Final Glide for Don Dorrell

December Soaring has Don Dorrell listed under Final Glide. Does anyone have details on his death? The Don Dorrell that I knew was a young guy and as you all know that means anybody younger than me. Sad news, Don was a good racing pilot and always fun to be around. His wife, Joy, was just that, a Joy to be around. Soaring lists his home as, Ludlow, WA. He lived in Northern California a few years back. JJ Sinclair

JJ,

I purchased his PW-5! (The one I'm having a title problem with). I met with his widow during the sale and was told that he came down with lung cancer (never smoked) and passed away fairly soon thereafter. I think he was around 72 or so. The SSA was notified by me when I was changing the contest number over to me (Z2)

Don seemed to get a great guy from the folks that knew him. I know he held a Diamond Badge in soaring and was planning on being active in the PW-5 contests before he got sick.

By the way, If anyone out there knew Don and Joy very well, I would like to hear from you as I could have this title issue resolved easily if she would co-operate but it looks like I'm going to have to get an attorney to settle this. Sadly, it appears that once she sold Don's toys (her words not mine) she wants nothing to do with anything related to Don's very active aviation career. Oh well.

Chet chet(removethis)@calalpa.org

Thanks Chet for your post on Don Dorrell.

On the PW-5 title issue, I once bought a broken LS-6 and the owner didn't sign the change of registration, correctly. Oak City wouldn't issue me a registration in my name. The old owner took the position that the insurance company had paid him off and he 'no longer owned the ship' and refused to resign the paper work.

About 2 weeks before the ship was ready to fly again, I sent him a registered letter which said, Do you want me flying an aircraft that is legally registered to you?

Got my properly signed paper work in return mail. Hope this helps, JJ Sinclair