Gone West...

'Spin Doctor' Bill Kershner dies at 77

Pilot, flight instructor, and aviation author William K. Kershner, 77, died
January 8 in Sewanee, Tennessee, after a prolonged battle with cancer.

He soloed an Aeronca Defender from Clarksville, Tennessee's Outlaw Field - a
grass strip at the time - in 1945 at age 16. After four years flying
Corsairs in the Navy, Kershner worked as a corporate pilot, flight-test
pilot, and special assistant to William T. Piper Sr., then president of
Piper Aircraft. With the help of his wife, Betty - who typed his handwritten
manuscripts - Kershner authored and illustrated a series of five highly
regarded flight manuals; his Student Pilot's Flight Manual alone has sold
more than 1 million copies.

Kershner contributed often to AOPA publications, including AOPA Pilot and
AOPA Flight Training. More than 8,000 spins...

Indeed sad news for me personally. I have been a fan of Bill's for many
years and have always used and recommended his books throughout my tenure in
aviation as an instructor.
Bill was a fine man, and contributed much to the safety and education of the
pilots who came up in my era.
Thank you for posting this news on the group. I'm sure there are many here
who share my feelings about Bill and will be grateful to you for taking the
time to note the passing of one of aviation's true pioneers.
Dudley Henriques
(A Bill Kershner Trained Flight Instructor)

"Jim" wrote in message
...
'Spin Doctor' Bill Kershner dies at 77

Pilot, flight instructor, and aviation author William K. Kershner, 77,
died
January 8 in Sewanee, Tennessee, after a prolonged battle with cancer.

He soloed an Aeronca Defender from Clarksville, Tennessee's Outlaw Field -
a
grass strip at the time - in 1945 at age 16. After four years flying
Corsairs in the Navy, Kershner worked as a corporate pilot, flight-test
pilot, and special assistant to William T. Piper Sr., then president of
Piper Aircraft. With the help of his wife, Betty - who typed his
handwritten
manuscripts - Kershner authored and illustrated a series of five highly
regarded flight manuals; his Student Pilot's Flight Manual alone has sold
more than 1 million copies.

Kershner contributed often to AOPA publications, including AOPA Pilot and
AOPA Flight Training. More than 8,000 spins...

I own at least one copy of each of Bill's books. Bill brought a very useful
and valuable point of view and methodology to instructing. Many students
"need" numbers, their minds require the numerics and physics behind the
maneuver before they understand and accept the maneuver. Bill provided
this. I for one am and forever will be indebted to him for this alone.
Jim

"Jim" wrote in message
...
I own at least one copy of each of Bill's books. Bill brought a very
useful
and valuable point of view and methodology to instructing. Many students
"need" numbers, their minds require the numerics and physics behind the
maneuver before they understand and accept the maneuver. Bill provided
this. I for one am and forever will be indebted to him for this alone.
Jim

I agree.
Bill's books made it possible for instructors to couple technical
information with creative teaching to present that information on levels all
students could understand.
His input to aviation will long be remembered by those of us who benefited
from his contribution.
Dudley Henriques

Dudley Henriques wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
...

I own at least one copy of each of Bill's books. Bill brought a very
useful
and valuable point of view and methodology to instructing. Many students
"need" numbers, their minds require the numerics and physics behind the
maneuver before they understand and accept the maneuver. Bill provided
this. I for one am and forever will be indebted to him for this alone.
Jim


I agree.
Bill's books made it possible for instructors to couple technical
information with creative teaching to present that information on levels all
students could understand.
His input to aviation will long be remembered by those of us who benefited
from his contribution.
Dudley Henriques



The good thing is that I recall reading an article recently about a
woman who was teaching along-side Bill and it sounded like she might
keep things going where he left off. I can't now remember where I read
this, but it seems like she was a college professor or some such, but
was teaching flying on the side. It sure would be nice for someone to
carry on what he started.

Matt

She probably teaches at Iowa State.
Dudley Henriques

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
Dudley Henriques wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
...

I own at least one copy of each of Bill's books. Bill brought a very
useful
and valuable point of view and methodology to instructing. Many students
"need" numbers, their minds require the numerics and physics behind the
maneuver before they understand and accept the maneuver. Bill provided
this. I for one am and forever will be indebted to him for this alone.
Jim


I agree.
Bill's books made it possible for instructors to couple technical
information with creative teaching to present that information on levels
all students could understand.
His input to aviation will long be remembered by those of us who
benefited from his contribution.
Dudley Henriques

The good thing is that I recall reading an article recently about a woman
who was teaching along-side Bill and it sounded like she might keep things
going where he left off. I can't now remember where I read this, but it
seems like she was a college professor or some such, but was teaching
flying on the side. It sure would be nice for someone to carry on what he
started.

Matt

His books combined much information and a sense of humor. It's been decades,
but I still remember "Henry Schmotz" and "Oswald Zilch" and their
screw-ups!
"Jim" wrote in message
...
I own at least one copy of each of Bill's books. Bill brought a very
useful
and valuable point of view and methodology to instructing. Many students
"need" numbers, their minds require the numerics and physics behind the
maneuver before they understand and accept the maneuver. Bill provided
this. I for one am and forever will be indebted to him for this alone.
Jim

Dudley Henriques wrote:
She probably teaches at Iowa State.

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pi.../spin0608.html

Nope, University of the South, Sewanee.

Matt

I own at least one copy of each of Bill's books. Bill brought a very
useful
and valuable point of view and methodology to instructing. Many
students
"need" numbers, their minds require the numerics and physics behind the
maneuver before they understand and accept the maneuver. Bill provided
this. I for one am and forever will be indebted to him for this alone.
Jim

I agree.
Bill's books made it possible for instructors to couple technical
information with creative teaching to present that information on levels
all
students could understand.
His input to aviation will long be remembered by those of us who benefited
from his contribution.
Dudley Henriques


This is sad news. In a way, he was already mised as his writing in AOPA
Pilot had become far less prolific, but I had no idea of the reason. I will
always remember some of the hilarious stories he told in his magazine
articles, and his books will continue to be invaluable learnend and training
tools.

Peter

Go Gators!!!
:-))

D


"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
Dudley Henriques wrote:
She probably teaches at Iowa State.

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pi.../spin0608.html

Nope, University of the South, Sewanee.

Matt