VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1 Winter 2017

Index: From the Cockpit………..Page 2 Total Ecplise…….………...Page 2 Drone Dash……………….Page 2 Board Spotlight……… ….Page 3 Kite Day In the Park..……Page 3

Save the Date: Kite Day “In the Park” April 23, 12 n - 3 pm 11th Annual Hangar Party June 17, 5 pm - 10 pm BGWC Regional Airport 2016 Open cockpit/Drone Dash October 2017

There is a new face in the office at Avi-ation Heritage Park. AHP has a new Exec-utive Director. Kathy Benson was hired in October 2016 to replace Sandra Pence, who resigned to take full time posi-ton elsewhere. As Executive Assistant Benson is involved with funding activities, promoting the business interests and welfare of AHP and of course, provide administrative sup-

port to the board and the president.

Benson and her family moved to Bowl-ing Green, KY from Belton, SC in May of 2016 when her husband, Allan transferred to Bowling Green to become Senior Direc-tor of Creative Development at Fruit of the Loom. In Belton, Kathy was the Executive Director at the Belton Area Museum. She has over 30 years experience in the Hospi-tality Industry.

She and Allan have three adult chil-dren, Michael, Sarah, and Joseph and a grandson, Finn. When not at work, Kathy enjoys, travel-ing, cooking, sailing, yoga and a good glass of wine.

NEW EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT COMES TO AHP

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1

AHP FINALLY GETS UHAHP FINALLY GETS UH- Winter 2017

AHP FINALLY GETS UH-1 HUEYWinter 2017Winter 2017

1 HUEY Finally! After years of searching and rejections, Aviation Her-

itage Park has a Huey. Well, not exactly. The bird is not on site. However, one with AHP’s name on it is sitting in the “bone

yard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, AZ. According to Patricia Ochs, Air Force Display Administrator

with the National Museum of the USAF, the Vietnam era Huey UH-1 is waiting to be demilitarized, readied for transfer to AHP. Once this is done the craft will be officially on loan to AHP. The next step is arranging transportation from AZ to KY.

In keeping with AHP protocol, the Huey has a back story con-nected with a local aviator. This artifact will pay tribute to Army chopper pilot, Col. Raymond Nutter, along with honoring all the men and women from southcentral Kentucky who served during the Vietnam War.

Recently a search team from AHP traveled to AZ to view three aircraft available and selected the one best suited for the park. The gunship selected flew with the 20th SOS “Green Hornets”, in-volved in several insertion and extraction mission deep in enemy held territory. Once on site at AHP the bird will be re-stored, then put on display. No timetable has been set for restoration completion at this time.

Nutter was a native of Georgetown, KY. He played football under Coach Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky before transferring to WKU. He played on WKU’s 1952 Refrigerator Bowl Championship football team.

In 1966 Nutter was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations in-volving conflict with armed hostile forces in the Republic of Vi-etnam while serving with the 121st Assault Helicopter Company.

Nutter distinguished himself while serving as platoon leader of an armed helicopter team support-ing combat operations near Vi Thanh. Nutter led his air-craft in strikes on heavily forti-fied Viet Cong positions that were threaten-ing a small friendly force. When two evacuation helicopters were forced to abandon attempts to reach the ground unit because of intense fire, Nutter decided to fly in for the pickup. As he brought his Huey down, it was hit by a burst of fire which riddled the cab-in, shot away the controls and killed the other pilot. In the crash Nutter suffered severe injury to his leg, but led two crew mem-bers deeper into the swamp as the Viet Cong gave chase. Hoping to escape capture, the team continued to move through enemy terrain. Hampered by injury and beset by leeches and mosquitoes, he hacked his way with his knife through the swam. On two occa-sions he was attacked by armed insurgents. He engaged in hand-to-hand combat and killed them with his knife. Early the follow-ing morning he made contact with a friendly Vietnamese force and was rescued. Nutter died Oct. 2006.

SEARCH TEAM MEMBERS: L-R Arnie Franklin, Tim Miles, Vince Hines, Bob Pitchford, Dan Cherry, Joe Tinius, Joe Tucker. Hines was an actual crew chief on the chopper selected for the Park.

