Golden Wings Members Page

You can send comments & suggestions by clicking once on the following address in BLUE, which will bring up a notepad with your address. Simply start typing in the body and click on send: Webmaster

Flight Engineer FOSTER PARSELL honored as "An American Ambassador" in Jetnet

Starting in 1943 as a ground serviceman, he earned his A&P (A&E?) licence and was one of the first to be trained in Ardmore for the "third seat" on a DC-6. With the advent of the jets, Foster was one of the first 12 flight engineers spending a whole summer in Seattle learning the B-707. He was again one of the first to train for the new B-747 in 1970, and when NASA acquired the B-747 Foster trained the flight engineers assgned to NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft program.

Now, in retirement, Foster is continuing his service to the community thru conducting museum tours and voluntering for civic duty, after 63 years with American Airlines. 

READ ALL THE AA NEWS THAT FIT TO E-MAIL:

In 1949-50 I obtained A&P, Private Pilot and FE licenses at Spartan School of Aero at TUL. Applied for F/E position with PAA and TWA, but in April 1951 was assigned to AAL F/E class at LGA.
In 1953 began instructing. In 1958 attended 707 training at Boeing SEA and began writing 707 Operating Manuals and training programs. My last bid-month on the line was September 1959, and in 1963 attended B-727 training at SEA...more Operating Manuals written.
In 1966 I transferred to GSW as Manager-707 Ground School, later becoming Manager 707/727 Ground Schools. The final 8 years served as Manager-Flight Standards-Technical, leaving in 1992.
I was qualified on DC-6, DC-7, B-707, B-727, DC-10 and B-747
I was Golden Wings President in 1996 with the convention in San Antonio.

H A R R R Y  S C A R L E T T, Vice President:(d: 06/08/08)

Resides in Buckingham, Bucks County Pennsylvania.
Soloed September 11, 1948, Commercial Pilot, Multi Engine, Instrument rated, Flight Instructor, Ground Instructor, Parachute Rigger, Graduate Northrop Aeronautical Institute A&E.
Aviation employment: Charter Pilot, Co-pilot mechanic on C-46, C-47 for various non-sheds, A&E Mechanic with Flying Tiger Airlines in Burbank, California, Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam & Tokyo, Japan.
Military service US Army Aviation Section Im Dang NE Korea.
Started with American Airlines in November 1955 as mechanic in LAX. Was in the next to last Two Stripe Flight Engineer Class. First based in LAX, then SFO and finally in LGA. Checked out as Flight Engineer on DC-6, DC-7, L-188, 727, 707, 747. Check Airman on DC-6, DC-7, L-188 and 727.
Retired March 1995.
Past ten years served on the Bucks County Airport Authority. We own two airports, Doylstown and Quakertown Airports and we operate Van Sant Airport for Bucks County.
Served as President of Golden Wings in 2000 with the convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

H A N K  J A C O B S, Treasurer:

After serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII I attended The City College of N. Y. where I studied for a BBA in business and finance. I eventually choose to forgo that for my first love - flying.
After putting in time on the flight line at Republic Aviation and Lockheed Aircraft Service I joined AA in the spring of 1954 as a mechanic at Idelwild Airport while hoping a Pilot or F/E class would open. I finally made F/E class in February 1956.
In 1963 began flight instructing B707, CV990, and L188 as FAA designee and check airman. In 1966 I transferred to GSW as Superintendent Tech Procedures, later becoming Manager Program Development /Operating Manuals.
A little later and until I retired in 1992 I was Manager Flight Operations Procedures with the Flight Operations Technical group.
I was qualified on DC-6, DC-7, L188, B707, CV990, B747, and DC-10

Born in Chesterfield, MA. After high school, attended business College and earned a BS in Aircraft maintainence engineering at Parks Air College, St. Louis. Took aircraft vendor training programs for 377, 707, 727, 767, DC-6A, DC-7, MD-80, BAC-400 and Lockheed L-49. Attended familiarization programs on P&W, Wright and Rolls-Royce piston and jet engines, as well as propeller and fuel injection training.

In the Army, served as mechanic and instructor. With AOA was lead mechanic, maintenance and flight ground instructor, and more recently with American Airlines was Ground School Instructor, Chief Flight Ground School Instructor and Director of Flight Training Ground.

Special activites were: prepared and obtained FAA approval for first initital F/E ground school for the L-49 Constellation, served on delivery flights of the DC-7, B-707, B727, and CV-990. Was on the team to prepare American Airlines for the "Jet Age" and shared with Norm Rice on the first B-707 trip.

During the Berlin airlift, conducted L-49 ground school for AOA pilots in the morning and was F/E in the afternoon.

B O B   S A N D O R, Past President:

Had two hire dates, 1948 and 1949. But in '48 I was trying to go to school fulltime and work full-time and it just didn't work. So, after 6 months, I resigned and tried it again after I graduated.
June, 1949 I started in Fleet Service in Chicago (Midway) and then started in Maintenance in '52. Transferred to Dallas-Love Field shortly thereafter and, except for two years in the employ of Uncle Sam, was there until 1956.
Went to Engineers' school in '56 and was then assigned to San Francisco. Flew the DC6, DC7 and then the 707 (the best). Qualified on the DC10 in the mid-70s and flew it until I retired.
I transferred to Dallas in 1976 so I could fly International, particularly liked flying Down Under. Took retirement with the big boys (at 60) and have had no regrets.

G E O R G E  S T A H L, Past President:

I earned my A & E licenses at Stinson Aviation School and started working for AAL in 1942. I checked out as Flight Engineer in 195l, was Check Airman on DC6-7, Electra, 990 and 707. I flew MAC Operation, South Pacific, Domestic 747 and International DC10 until retirement in 1985.
George and his wife Lee, have been married 59 years and have 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.

I started mechanics training at the School of Aviation Trades in 1946, was hired as a mechanic by American in 1955 and made Flight Engineer in 1959. In 1962, I was a ground and flight school instructor, became chief Flight Engineer at LGA, flew all our equipment except the 990, and retired in 1997.
Dino and his wife, Joan, have been married 48 years and have 3 children, 4 grandchildren.

F R A N K  J.  A C C A R D I, Past Treasurer:

Started my Aircraft & Engine mechanics training at Manhattan School of Aviation Trades graduated 1942. Worked for Brewster Aircraft. Inducted into the Army Air Force 1943 - Attended Curtiss Wright C-46 factory school - Assigned to the Army Air Transport Command as F/E in the South Atlantic Wing Division, based in Natal, Brazil. Discharged in 1946.

Worked as A&E mechanic for Lockheed Aircraft Service, Air France and Lina Aero-Postal Venezuela airline.

Boeing 307 F/E

F/E licensed on the first pressurized aircraft, Boeing 307. Hired by American in 1951. Based in New York - qualified on, DC-6 - DC-7 - DC-10, Electra - 990 - 707 and 747. Was check airman on 707 and Convair 990.