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| Welcome to Moontown Airport, 3M5, located just East of Huntsville, Alabama Phone: 256-852-9781 |
| For those that may not have heard, we have lost another friend in the aviation community at Moontown. I am truly saddened to report that tragic loss of our friend, Rick Weldon.
As reported in the news, Rick was flying a passenger in order to take a photo of the local corn maze, and the plane went down just after takeoff. Rick was a good friend to many, and a great mechanic to dozens of planes around Moontown and North Alabama. Rick towed gliders for the Huntsville Soaring club and was always willing to tow at any time in order to help someone out. Rick flew hundreds of Young Eagles, carrying students on their first plane ride, and brought the joy of aviation to future pilots. Although we are hurting, we all must be there for Janet, Rick’s wife. Rick was everything to her and we care for her very much. Rick was a highly experienced pilot and flew for many years. We do not need to speculate as to what happened;,but we do need to be there for Janet and remember how fragile life is and how important friends and family are. It seems we have had too many unhappy gatherings of the local aviation community in the past year, but we also must gather for Rick, to honor him. Rick was always there to help anyone, at anytime, just as he was doing this last time. It is this spirit that I hope will live on in each of us. Rick would want his love of aviation to carry on forever, and I challenge us all to do just that. A fund has been established to help with Rick's funeral expenses and I encourage all to help. I will place more information as I receive it. We will miss you Rickey. With My Highest Respect, Blake Mathis Blake@MoontownAirport.com |
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| Rickey Weldon |
| Funds are being collected to help Ricky's family: Mail check to: Moontown Airport Attn: George Myers 200 Airport Drive Brownsboro, AL 35741 Credit Card donations: 256-479-1000 |
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| Rickey Weldon was the kind of giving person we should all strive to be. He would bend over backwards to help anyone do anything that he was able to do. He was an excellent mechanic and aircraft inspector - I always knew Rickey would comb over my 172 with a fine tooth comb and help ensure my safety.
Rickey also was a safe and accomplished pilot. He loved sharing the magic of flight with kids. Through that love, he literally touched the lives of hundreds of children and their parents, bringing to them some moments of joy and wonderment. Rickey, I'm really going to miss you buddy. Janet, the Moontown family mourns your loss. We love you. Jeff Spencer, Madison ------------------------------------------------------------ Our sympathies to Janet and family. Rick was a dear friend and will be greatly missed. Though his time was short, he left a deep impression on all who knew him. Emma and the Moontown Grocery family ------------------------------------------------------------- Two or Three fly in's ago my family arrived late. Most of the planes and people had left. It was hot and you could tell that Rick was exhausted,but he still found it in himself to take me and my son up for a flight. I will never forget that flight nor will i forget the man that made it possible. Thanks Rick, you will be missed by many. Joseph Talley, Henagar ------------------------------------------------------------ To Janet & all our friends at Moontown,We are saddened by the loss of Rick. I know Rick was a big part of what Moontown means to all of us,We like you will miss his physical presence,but he will always remain in our hearts. BJ & Charlotte Kennamore ------------------------------------------------------------- I'm speaking for most everyone who knew Rick, I think of his smile and his since of humor, that funny laugh and those eyes behind the glasses. I think of the people he touched and the kids that he took flying. I think of saying to Rick, hey can you look at this, I don't know what is wrong but if you have a minute and him walking down sweeting and hot, pulling panels off, going back to get the right tools and poking around and twisting something. Me saying, "hey Ricky what do I owe ya", and the response was always something funny as he walked away. I think of calling to Huntsville and them saying back, N5494C what is your destination, It was always the same, "Huntsville ground, N5494C I'd like to fly to moontown 3M5, and my log book shows over and over the same stating HSV to 3M5 and return. I'd say wonder what's going on and flying over and seeing Rick's hanger open and speaking with you. I can think of flying over and over and thinking well lets land and see what Rick is doing. My comment is small but one of many, I'd like to say that what I learned from Ricky was that he made you laugh and more importantly he made you feel a little bit better about yourself when you left, I can say that for sure! I will miss him, but I think how lucky I was to have been around him if only for a short period of time and for that I am very thankful. Don Steelman ------------------------------------------------------------ To the employees and friends of Rickey Weldon at Moontown Airport. I am Rickey's niece, Michelle and I wanted to comment on the fly over during the graveside service. I want to thank all of you for taking the time and consideration to remember my uncle. That fly over was very touching and such a precious moment. It made me and my family so proud of Rickey. It also helped us realize how special Rickey was to so many people. I want to personally thank you for remembering my uncle in such a wonderful way. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers as we will be praying for you as well. Thank you again and may God bless you all! Michelle(Weldon)Simmons, Southside, ALAug 6, 08 comment: ------------------------------------------------------------ My little girl, Haley, who you have seen with me at most every fly-in will be crushed. She just went on another one of the Young Eagles flights flown by Rick. I might add that this was at the fly-in just three weeks ago! Rick stopped working on a plane just to give these young kids a ride! They got an extra treat because they were up for 45 mins at least. Haley came back with a GIANT ear to ear grin... She just loves flying! She probably told (or asked) Rick to go up to the clouds!! I think Rick knew that she had been up many times as a young eagle before, but he was just as eager to thrill the kids again! I know he will be terribly missed by many. What a thoughtful, considerate and kind hearted man... Thanks Rick for inspiring my daughter!! Hal Bodin, Huntsville ------------------------------------------------------------ Rick, You are now flying with Angels! You have touched so many lives and brought smiles to so many people over the years. You are a friend who is going to be greatly missed. I've known you for over 25 years...all the way from the beginning when I was 10 as my Sunday School teacher. You have taken me, my wife (Brandi), and a close friend of mine (Blake) all up for flying. You even took me and Blake through LOOPS! After Blake's FIRST TIME FLYING...he said "It's even better than Six Flags!" Thank you for keeping the dream alive in all of us. Chris Stanford (Mobile, Al) ------------------------------------------------------------- To the family members of Rick Weldon, all of EAA Chapter 190 gives our greatest humble sympathies in this time of loss. Rick has given so much to our little community, particularly to the Young Eagles, the young faces that have never experienced flight. I can’t tell you how many times I have been part of arranging flights for children that have shown up at Moontown. I would always go hunting for Rick because I knew that Rick would never say “no” to give these kids a ride. The flight experience always seemed to be a huge hit and to strike a nerve in the sole of these young kids. Every time Rick brought the Mooney back with a plane load of kids, they would all be so eager to share their story with their parents and always have a smile on that was a mile wide. I know that Rick’s passion for aviation will live on in the many young lives that have been touched by their flight experience with Rick. For Janet, I pray that God will find a way to ease your sorrow from this very tragic loss and that somehow you will always remain a part of our community, because we Love You! and want you to be part of our lives at Moontown. Thanks Rick for always being ready to provide a flight experience to a young sole. You will be truly missed by so many Wil Good President EAA Chapter 190 ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Arrangements below |
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| Rick and some Young Eagles |