Col. Raymond Nutter

Kathy Benson

Page 2 Flight Line Winter 2017

From the Cockpit: Farewell from AHP President, Bob Pitchford

By Richard Gelderman, WKU Physics & Astronomy, Director of Hardin Planetarium

At 1:27:23 on Monday 21 August, visitors at Bowling Green’s Aviation Heritage Park will see the Sun disappear in the middle of the day! They will involuntarily gasp, perhaps scream out loud, or even cry with joyful emotion. For over 80 seconds our Moon will be directly between the Sun and General Cherry’s F-4 Phantom. Stars will twinkle in the mid-day sky. Nothing I can write will prepare you for the unearthly glow of the solar corona around the stunning black circle that used to be the Sun, the red colored prominences streaming away from the Sun, or the sight of Mercury, Venus,

Mars, and Jupiter Shining in the sky. This total solar eclipse will be visible from a 70-mile-wide path stretching from Oregon through South Carolina. Those located at the middle of this path, where the Moon’s circular shadow is widest, will experience the longest duration of totality. Over 2 minutes and 40 seconds of totality will be witnessed by those on the central path within Kentucky; which includes the spot just west of Hopkinsville which is the point of greatest eclipse, where Earth, Moon and Sun are closest to being in a perfect line. Bowling Green, on the other hand, is at the very northern edge of the shadow. No totality will be seen at the Corvette Museum, 60 seconds will occur at WKU’s campus, and 90 seconds in Alvaton. Excellent maps of

the eclipse are posted at Great American Eclips.com and Xavier Jubier’s interactive GoogleMap is at http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_ecl-plises/TSE_2017_GoogleMapFull.html. See Total Eclipse Page 4

It’s been my distinct honor to lead Aviation Heritage Park for the last two years. I am pleased to pass the torch to one of the most capable and dedicated members of our board, Joe Tinius, our new president. With his capable leadership, Joe will maintain our commitment to the long heritage of southcentral Kentucky

aviation through the exciting development of our collection, and through the continuous repair and restoration of our current artifacts. I am humbled by your support and kind words

of encouragement these past years and urge that you help us continue the mission of AHP. “KEEP LOOKING UP”

Drones circling in the air, kids and adults alike climbing in and out of a cockpit of the aviation artifacts on dis-play, all coupled with a beautiful sunny

fall day made the second annual Drone Dash/Open Cockpit Day in Aviation Heritage Park on Oct. 8 a huge success.

More than 500 people enjoy the fun, either as spectators or participants.

AHP partnered with area drone club, SOKY MULTIROTORS CLUB, an area drone enthusiast’s organization, to bring the recreational drones event. to south-central Kentucky. According to Wes Stone, from the SOKY MULTI-ROTORS Club, there were more than a dozen drone pilots from Warren and surrounding counties pushing some 25-30 drones through a highly technically challenging First Person View (FPV) course. Flying a FPV course means the pilot maneuvers his/her drone around the obstacle course using specially de-signed goggles allowing the pilot to see the course as if actually inside the drone.

See “Drone” page 3

Total Eclipse of the Sun Greatest Event You’ll Ever Experience

2015 Total Eclipse Artic Circle

2017 Board of Directors

Joe Tinius, President Keith Carwell Vice President

Joe Tucker, Secretary Kim Kirby, Treasurer

Jim Allen Larry Bailey Rob Barnett

Jim Bohannon, III Alvin Ford Tim Hurst Basil Jones

Julia Roberts Gerald Roark

William Skaggs Mike Steen Mac Yowell

Director Emeritus

Ray Buckberry Dan Cherry

Arnie Franklin Carroll Hildreth

Jim Wright

Drone/Open Cockpit Day Huge Success

BOB PITCHFORD

FUTURE AVIATORS enjoy the “ride” during

Open Cockpit Day in the park.

Winter 2017 Flight Line Page 3

Board Member Spotlight: Joe Tinius, New AHP President Every year thousands of people an-nounce they are retiring. Some actual-ly do. Others say they are, but never quite get the hang of it. Lucky for Aviation Her-itage Park Joe Tinius is one of the “just can’t do it” kind of folks. In June 2015 Tinius “retired” as Su-perintendent of Bowling Green Inde-pendent Schools. Since, he has kept more than busy serving his community. Not satisfied having a few idle hours in his day, in January he answered the call and took over as President of the AHP Board. He becomes the sixth person to head the organization. Tinius is a lifelong educator, giving 38 years to the students of Bowling Green City Schools. In 1977 he started his career as a special education teacher

at L.C. Curry Elementary. In 1988 he became Principal of T.C. Cherry Ele-mentary. In 1994 he moved to the district office, named Director of Elementary and Secondary Programs and District Assessment Coordinator. Two years later he was named Director of Transportation and Building and Grounds and in 1998, Assistant Superintendent for special pro-grams and physical operations. Finally, in November 2005 he was named BGISD Superintendent., He retired June 30, 2015. Tinius has always been a visionary, in and out of the school system. He be-lieved schools should instill the value of life-long learning and prepare students for their future by building relationships, encouraging learning and teaching 21st century skills. He brings that same vi-sion, focus and desire to his latest en-deavor as head of AHP. Tinius earned a BA in Elementary Education, his MA in Education, and Rank I in Superintendent Endorsement from WKU. He and his wife, Katy, make their home in Bowling Green. They have three children, Chris, Kelly Maresca

