Roger Ruch - Final Glide

Roger Ruch took his final glide on 29 Sept. 2005. A retired airline
pilot with 32 years with American, he was also an active and a
well-known sailplane pilot during the 1960's and 70's. He made some
unique and impressive cross-country flights in his beloved and then new
Schweizer 2-32 sailplane. His 2-32 was exceedingly well equipped for
both night and instrument flight conditions. He made several
cross-country distance record attempts in that sailplane. At least one
of those distance record attempts started from high in a southern
California Sierra wave during night conditions. He then navigated
downwind across Arizona and/or Nevada, talking to airliners on the way.

When illness finally overtook him during 1996, he generously donated
his fine 2-32 sailplane to the Texas Soaring Association, where it is
still a fine addition to their club glider training fleet.
He will be remembered by the many pilots and friends who knew him.
Dick Johnson - Dallas, TX