Celebrating
the Life of Ray Mort
Inventor and avid aviator Raymond William Mort Jr. (Ray), an aeronautical
design engineer who counted inventions for saving the lives soldiers and
sailors of downed military helicopters among his many contributions to us
all, died Wednesday, February 25, 2009. He was 70.
The father of three died on his terms at his home of 36 years in Hurst, Texas
after being hospitalized last week. Ray was diagnosed with prostate and lung
cancer last year. |
We will be
having a gathering to enjoy the memory of and learn new things about Ray
Mort. The event is planned to be in his
airplane hanger at Hicks field in Fort Worth.
We will be enjoying some of his favorite food and snacks starting at:
3:00 PM
Sunday, March 1, 2009.
Hanger #346
Hicks Airport
100 Aviator Dr
Fort Worth, Texas 76179
The airport is located on the north side of Loop 820. You will want to get on I-35W heading north
past Loop 820. Take the exit for 287
heading north. Continue on 287 until the
Bonds Range exit. Take this exit and
turn left on Bonds Range. Continue down
to Aviator Dr. It will be right before
the railroad tracks. Turn right and
enter the airfield.
When you get to the airfield, you will take a right turn and
the next left, which is also the taxi way for the runway. The buildings should be on your right side
and the runway to your left. If you
continue on the taxi way, the hanger will be just about all the way down on the
left. However, you will need to park
near the café because there is very little space near the hanger. We will likely have his plane pulled out in
front of the hanger. It should be easy
to see.
This will be an informal event –
Jeans, shorts, and other casual attire you would wear for a picnic.
You can contact us at
Home: 817-282-6940
Trey’s (Ray III): 646-339-9646.
---- Instead of sending flowers ----
We have also
created a memorial foundation in honor of Ray Mort. It is called First Flight Foundation.
It’s goal is to support the discovery of flight education for
disadvantaged kids. The Foundation was
created on February 26, 2009 as a Texas non-profit corporation [501(3)(c)
election] and will utilize all donations to cover the cost of the first
introductory flight session and provide an honorary flight book for each
recipient. www.FirstFlightFoundation.com.
Donations and
Contributions
Please make
checks out to First Flight Foundation and bring it to the gathering or send it
to Ray’s home address at:
324 Hillview Dr
Hurst, Texas 76054
A PayPal
account will also be set up shortly as well, for your added convenience.
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I hope there’s a place, way up in the sky, Where pilots can go, when they have to die- A place where a guy can go and buy a cold beer For a friend and comrade, whose memory is dear; A place where no doctor or lawyer can tread, Nor management type would ere be caught dead; Just a quaint little place, kinda dark and full of smoke, Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke; The kind of place where a lady could go And feel safe and protected, by the men she would know. |
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There must be a place where old pilots go, When their paining is finished, and their airspeed gets low, Where the whiskey is old, and the women are young, And the songs about flying and dying are sung, Where you’d see all the fellows who’d flown west before. And they’d call out your name, as you came through the door; Who would buy you a drink if your thirst should be bad, And relate to the others, “He was quite a good lad!” |
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And then through the mist, you’d spot an old guy You had not seen for years, though he taught you how to fly. He’d nod his old head, and grin ear to ear, And say, “Welcome, my son, I’m pleased that you’re here. “For this is the place where true flyers come, “When the journey is over, and the war has been won “They’ve come here to at last to be safe and alone “From the government clerk and the management clone, “Politicians and lawyers, the Feds and the noise “Where the hours are happy, and these good ol’boys “Can relax with a cool one, and a well-deserved rest; “This is Heaven, my son – you’ve passed your last test!” |
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Author: Capt. Michael J. Larkin |
Ray taxiing
in his Globe Switft: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x-35diI3G8
Ray’s
restored 1970 Trans Am: http://www.texastransams.com/restoration/70luc455trans_am/70luc.htm