Warbird Information Exchange

My very good and dear friend and Seabee enthusiast and go-to-guy for many Seabee and especially Franklin engine related help, Jim Poel was involved is a crash yesterday while test flying a Replica 1910 Curtiss Albany Flyer in Penn Yan, NY. If I am correct it was the first aircraft to fly off an aircraft carrier and was to be use for the US Navy's 100 Year Anniversary next year in San Diego.

Jim's injuries initially was listed as NOT life threatening, however, once at the hospital it was determined that it is was. Jim's injuries were a broken wrist, shattered pelvis, facial lacerations and a puncture to his lower back caused by the bamboo (the structure of the aircraft is made of bamboo). It was told to me by Lovada (his wife) today, that the puncture was (as the doctor put it) as large as your fist, lastly, he has internal bleeding which has not been located by the doctors after 2 angiograms, all this is as of 3PM eastern.

Jim is one of the most respected men in the Seabee community and many of you have spoken with him in the past or met him, his wife and his award winning Seabee at Sun n Fun or many other Seaplane Fly-In's around the East. I know my prayers and thoughts are with him and his family during this time. Jim has been like a brother and a father figure to me, he has bent over backwards and forwards to help me and many others in this small community that we have and I know each of you in your own way will give him the encouragement he and his family needs to get though these days that are the toughest.

Henry Ruzakowski

Just spoke with Lovada Poel this morning, the good news is after last nights surgery they found the location of the internal bleeding and was able to stop it. After over 30, yes 30 units of blood transfused, this is a great sign that his battle may be turning for the better. He still has a long hard road ahead of him, but everyday, our hopes are that he gets stronger. As of today he is in a doctor induced coma to help his body heal. This will remain in effect for about a week. As before, I believe that your thoughts and prayers are working. I have already received calls from friends throughout the US and Europe to get more information on his progress. Thanks to everyone for your good wishes and prayers.

Henry

A good day all in all. He's out from under the paralytic and starting to move a little. Mostly when they're doing something he doesn't like. (That would cover about everything.) But as I said before, he's heavily sedated, large amount of pain reliever and still has the ventilator. But it's way better than Friday, we'll take what we can get.

Tomorrow is surgery # 4 to start repair on his pelvis. (They might get lucky with only one time around, but no one knows.) If that works out, they'll work on his knee. (More about that in a minute.) If he's still doing well they'll fix his wrist. It's all dependant on how he does. But it'll be a bad day on Friday. It always takes it out of him a little.

They didn't do a full x-ray at the time of his admittance. They had bigger fish to fry. But they did tell me not to be concerned if they found some breaks as he started getting better. (I didn't mention that before because it's a non event in the scheme of things.) That's what all the x-rays were about. Turns out his knee is broken, also his left leg has a minor fracture. (For us it wouldn't be minor, Hey! My leg is broken! but you've got to keep this in perspective.) If all goes as hoped, they work on the leg on Monday.

His color is great, the swelling is going down and I see improvement every day. Baring something unforeseen we're in pretty good shape. It will still be a long time to recovery. Don't worry folks. All of you wonderful friends who have offered help will get your chance. It's just that it will be awhile. We still have re-hab (not to mention another few weeks in the hospital). That's when it's going to get tough. Trust me, I will call.

I don't think there's anything else. Know that your prayers and good wishes are appreciated and help.

'Night. Talk to you tomorrow.

Lovada