That, my friend, is young.  He was a meager five year older than me, by my standards, a young man.  His breath was taken away by cigarettes and the fumes from the airplane paint shop that he owned in the 80’s.  This is not a way to go!!!  I watched him grow progressive worse starting in 1995.  Being the eternal optimist that I am, I told him many times that he would most likely outlive me.  He didn’t and he and I both knew that he wouldn’t.   

There are many pilots who are better for having known and flown with Arnie.  I met one of his 1980’s students today.  His comments were about the same as mine, Arnie was a damn good pilot.   

Actually, Arnie wouldn’t like this article if he were alive.  As I stated earlier, he was a private person.  I wrote it because he deserved this final salute.  Today, he is flying high even though I know his real love was to fly low.  

I’ll fly with you later, Arnie.