We lost two good people yesterday in the crash of a P-51 in Arizona. Jeff Pino, former President of Sikorsky Aircraft and the P-51’s owner, and Nick Tramontano my friend.
I knew Jeff from the Air Shows and events we put on over the years at Sikorsky Memorial Airport here in Connecticut. I will say I knew him, but he was more of an “air show” friend. He flew a beautiful antique Howard DGA and was also a pilot for “Eagle One” the local police rescue Huey.
Early this morning, when I found out from Jared Growlis, that Nick was the unidentified passenger, my heart dropped a beat and I sank in my chair. Nick has been a friend for years. Many may not know Nick, but many in the Warbird community do. A real New England fixture, he was the kind of Warbird guy that was always there, but never took the limelight. A real old time, radial engine guy. If you had a problem, Nick would be there as soon as he could to help out. He never refused a request. Not from me at least. Whether it was just bringing his beautiful Twin Beech to one of our shows, or asking to use his SNJ as a photo ship for the 2010 Corsairs Over Connecticut show, he didn’t hesitate. And always, Nick had a smile on his face.
Here’s what our mutual friend, Craig McBirney said today about him,
“He is one of the original "old school" round motor guys. He joined the Navy as a teenager, and was professionally trained to maintain and operate them. He forgot more about the engines than any of us will learn in a lifetime. What I call a "blue collar pilot", who worked his way up to Captain at FedEx, with no college degree. I never saw him without a smile on his face, and a kind word to all around him. Never.”
I would have lunch with him several times a year and we’d swap stories. (he had way more and better stories than I did!). Sometimes he’d take my grandsons up for a trip in either the Beech or the SNJ. They even went on a re-positioning flight in a C-47 while I drove to the final airport to bring them all back to Oxford. Of course, then we’d eat lunch!
I can go on, but I won’t. I’ll probably add more stories as time passes and I hope some of you who knew Nick, will add some stories too. I think hearing stories makes the sadness hurt less.
I leave everyone tonight with the photos I’ve posted and a story.
In response to the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, The Connecticut Air and Space center arranged a private display during the Christmas break for the survivors of that horrible day. Sikorsky was able to arrange a brand new Black Hawk to be there but we needed more. When I asked Nick if he could bring a plane down to Stratford for the day, during the busy Christmas week, he didn’t even hesitate. He asked me “When do I need to be there?” It would be hard, since the hangar was iced in, so-to-speak. My grandson Chris and I had to help him chopped the ice from the base of the hangar door to get it to open so we could get the Beech out at Oxford. We made it. He let the children and their parents tour the aircraft. That is the Nick I knew.
I am devastated. I will miss the flying, I will miss the events, but most of all, I will miss my friend Nick.
Blues skies and tail winds my friend.
Godspeed Nick and Jeff.
Nick and I after a lunch "date" last August.
Nick and Craig McBirney at a special Sandy Hook event in 2012. Nick was always willing to give.
Nick and our mutual good friend Glenn Goldman.
More photos here.
https://www.facebook.com/jerry.oneill.5 ... 691&type=3
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