AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 45

PEOPLE /
Russell named
JAARS CEO
Former congressman
to lead nonprofit
BY ERIC BLINDERMAN
Stix's father loved Stearmans, and some
beautiful examples of his collection reside
at the museum. John Mullen was a Waco
guy. Almost an entire hangar is used to
house his acquisitions, which include a rare
example of a tricycle-gear Waco. Stix is not
too excited about that one, however; he said
it's hard to fly, and on the day AOPA visited
it had a " For Sale " tag on its propeller.
The aircraft here are not only beautifully
restored, they're also kept airworthy.
" We try to keep things flyable and in
annual, " Stix said, noting that the museum
is similar to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in
New York in that it flies airplanes for visitors'
enjoyment in spring and summer
when conditions are favorable.
But you can enjoy these pristine aircraft
all year round. The museum is open
Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m., or by appointment Tuesday through
Thursday by calling 314-434-3368.
jill.tallman@aopa.org
historicaircraftrestorationmuseum.org
Fly in for fun
For more than 25 years
the museum has hosted
the American Waco Club's
annual event and every
other year, hosts the
Monocoupe Club fly-in. In
the past, the museum has
hosted the Cessna 190/195
Club event, the Cessna
120/140 Club fly-in, and
the Globe/Temco Swift
fly-in. Creve Coeur Airport
maintains two 3,000-foot
grass runways in addition to
its primary 4,500-foot hard
surface runway. The grass
runway layout ensures that
the a 45-degree crosswind is
the most pilots will face.
STEVE RUSSELL HAS been named chief executive
officer of JAARS, a global organization
whose mandate is to make Bible translation and
language development possible, especially in the
most remote places on Earth. The group enables
that vision through pilot training and mission
aviation services, remote technology, and communications
support.
Russell becomes the first leader of JAARS
in its 75 years from outside the Bible translation
movement. JAARS was formed in 1948 as the
Jungle Aviation and Radio Service by William
Cameron Townsend.
Russell was a decorated officer in the U.S.
Army, a former leader in Congress on the front
lines for veterans' advocacy, and is an aviator.
While in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving
Oklahoma's fifth district from 2015 to 2019,
Russell was introduced to flying by Reps. Ralph
Abraham and Don Young.
" Ralph told me he could teach me to fly. He
challenged me to solo in a one week accelerated
effort, " Russell said. " I started on a Monday and
soloed on a Friday morning. "
Russell was a member of the House General
Aviation Caucus and is a member of AOPA. He
and Abraham were presented with the 2018
AOPA Hartranft Award.
" While I had a lightning start, I had the
world's slowest finish, " he said of his aviation
life. " It became very difficult to line up an airplane,
instructor, deal with my congressional
schedule, and weather. After Congress, I found
an instructor to clean me up and five months
later in 2019 got my pilot's license. "
Russell hopes to stay current while flying a
Piper Cherokee and restoring a 1948 Cessna 140.
" JAARS is a wonderful organization that
The diverse collection includes a Fleet 7B Fawn, which the Royal Canadian Air Force used as
primary trainers in the 1930s.
reduces barriers, eases burdens, and delivers
God's word. We do that through training, equipping,
deploying, and sustaining our people to
serve in the most remote parts of the planet. "
eric.blinderman@aopa.org
jaars.org
AOPA PILOT / February 2023
45

http://www.historicaircraftrestorationmuseum.org http://www.jaars.org

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2023

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