Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

[FedexBob]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Tailwinds, Al

[Radar]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

It's still so difficult to find words to express what a loss this is. Healing thoughts and prayers go out to all those whose hearts are breaking with the loss of these two great guys. Lots of good memories...Blue skies and tailwinds forever!

Patricia Mathes

[WVRACEFAN]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

I never got to meet Mr. Goss, but I've heard nothing but great things about him. My condolences to the family.

[Victor Archer]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

Man, shed another tear this morning when my son Jeff came out wearing a Warlock shirt that Al had signed for him.
We've slept under the plane in the hanger a couple times during our travels.
Al always treated us like family.

[sierra fox]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

Man, shed another tear this morning when my son Jeff came out wearing a Warlock shirt that Al had signed for him.
We've slept under the plane in the hanger a couple times during our travels.
Al always treated us like family.

i hear ya Victor, i put on my Warlock hat today and didnt even realize it until i passed by the mirror, still hurtin my friend

[flynundertaker]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

sad loss,big time,,,i grew up un bakersfield,,airracing was for me a way of life....many planes ,many pilots,but al goss was top dog,we all knew al and he will be missed blue skies my old friend .................rick

[S60]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

Al and Steve, you will be missed. Your quick wit and smiling faces are part of so many of our Reno memories! Randy, our hearts go out to you and your family.

Andy and Julie Shuman
Race 44 Crew

[Randy Haskin]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

Just for the record....Al wasn't a Captain. Nor was he a Commander. Those titles were for some unknown reason bestowed upon him by Jim Mitchell (anyone say Ram Francis?) on a Skyfire video many moons ago.

Randy G and I always shared a laugh over that.

So, what is the real story?

[Big_Jim]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

So, what is the real story?

Why don't you ask Ram Francis?

[John H]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

The Al Goss accident is something that just floors me...totally and completely out of any kind of thoughts I would ever have. I've been thinking he was like the mayor of the Reno air races. I'm stunned and upset by this loss, like many here I've been watching Al fly for over 24 years, going to the races and the airshows at Shafter and other places, he was just always there. I loved that team, that airplane and their spirit but somehow never came by to say hi. My condolences to the family and friends. I really just can't believe it!

John H

[Airracer75]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

I first meet Al at the gathering of warbird in Madera Ca. in 1979 when he was riding his fold up bike on the ramp and he knew me by name and I had never talk to him before, to this day I don't know who told him my name but every airshow we would stop and talk. In 1980 I attended my first Reno air race, 1981 showed up with Warlock so I would visit his pit and this went on every year. In 1995 I was ask if wanted on a tow crew and how could I say no, I found out the tow crew could select the planes they want to tow so I would tell the driver let's tow Warlock and we did every year. Well in 2003 Al ask me if I wanted to go the T-6 racing Assc. mixer I said sure. I went Al ask me to sit at his table and we were talking and he ask if I wanted on the Warlock crew. That was the best thing of my now 30 year of coming to Reno. ( I missed one year)
And that why I taking this so hard. Blue skies to best buddy Al Goss and good friend Steve Ballard......................

[shorebird]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

Yesterday at Plainfield Station (Yolo Co), a couple old cropdusters, air racers and all-around rat racers raised our glasses to honor our lost friend, pro pilot extraordinaire, Al Goss. Randy, my deepest condolences to you my friend. Dennis

[Oddity]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

Godspeed Al Goss and Steve Ballard.

I have an Al Goss story to tell and this seems like the place, I suppose. One that I'm sure will sound familiar to all the ragamuffins that became part of the Warlock family.

Beware, it's a little long

In September of 1987, I was six years old and attending my third Reno Air Races. My maternal grandfather, a WWII and Korea aviator had infected this young lad with the aviation bug and, as we were local Renoites, we attended the Air Races yearly (and still do). Well, I was six years old going on twenty and felt that I knew EVERYTHING about airplanes, particularly warbirds. I was consuming a steady diet of WWII aviation movies (Tora, Tora, Tora, Midway, etc.) and TV shows (Baa Baa Black Sheep).

