Yesterday we lost a dear friend and fellow pilot, Paul Rooy. Paul was a giant to the Skymaster family and carved a large swath for the SOAPA group at each meeting. Paul was flying his Skymaster yesterday from his home airport in New Smyrna Beach, Florida when, for some unknown reason, the plane went down near the airport. The impact was fatal and we may never know the real reason as to this disaster. Paul was alone in the aircraft.
Paul was a very accomplished pilot. He held a Commercial, CFI, Instrument rating and was extremely knowledgeable with Skymasters and his airplane. Paul was a writer and published 3 books about flying Skymasters, one about adventures to Mexico and two told stories of him and Mary exploring South America in the Skymaster. Paul loved music, the local pub for a cold one and taking time to really know who he was with. Paul and Mary had a beautiful home in Daytona Beach along the inner waterway. Paul and Mary enjoyed the setting with a boat that found it's way up and down the canal on special nights with friends. Paul was a mechanical engineer, and a patent attorney along with his aviation career demonstrating and selling Lake Aircraft and Piper Aircraft. He even represented Piper in South America during a time of his life. Paul lived life to the ultimate fullest extent.
Paul and Mary had huge hearts and were always involved with several charities, humanitarian efforts and those in need. Mary is a registered nurse and spent time in Somalia working with medical relief efforts during some very unstable times. Mary also an accomplished author published her story too. The two of them were meant for each other as their hearts were passionate for the same reasons. They loved to fly together all over the world to remote areas like Tierra Del Fuego in the southern most tip of South America or just for the local New Smyrna Beach Airport friends annual event to promote the airport.
Paul will be deeply missed by the Skymaster community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mary his wife and Paul's family.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/ar...tarian-flights