GIL COUGHLIN
Although I scanned a photo of Gil's greeting card...I GOTTA TELL YOU...he could be our model maker poster-child (ol'toot)  success of how one can change their lives by diet and exercise and lifestyle changes.
He NO LONGER LOOKS LIKE THAT CARTOON OF HIMSELF...He has slimmed down and trim and seems to have a new zest for life after Boeing.

 Retirement, I think has fit him well. At Boeing, his frustration of trying to bring up all of us co-workers to his skill level must have quite a chore. Those of us who had the chance to work with Gil noticed just how vast his interests were in not only modeling but also for life. One of his passions that FRIGHTENED THE HELL out of us...was for his building and flying of full sized Ultra-light aircraft. At first his passion for flying was a "tad behind his flying skills" but thankful before long...he was a master at both building and flying.  Often in the warm eve.s here in the Auburn Valley, he would buzz my flying field near the Auburn Boeing Plant...or while driving near Kent valley, I would look up through my sun roof and see Gil smilin' back down at us.

I don't think he still flies those Ultra lights...but his collection of engines and passion for models is still very muc alive and well.
Knowing Gil...just makes life a bit more fun!
Hey NW grunts...add your vibe about our WILD N' SOMETIMES KRAZZZY MODEL-GRUNT?

However, the majority of these types of workers that were re-assigned to work with Gil, you could bet that before long you could see change that lack luster Gil was a extemely gifted passioned model maker at the Boeing Company....LIKE BRUCE KIMBALL..he too is truly a modelmakers modelmaker, Virtual master of just about any modeling project he would involved with. His knowledge and expertise in model engines over the years has helped iron out the buggga-gremlins out of so many stunt flyers engines.

I met Gil at a few of the Model Engine Collectors Associations EXPOs.  Gil has an incredible number of model airplane stories.  The first time I met him, I wondered how one guy could do all this, and then he took out his pictures and there he was doing them!!

His Jim Walker collection is stupendious.  The little twin cylinder Firebay is just an example.  Jim Walker was suppposed to fly live on the Dave Garroway Today show (kiddies, ask your dads or gramps about Dave), but the studio didn't want him running an engine in it.  Jim flew this Firebaby, powered by a twin cylinder compressed air motor.  I think Gil said he ran the air out the lines to the motor in a very small plastic tube, kind of like used on the pneumatic throttle of the Firebee.

Gil is quite a guy!

Thanks Bill...
Great photos and story about our amazingly gifted and addicted modeler. He was one of the most talented professional modelmakers at the Boeing Company and his many contributions will be long remembered.
His accomplishments could fill a book...humm? Yes, wouldn't that be a great coffee table book for anyone who just loves model airplanes or anything that flies?

Gill was at the Model Expo in Monroe Washington this past weekend and he was telling us that not only was he model maker at Boeing but also a Jack of all trades. As usual he had a bunch of people around him as he was flying his indoor and anthopeter models with this big smile on his face. He said that a man in California offered him $100,000. For his one Elf engine collection but Gil told him NO. Gil said thats only money and I am not interested in money. It is always fun to see Gill and ask him whats new because he usually has something new to show you.

Just heard from Pete Fergeson a few minutes ago.. that our Skyraiders Icon GIL COUGHLIN---- our MAIN MODEL ENGINE GRUNT and retired professional wind tunnel model maker  has had some kind of accident and is in the Tacoma General Hospital...Room 517 Wing G and the phone is 253 403-1622

Two or more...Skyraiders gathered  in his name can do wonders. He need cheerin' up. Maybe I can fire up my old ST-46UNMUFFLED OF COURSE...outside his window?