We left Hula and drove to BETA.  The North Hanger was full of BETA people and their family and friends , I’ve never seen it more packed.  Lochie was special to so many people. .. Lochie’s family lives in Australia, so BETA had been his home away from home for several years. He was an expert pilot, an amazing scientist and a very fun guy who was up for anything anytime.  The memorial was informal and heartfelt. It was kicked off by our CEO and friend Kyle.   Lochie had lived with Kyle and Katie and their family through the pandemic and was like family to them.

Kyle spoke about Lochies many  talents and all that he’d brought to BETA.. He also talked about Lochies passion for people. Kyles comments were loving and funny in a way that had all of us in tears.. in a good way.  He told some really funny stories .. 

THen Simon Lochies Dd got up to speak. 

We left Hula and drove to BETA.  The North Hanger was full of BETA people and their family and friends , I’ve never seen it more packed.  The planes had been moved out and the hanger was full of pictures of Lochie and CP. The kitchen cre had food and drink for all of us..    the Hanger felt warm and welcoming. It was an amazing feeling to be there with so many friends sharing the same sadness. . 

Lochie was special to so many people. .. Lochie’s family lives in Australia, so BETA had been his home away from home for several years. He was an expert pilot, an amazing scientist and a very fun guy who was up for anything anytime.  The memorial was informal and heartfelt. It was kicked off by our CEO and friend Kyle.   Lochie had lived with Kyle and Katie and their family through the pandemic and was like family to them.

Kyle spoke about Lochies many  talents and all that he’d brought to BETA.. He also talked about Lochies passion for people. Kyles comments were loving and funny in a way that had all of us in tears.. in a good way.  He told some really funny stories .. 

We left Hula and drove to BETA.  The North Hanger was full of BETA people and their family and friends , I’ve never seen it more packed.  Lochie was special to so many people. .. Lochie’s family lives in Australia, so BETA had been his home away from home for several years. He was an expert pilot, an amazing scientist and a very fun guy who was up for anything anytime.  The memorial was informal and heartfelt. It was kicked off by our CEO and friend Kyle.   Lochie had lived with Kyle and Katie and their family through the pandemic and was like family to them.

Kyle spoke about Lochies many  talents and all that he’d brought to BETA.. He also talked about Lochies passion for people. Kyles comments were loving and funny in a way that had all of us in tears.. in a good way.  He told some really funny stories .. 

ThLen Simon Lochie’s Dad got up to speak.   He too was lvoing and funny.. He talked about what Lochie was like as a kid.. (much as he was when we all knew him)..  I had met Simon very briefly at CP’s memorial earlier in the day. I could tell instantly that he was a kind and funny man. I was moved deeply by Simons comments. I know first hand how hard it is to stand in front of hundreds of people and talk about your son who has died.  Lochie knew Sam’s story and had a Samstone wiht him when he landed in Bentonville on that historic first cross country electric flight. I plan on reaching out to SImon ..  I know that the people  who had  reached out to us when Sam died who were also a member of “that club”.. were very helpful to me.

THe rest of the service… no.. it wasnt a service .. it was truly a celebration. Ryan and Charlotte got up and sang a song they’d written together  about Lochi.. it was called” I’ll see you in the Moon” (I think).  There were movies and pictures.. I was particualrly moved by this great tribute that our friend Jerry put together. Its of Beta people reading from a blog post of Lochie’s . It was beautiful.. ( I found a link to it below.. I hope it works)

Then came a huge number of tributes.. The caputos when first and people were invited to stand in line to talk about Lochie. THe line quickly grew.. There were 20 people in line, then 30.. Everyone had funny and moving stories.. DIane and I left around four and the line was still about 20 people.. I understand it went till about 5:30. It was amazing

It hadd been a hard and moving day.. lots of tears, lots of laughs.. A really fitting tribute to a great soaul

RIP Lochie and CP. .. you will eb part of BETA and all of us forever

Nite all, nite sam

-me

Today was nice..  a fair bit of snow on the ground.. not much in a normal year, but the most we’ve had this year.. DIane and I went bushwacking up a mountain we call 2360 near the catamount trail. It’s a fun climb through a beutiful forest.. We carved a loop aroudn the side of the holl.. ende3d up in several thickits and thorns.. but super nice being outside !

 

Diane saw a wooden plaque up this tree. It was a memorial for a guy named Ryan “Donny” Nadeau from Fairfax.   I looked him up.. sounds like a really great guy 

The snow was knee deep in some places !

Think we found some bear tracks 

 

And soem fox tracks.. I think

 

We came across a really old and overgropwn logging road and saw all the old stumps..

 

Great hike

Around 5 we headed up to Jen and Tims for a bonfire.  THey had a lot of wood including two trees blown down in recent storms..   Hannah Olivia, Debra, Brad, Char , Kasey , nate,  mushroom hannah , ryan , Mike and his wife.. .. 

 

 

I brought my poofer to wam things up !

 

Great night !

nite all, nite sam

-me

I had a great time today  with my good friend Elliott. Elliott is a fantastic artist  and maker. And a truly wonderful person.. One of his super powers is casting metal. He makes very cool casts of everyday objects  with a special ‘twist’.. check out his stuff here

 was  in his shop learning how to cast pewter.  My friend Ben  3D printed a small stylized version of our plane. Then Elliott helped us make a high temperature latex split mold to cast it. Elliott did the bulk of the work.. he had to engineer in wax channels for the hot metal to get to all parts of the cast.. and to allow the air to escape. It was a ton of work. I  had come in a few days later to help him pour the top half of the mold. TOday I helped pour the top half of the mold. 

While we were at it, we made a mold of a samstone, Elliott designed a pour and vent hole using wax rods…  then we poured it in a paper cup. Pretty cool !

Now all we have to do is wait for the molds to harden

 

super fun !
nite all, nite sam

-me

Exciting day at work.. cant go in to it here.. but an experiment went quite well at work.. that always makes me happy

The only thing I can show from the experience is this picture.. Who can resist ?! (ps.. I didn’t do it .. I promise !)

After work I met Diane and Finn at Pap Nicks after Finns basketball game. We love Papa Nicks.. they have great greek food !  

 

My freind and co-worker Lauren sometimes works at Papa Nicks.. she asked me to say hi to the owner Voula for her ..  I’ve always seen VOula.. but never met her.. so this was a good time to do it

 

Nite all, nite sam

-me