Warbird Information Exchange

I have just heard the truly sad news that Darren Banfield of Hampton, NH was killed this afternoon after his recently purchased float-equipped 1942 Cessna T-50 Bobcat crashed outside of Sharon, MA. Many folks know Darren from his years of dedicated service at the Owls Head Transportation Museum as Chief Pilot flying the old stuff. His recent venture was Golden Age Restorations, his own restoration company at Hampton Airfield in NH. He was truly an expert and an ultimate craftsman, all while being only 37.

I knew Darren as he flew for us at the Collings Foundation fairly frequently and was the only person I ever saw fly our 1909 Bleriot. In addition he did the annuals on our PT-17 and Storch.

Darren was a super nice guy and really one of the most approachable guys in aviation I ever came across. He'd do anything for you and would go out of his way to make sure that everything got done right. I remember him taking a whole day to move the Stearman and Storch to a late fall event in roaring winds and bitter freezing cold just to help us out... he never complained or asked for anything in return. That was just the way he was.

He leaves behind many people who cared very dearly for him. The vintage aviation community has lost one of the best allies it had.

Ryan Keough

My thoughts are with his family....

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Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

News report at: http://www.boston.com/dailynews/128/region/Small_plane_crashes_in_Sharon_:.shtml