Jim, was as good of a cub man as there was. Always had time to run to the coffee shop for a couple of minutes. My airframe is one of his.http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bo...tuary.aspx?n=james-e-soares-jim&pid=89634763& Just thought he deserved a spot on this website.
J E Soares
- Thread starter tempdoug
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RCharles
Registered User
Atlanta, Ga
Well I think you are right about some recognition for a really great guy .He built my fuselage in '94 .He had never done an L21B window configuration prior to mine so he asked that I come out and join him and bring some drawings and some of window channels . I flew out to Belgrade and stayed in a motel for two days . I had to be at work at 6:30am ready to go . Jim and his welder, Lowell , got every thing done the first day as all they had to do was cut a few things off my new fuselage and add the big windows . WE spent most of the time making sure we had all the measurements correct because i did not take the top skylight with me .He also made me keep the work area clean and do some sweeping up .Well, it all worked out perfectly and about a year later the plane was flying here in Georgia .You are right about the coffee shop , he met me both mornings for breakfast .He had a great sense of humor and for years we stayed in touch by phone when I would call him to complain that my plane would not fly in a straight line from on place to another because the frame was bent :smile: .He always reminded me that if I wanted to leave the big city there was always a job waiting for me in Belgrade Colorado . Jim was a super guy , One of a kind , a friend . he will always be remembered ..Great memories ..Thank you for your post.
jimboflying
MEMBER
Jim was indeed one of the finest friends of aviation. He said he always had an opinion about anything and was more than happy to share it with you since he was Portuguese. He remarked several times that he had been infected by the aviation bug at an early age and although he had been treated for it several times he never really was able to overcome the infection. I asked him how he happened to have so many PA18 fuselages to repair and he said it was because guys tried to plow with them and they were not designed for that. He also said that sometimes bears tore them up but Lowell could put them back together with his Miller welder. The business still thrives under his name and is run by his son, Mark, although I don't think they do much in the aviation field any more. Fond memories of visits with Jim.
12Geezer2
Registered User
Eau Claire, WI
Had a brief visit with Mr. Soares at a fall fly-in (many years ago) at Hay Meadow airport--Gleason Wi. The fly-in host was Mr. John Hatz of Hatz bi-plane fame in the homebuilt world. Both of these gentlemen were excellent Cub people. Also visited with Mr. Steve Whitman at the same airport. Steve flew in with his Olds powered Tailwind---OH --the good old days. Guess my age is showing----
