WIX Archives

Re: Any body ambitious enough to write a Soplata article?

Posted by larry smigla on Sat Aug 16, 2003 10:51:49 PM

In reply top Re: Any body ambitious enough to write a Soplata article? posted by Steve T on Sat Aug 16, 2003 10:39:38 PM

: Larry/Scott--
:
: I have both of Mr Hull's books on the Cleveland races; i
: n the second of the two (called "A Season Of Eagles") ther
: e is a lengthy piece on Walt Soplata, written in the early
: seventies for (iirc) the Akron Beacon-Journal. I expect t
: his is probably the article referred to. It captures Walt'
: s manner superbly, and incorporates a number of early deta
: ils on Walt's collecting that I haven't seen anywhere else
: (for example, his first aircraft was a flyable American E
: agle biplane that nearly took off by itself while Walt was
: doing an engine run...prompting him to sell it!).
: I think this article, with Mr Hull's permission and fleshe
: d-out with newer detail from some of the WIXers, could be
: a fine basis for a Web piece to accompany the registry. An
: other good idea would be some sort of definitive listing o
: f the collection. I have a pretty good one for starters bu
: t do not think it includes everything he had. No idea, for
: instance, what the reg'n of the Eagle was (as of the 70s,
: anyway, it was still flying out West).
:
: Larry--do you happen to know whether Mr Hull's books hav
: e been reprinted and/or are they still available? Both min
: e were damaged when a water pipe exploded above them last
: winter.
:
: Cheers
:
: S.
steve, i had worked with bob at ohio bell and had gone out with him to soplatas for the interview of which i believe he put into one of the books, as for reprints of the books, i have not seen any for years, i have mine in a safe spot in the garage along with about 450 other aviation books, if i ever find a place that has reprints willbe sure to e mail you,
i have an original copy of the akron beacon journal article stashed away as well

larry

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