Don West known as Torch here at .org passed away Saturday March 1st. We and I have lost some one in the Fairbanks area that will be greatly missed.
Best wishes to his children and wife. Don was instrumental in keeping all us AK pilots that much safer and even more a real kind and wonderful man.
Mike Allen
Oh, MAN....that is terrible news! I tell my students what they are missing with the current AFSS system in the Lower 48....a flight service station where you can actually walk in the door and brief face to face with, and who knows the country, it's weather patterns and most of the pilots in the area. That personal touch is so important, and Don was one of the REALLY good ones to brief with and to just visit with. His passing is indeed a HUGE loss to the Fairbanks community and to all northern Alaska aviators. Those Dune Lake trout won't know what to do with themselves now.Originally Posted by mghallen
My prayers for his family, he will most certainly be missed.
MTV
RIP Don. My prayers for his family.
AN
RIP Torch. You will be missed. Prayers.
"If you put the Federal Government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand." - Milton Friedman
Wow! That's some surprising news that comes out of left field! Had he been sick - dealing with some kind of illness? Condolences to family and friends. Sad news indeed!
Rest in Peace. The fish won't miss you but we will.
Torch was supposed to head this way this year to visit his family,, I was planning on meeting him for a cold one.... Keep that thought Torch, someday we will.. Condolences to his family and friends...
Blue Skies Torch
Last edited by OLDCROWE; 03-04-2013 at 06:57 AM.
"Illegitimis non carborundum"
Torch was a huge part of SC.org. Great contributor. Encouraging. Kind. He will be missed. May the Lord Bless his family.
God Speed my friend, see you on the other side.
Bill
Very Blessed.
Very sad news, indeed. Just retired, and no doubt had been looking forward to many good years closer to family. Blue skies, Torch, and may your family find peace.
Gordon N4328M
My SPOT: tinyurl.com/N4328M (case sensitive)
Very sad news. Thanks for sharing this.
Could somebody post a good photo of Don on this thread?
Shucks. That was not the news I had expected, nor wanted. I got to meet Don a few years ago while hanging around the airport waiting for weather. He was top Shelf.
He will be missed.
I don't know where you've been me lad, but I see you won first Prize!
Don West in PASK Selawick Alaska in Front of a new Cessna Caravan.
Wow - Tragically surprising news. Torch will be greatly missed, his quiet sense of humor, his annual hunting thread, his wonderful trout fishing pictures. Godspeed Don, I'll be keeping a good thought for your family's peace as they struggle with this challenge.
Stand your ground, don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here. - Capt. John Parker, Lexington April 19, 1775.
Gunny
What sad news. I always appreciated his demeanor on this forum. I had the pleasure of meeting in Valdez and enjoyed the beyond the forum Don and much as I enjoyed reading posts from the Torch. All the best to his family.
Jerry
If it looks smooth...it might be
If it looks rough...it is!!
I didn't know Don but it always brings sadness to loose any fellow aviator. We are a small group of people with a common passion of flying. My prayers go out to his family and close friends.............from a fellow pilot in Kentucky.
Steve
That is such bad news! Don took the time to teach this pasture flyer how to navigate in and out of Fairbanks air space and stopped by to check in on my daughter and me while we were camped at Fairbanks. I was looking forward to repaying his kindness when he was in Kansas seeing family. Gods speed . Doug
Always enjoyed reading Don's posts on this web site, ' will miss him a lot.
When a prang seems inevitable, endeavor to strike the softest, cheapest object in the vicinity, as slowly and gently as possible.— advice given to RAF pilots during W.W.II.
Wow. Not what I was expecting either. So sorry to hear this. Our thoughts and prayers to Don's family.
I have never met him....but he seemed to be a very positive person and a fine ambassador to aviation. He will be missed indeed!
cafi
My dream of owning a Supercub has Torch's name attached to it forever with all the words of wisdom he shared on this site. RIP Torch.
There are quite a few people here you don't have to meet to know they are quality people, and hope to have the pleasure of meeting some day. Torch it's certainly one of them.
Rene
-Rene
I never met Torch, but I will sure miss him. Always enjoyed his posts, pictures, and comments, whatever the topic. My deepest condolences to his friends and family.
Baloney is still baloney, no matter how thin you slice it.
AkMoose.jpeg
Very sad news. Miss ya Don, the sky will always be blue above the scud!
Nimpo Lake Logan... boonie SuperCubber
200mi (300km) from nearest stoplight... just right! - "Que hesitatus fornicatus est"
Dang, that is sad news. Never met him but felt like i new him from the regular postings he made. Sorry to hear this. Prayers to the family!
Lance
I am sorry for this news. I have never met Don, but his reputation was exceptional, greatly appreciated by those here who I think a lot of. My greatest sympathy to his family, friends and loved ones.
Randy
An iconic member, with tremendous insight and experience in Alaska, here are some of the threads he started if you want to reminisce:
http://www.supercub.org/forum/search.php?searchid=931956
Disappointed I never met Torch.
-- 8GCBC: 2100A, 31136.R, 8.566, C3000A
A&P, ATP, SES, CFII, MEI
Fly with me here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXI48e1heuo
God speed and blue skies. Alaska will miss you Don. Prayers for his family.
I always admired Don as well, he was living the dream so many of us wished for. Can't add anything more to what everyone has said about him. I do know that its not the end Don, only the beginning of a great new adventure that he will love.
Bill
If I had to pick one plane, it would be the Super Cub. Im going to build one and try to find a 180 to put in it. I will need your help. Thanks
Smooth skies Don. We are all richer because you shared your adventures with us.
Glenn
Last edited by cubdriver2; 03-03-2013 at 10:12 PM.
Don was a great guy, he and I meet in the 1980's. He was always there when I needed a Biennial flight review. He has parked Torch right across from my cub on the float pond ever since he got floats for his cub. RIP old friend, deepest sympathy to his wife Debra and son. May you always have smooth air and a tail wind.
Don was the voice on the other end of the radio for the years I flew out of Kotz, keeping an eye out and helping me get home.
Godspeed.
Gump
I'm an ex-citizen of nowhere, and sometimes I get mighty homesick.
Such a loss of one of the main contributors to this forum.... Don, you will be missed...RIP...
You said it better than I can. Sad news for sure. RIP Torch.
We are all diminished.....
Wow, so sorry to hear. God bless him and his family. Torch will be missed here
In Time of Sorrow...
May you see God's light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall—
You do not walk alone.
From Saint Patrick's Breastplate
Christ be with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ on my right
Christ on my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I sit
Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Salvation is of the Lord.
Very sad news. Though I never had the pleasure of meeting him, I will miss his posts. God Bless Don and his family.
"Why is it wives can't just accept the biological mystery of guns reproducing in gun cabinets, and let it go at that?" - Patrick F. McManus
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