Bob Irwin, co-founder of Aircraft Spruce, passed away on June 26, 2015 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona at age 95. Along with his wife Flo, he started Fullerton Air Parts in 1955, Aircraft Spruce in 1965, and ACS Products Co. in 1983. Bob held a doctorate degree in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri and worked for Aerojet General in propulsion testing during the 1960s. He was a Link trainer instructor during World War II and became a pilot in 1948. Over the next 50 years he logged over 2200 hours in his Vultee BT-13, Navion A model, and a Navion Rangemaster. He is survived by his sons Jim (Nanci) and John (Frances), eight grandchildren, and ten grandchildren.
In Case You Missed It
Do-It -Yourself Aircraft Jacks
Having completed two basic welding courses, I was a solution looking for a problem.
A Futuristic Anachronism
Ultimate experimenter Paul Lipps has used his own homebuilt, a Lancair 320, as a test bed for his many innovations, which include reflexed flaps, an ultra-long pitot tube for more accurate readings, a solar-powered fan for the cockpit, a cowl scoop for ultra cooling of the magneto, extremely close clearances between the spinner and the prop, and a one-of-a-kind propeller.
Air Racing: A Report
With the announcement of Roswell, New Mexico, as the new home of the National Air Races, it seems a good time to give an update on the go-fast crowd.