My parents and I were touring the pits when a beautiful blue AT6/SNJ caught my eye. I marched over to the smiling mustacheoed gentlemen standing by the plane and asked if he knew how to tell the difference between a real Zero and an AT6 "dressed up" as a Zero. He seemed surprised for just an instant and then his grin grew wider. He introduced himself as Al Goss, the pilot of this machine, and (humoring a kid, no doubt) said that he had no idea and asked me to come into his pit and show him how. Without even glancing at my folks or grandfather I dashed right in. It was the thrill of a lifetime to walk into a real Air Racer's pit stall!

He introduced me to Randy and the two of them gave me a personal tour of Warlock while I, in my best professorial tone, lectured them about how you could tell if that Zero from "Baa Baa Blacksheep" was a dressed up AT6 (big exhaust pipe on the left, bulge in the wing slightly outboard of the fuselage, wing shape, etc. ). Walking all around, and under, this beautiful plane was another huge thrill! Two in one day! Could it get any better?

It could! Al asked if I would like to sit in Warlock. Would I! He and Randy showed me how to climb up the wing and into the cockpit. I could barely contain myself. Randy and Al explained how the controls and instruments worked and I sat eagerly absorbing their knowledge. But there was one thing that nagged at my six-year old brain. I had seen enough Black Sheep Squadron to know that every warbird had machine guns. Warlock clearly did not! I asked Al where the machine guns were and, without missing a beat, he said that they took them out to save weight!

That day, Randy gave me a Warlock hat that I have worn to every Air Races since then and I still wear today. It is covered under several layers of pins (I get at least one pin every year), but I still wear it on "special occasions."

That Al and Randy would treat some random little kid approaching them out of the blue with such kindness and welcoming spirit speaks volumes about their character. I will always and forever consider them friends.

I am almost 30 now. I have attended every Air Race since that day, 23 years ago (has it really been that long?), and each year I and my parents have gone down to the pits and spent hours in the Warlock pit. Each time it was a special little thrill to be able to go into a real Air Racers pit and mingle. We made many long-time friendships down there; Al, Randy, Rodger, Rick, Fred, Steve and many other colorful characters. We attended may a Pit Party and was there for "Second Place Sucks" and all the trials and tribulations of "As the Propeller Turns." Each year Al and Randy made time to shoot the breeze with me. And each year it was special to be able to hang out with that wonderful family. To me the Warlock pit WAS the Air Races.

I am still utterly gobsmacked that Al is gone. The world and the Air Racing community are a little dimmer, a little lesser, for not having Al and Steve it it.

Randy, in particular, and those left behind, in general, are in my thoughts and prayers every day.

It's going to be a weird Air Races in 2010, that's for sure. I don't know what we'll do this year. It will certainly seem less than it was. I hope to run into those of the Warlock family who are still around. Whatever happens, I'll be wearing my pin covered, 1987, Race 75 "Warlock" hat and having a kick watching 'em fly low, turn left, and go fast. It's what Al would have wanted.

Godspeed Al Goss and Steve Ballard. Clear skies, my friends.

- Michael Ganschow-Green

[wyhdah]

Re: Sad news

Blue Skies Forever Al. My prayers and thoughts to all of the family & friends.I have always thought Al was one of the best both as a pilot & friend. This is a hard one for me.

Bob I really enjoyed hanging out with you and Al the last time I was at Reno. Al made me feel so welcomed in the pit and I know the races won't be the same without him or Warlock.

I'm glad some of the news outlets picked Al's Facebook picture to publish because that is exactly how I remember him. Cheers Al.

[Guest]

Re: Sad news: Blue Skies Al Goss - Steve Ballard

Very Heavy Sigh...CAVU skies for your eternal flight west, Al and Steve.

To me, Warlock represented the T-6 Class like no other. Reno will go on, but with heavy hearts and a hole that cannot be filled.

May both families enjoy the memories of lives well-lived.