Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

[Mluvara]

Aviation lost a legend as renowned test pilot and Cleveland Era racer Charlie Tucker passed away at the age of 90 on April 26th.

I was privileged to call Chuck a dear friend as I had gotten to work with him on a flying wing idea over the past five years. Boy did he have many stories and experiences to share. He was chipper as ever when I saw him on his 90th birthday party last December!

Here's the notice from the paper, along with an attached photo of several of us with Chuck in 2007.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?n=charles-tucker&pid=142565656

We'll miss you Chuck. As Dan Martin put it, you were one colorful person!

Michael

[hattend]

Re: Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

He was born in 2009 and was 90 years old?

Don

Typo?

[Mluvara]

Re: Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

Oops! 1919.

Michael

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

Blue Skies Charlie. As a teenager in Cleveland @ the air races, 1946/1949, I remember some of his wild P63s especially a clip winged lavender one that he had trouble with making it around the pylons.

[Mluvara]

Re: Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

Some photos to share. The P-63 ones are from Chuck's collection. I was fortunate for him to give me one of his "dataplate" business cards.

[Wilnit]

Re: Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

Those are some friggin' short wings...

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

I got to spend a short time with him a "few" years ago at the NAG banquet, man, did that guy have some stories!

Did he ever do a biography or anything like that?

[Mluvara]

Re: Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

I got to spend a short time with him a "few" years ago at the NAG banquet, man, did that guy have some stories!

Did he ever do a biography or anything like that?

To my knowledge, he did not do a biography that has been published. Not sure if any exists in unprinted forms. He did do quite a few articles.

Michael

[deepsky]

Re: Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

I would love to read more about him. Time to start the Google. Thanks for posting this.

[Shawn Aro]

Re: Blue Skies Charlie Tucker - Dec 23,2009-April 26,2010

Years ago back in the 80"s i belive he came to talk at one of the NAG mettings we had in Palo Alto they showed a movie called Willim Tell F-104 he flew at Nellis. Shawn