(Matt) and Casey (Rachel) and three grandchildren, Lyla Jo, Mason and Lainey Kate. Holding on to the claim of being re-tired, Tinius serves as a member of the South Central Kentucky Junior Achieve-ment B.O.D, Medical Center 10K Clas-sic co-director, United Way of Southern Kentucky Community Impact and Allo-cations Committees and as a mentor at Dishman McGinnis Elementary School. He was named the 2009-2010 Third District Music Educator Association Administrator of the Year, Bowling Green City Schools’ Special Education Teacher of the Year, 1986-1987, Bowl-ing Green-Warren County Jaycees Out-standing Young Elementary Education 1981 and a 1986-1987 Stella B. Edwards Award, State Special Education Teacher of the Year finalists (1of5). To say he keeps busy is a drastic understatement. He has been a member of AHP since 2008, serving on select committees and overseeing various projects, such as the AHP Paper Airplane initiative and head of the personnel committee. He succeeds Bob Pitchford as president.

Continued from page 2 “The day was a huge success for us,” Stone said. “This was the most drones and pilots we’ve ever had at one of our events. We look forward to next year.”

While drone activities were happening on one side of the park, the area around the static aircraft displays was buzzing with excitement as moms, dads and kids of all ages climbed in-side the cockpits of designated planes to see what it felt like to sit inside a warbird and to have their picture taken.

Also, on hand were knowl-edgeable docents, to include actual pilots of two of the planes on display, to talk about each planes, histories surrounding each, and the pilots who flew them. These planes represent a big part of the aviation history of southcentral Kentucky. For more information about the SOKY MULTIROTOR Club

visit www.SOKYMC.com. Aviation Heritage Park is dedicated to finding, restoring and displaying aviation artifacts with ties to aviators from south-central Kentucky. The park has five aircraft on display with a

Vietnam era Huey helicopter to be added soon. The park is open daily from 7:00 a.m. until dark. Admission is free. For more in-formation about AHP visit: www.aviationheritagepark.com or AHP on Facebook.

Joe Tinius

PILOTS SPEND TIME in the “pit”

tweaking their machines for com-petition.

Flying High

There always seems to be something in the air at Aviation Heritage Park. On Sunday, April 23 it will be kites, kites and more kites. This is all part of cele-brating Na-tional Kite Flying Month. AHP is hosting its 2nd annual “Kite Day In The Park.” The family event will be in the park located at 1825 Three Springs Road, Bowling Green KY, April 23, from noon to 3 p.m. Kids are en-courages to bring Mom and Dad, lawn chairs

and, of course, kites for the whole family to fly. This will truly be a family fun outing. There will also be a special

appearance from the Red River Fiddlers, performing at 2:00. “When it comes to

things that fly, we’re all over it,” AHP President Joe Tinius said. Flying a kite is a great, fun way to introduce kids to flying and maybe even renew that interest in adults as well.” Food will be availa-ble. Admission is free.

Kites and Music to Bring Family Fun in the Park

Page 4 Flight Line Winter 2017

Aviation Heritage Park PO Box 1526

Bowling Green, KY 42102-1526

PLACE STAMPHERE

Flight Line is published quarterly by Aviation Heritage Park, Inc. with offices at 1825 Three Springs Rd Bowling Green, KY 42104 (Located at the corner of Three Springs Road and Smallhouse Road at Basil Griffin Park.) Free Admission Hours: 7:00 am - Dusk Phone: 270.421.4885 Website: www.aviationheritagepark.com Email: AviationHeritageParkBG@gmail.com

For the partial phases of the eclipse it is imperative that you take very special precau-tions to protect your eyes. An authoritative guide to how to safely enjoy an eclipse is available at https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety. Many sources are already selling solar viewers that are the best solution. WKU’s Hardin Plan-etarium (http://wku.edu/planetarium) will start selling these in March for no more than $2 apiece, with proceeds used to provide total eclipse experiences for our region’s public school students.

The transcendent glory of a total eclipse is worth almost any effort you might have to make. The last time there was a total eclipse anywhere in the continental USA was 1979 -- and 1869 for one in Kentucky. Plan now for

where you will be on Monday 21 August 2017. Totality Timeline for Eclipse in Bowling Green

Total Eclipse

Of the Sun

Over AHP Continued from page 2