Kenneth_Hoffman
I worked for this kind gentleman some 40 years ago and help build a zia and a zuniII when the shop was in Tierras canyon, just outside of Albuquerque. Mr. Applebay took me to Edwards AFB in 1982 to watch the first X31 fly and I met a guy that has been mentioned in a few movies, Mr. Yeager and another test pilot, Neil Armstrong. I was unfortunately let go from one of my first real job that I loved at the age of 16 due to finances and yet still came back when I could to help out volunteering my time to help finish the planes. Mr. Applebay took me flying at Moriarty airfield, it really was not even a airport at the time. Moriarty is a unique area for gliders, one the thermals are strong there in the summer and fall (spring is tough due to winds), second is that if you miss the airfield, there is a ton of flat land to land and a few great roads. I had not checked up on my friend and boss for 30+ years, I ended up as a Paramedic/Firefighter Chief and only started to think about soaring recently. I figured that George probably passed and when I looked everything up I did not know of his accomplishments after we lost track of each other. So to my boss and friend, happy sailing in the skies.