A Tribute to Jim Kippen
By Ken Kula
Long time Atlantic Flyer readers will remember Jim Kippen, a correspondent for this newspaper for many of its earlier years . Sadly, Jim passed away just before Thanksgiving 2011, leaving countless people connected with aviation with heavy hearts. If you never met Jim, please let me tell you a few anecdotes, as I was fortunate to share many adventures with Jim.
Jim's experience with aviation varied widely. He was a former air traffic controller with experience in both the terminal and en route options. He was a former Simsbury CT airport manager. He frequently contributed aviation related photos and stories to publications. He volunteered his time and expertise at air shows, and served as a team photographer for the Riff Raff Racing Team, which most notably ran a Hawker Sea Fury at the annual Reno Air Races. As a historian, he amassed a large collection of air show posters, and a huge photo library too. His insight of history and history makers often led to encounters with famous aviators telling oft-heard tales, or better yet, lesser known aviators sharing equally stirring stories that had been seldom if ever heard.
I met Jim while attending a TICO (Florida) air show in the 1980s. He was part of a group of good-natured photographers and writers who opened their informal fraternity up to me (then a novice picture taker). Jim shared his photographic knowledge, and helped explain to me the safety rules and etiquette observed in the aviation photography and writing circles that I never knew existed. I grew up in Connecticut, and back then he and his wife Mary lived close to my old hometown. Jim and I both had ATC experience, so we had lots to talk about. Jim had left ATC through the PATCO strike of 1981, but never harbored any resentment towards me doing the job (although lots of others had).
Before long, we began coordinating our schedules to see where we'd meet on the road - whether it was at a New England air show, or somewhere else around the country. Jim had worked in Maryland's Andrews AFB tower; we had some fantastic opportunities aboard the base. Watching the air show from the tower cab with some of his pre-1981 co-workers (still employed) was a real treat. Jim was one of the first civilian journalists to be invited aboard an RC-135 Rivet Joint during an Andrews Open House too... I can still picture the huge grin on his face as we deplaned after our tour.
EAA's Oshkosh (before AirVenture) was another common place where we'd meet. After a long day at the Convention, a group of us would sit by the campfire in Camp Scholler and reveal our daily highlights. Jim loved to strike up a conversation with a stranger... who would soon become a friend and join us swapping stories and reveling in the camaraderie of all things aviation. Jim volunteered for the EAA with his camera, and helped portray the Fly-Ins from "behind the scenes".
Jim (and Mary) moved to Henderson Nevada a dozen years ago. Nearby Nellis AFB became one of his homes away from home. During the weeks of a Red Flag exercise, a procession of Jim's photographer friends from around the world would visit, whether at his home or out in between the runways (the now off-limits sand pits north of the airport were once THE place to meet and talk airplanes!).
The main reason that Jim and Mary moved to Nevada was their desire to be close to Zion National Park, a place that Jim's obituary notes was "his sanctuary". Although I knew Jim was a great aviation photographer, wildlife and nature seemed to be passions for him too, whether it was at Zion, or in his own back yard in Henderson.
I'll miss Jim's mentoring, his storytelling, and his friendship... as I'm sure many others will too. In his memory, donations can be made to the Zion National Park Foundation, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah 84767.
Ken Kula