A Biography of Francis Robert Sussey
| Francis Robert Sussey (1931 - 2003) | |||
Born in Saranac Lake to Delia and Christopher Sussey, he had lived in Constantia from 1971 - 2003. He retired from US Airways as a Customer Service Supervisor in 1994 after 35 years service. He was a Korean War Air Force Veteran serving in the 2nd Strategic Support Squadron. Mr. Sussey was an avid pilot, through the years he worked as flight engineer, mechanic and operations supervisor for various airlines including Pan Am, Mohawk and USAir. Mr. Sussey was actively involved in the Civil Air Patrol, Quiet Birdmen, and General Aviation Community at Oswego County Airport. In May, the FAA presented him with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. Bob's wife of 37 years, Janis; three sons, Gary of Atlanta, Greg (Bridgett) and Grant, both of Constantia; a brother, Jerry of Nashville, Tenn.; and a grandson, Noah Robert Sussey; several nieces and nephews.
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My 1949 High School yearbook indicated that my goal was to become an
Aircraft and Engine Mechanic. During my high school years I made my first
solo flight in a 1946 Taylor craft airplane and was building wing ribs for a
primary glider from plans listed in the Mechanic Illustrated Magazine. Also
I was mechanics helper helping the local A & P Mechanic rebuild
Continental Engines. My job then was cleaning the piston rings grooves and
sand blasting the engine parts. In January 1951, I was assigned to the 2nd Strategic Support Squadron,
which was the first squadron to receive Douglas C-124 Aircraft from the
Factory at Long Beach California and our squadron developed the procedures
for Maintenance and inspection of theses airplanes. At first I worked on the
Maintenance Docks doing the engine checks on the P& W R-4360 Engines.
After several Months doing value checks and cylinder changes I became very
proficient maintaining with this 28 Cylinder, 56 Spark Plug, engine and was
assigned as Crew Chief on this aircraft. This was very exciting to me as we
were flying to bases all over the world during the next three years. This
airplane was unique as one could crawl through the wing tunnels to check the
accessory section of each engines were mounted at an angle on the accessory
section and had an engineering fault that the shafts would break and the
engine would have to be feathered due to the failure. On several occasions I
would remove the 50# generator during flight and cover the generator drive
pad, then the engine was restarted and the trip could be continued without
returning to base. This un-pressurized large transport airplane cruising
speed was 190-200 knots and most of these failures occurred during over
ocean flights, which could be of 13-21 hours duration. During this period I
was sent to a specialized school at Chanute AFB studying the Sperry Engines
analyzer an Electronic engine cylinder monitor.
August 1953, I received my Private Pilot Certificate
In November 1953, I was discharged from the Air Force, I completed the
written portions for my A& P Certificate but needed to become proficient
in woodworking and welding so I went to work in this small shop rebuilding
Sterman Dusters at Dos Palos, Cal. After a month I was able to complete a
wooden spar splice and weld a tube cluster that was acceptable to the DAMI
who issued my A& P certificate December 16, 1953, I then flew my trusty Aeronica Chief which I had
purchased for $600 from Los Angeles to Saranac Lake, it took 27 hours of
flying and 7 days. January 15th 1954, I enrolled in Spartan School of Aeronautics, Tulsa
Oklahoma taking their Multi-Engine course in Fuel and Engine Management and
was able to complete my FAA Flight Engineers certificate in June 1954. October 1955, I started work for Pan American World Airways as a mechanic
in their hanger at Idleild (JFK) in New York while waiting for an opening as
a Flight Engineer. The Forman liked my sheet metal skills and remember doing
several jobs replacing wheel well door hinges on the DC6's January 1, 1955, I was accepted as a flight engineer on the Boeing 377 (StratoCruiser).
After three months as 2nd Flight Engineer I remember taking my check ride on
a flight from New York to London. During that flight the oil system failed
and the engine became violent and was feathered. I set up "long range
cruise" and flew the next three hours on three engines at about 160
knots landing at Shannon, Ireland. I did pass the check ride! I continued
with this job accumulating 1300 Hours on the Boeing and later I checked out
the Douglas DC-6 and flew 560 Hours on this airplane as Flight Engineer. I
flew the Atlantic Division and flew to London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris,
Rome, Beirut and Amsterdam, This nice life came to an end as the company
decided to do away with the Career Mechanic Flight Engineers an use pilot
Flight Engineers and at this time I was not included to become an Airline
pilot so I resigned. June 1 1957, I returned to Northern New York State and was intent on
making a fortune working on small general aviation airplanes. I worked at
Massena Flight service a small FBO for six months as a mechanic doing
"periodic Inspections" working with Stan Britain who was an
inspector with many years experience. January, 1957, I went to work for the USAF at Plattsburgh AFB. I worked
as a lead Mechanic in the Field Maintenance Squadron. The idea was to have
skilled civilian mechanics assigned to each specialty to handle the Base
Maintenance while the Wing was deployed overseas (six months at a time)
during the Cold War. I would spend six months in each shop to be prepared to
handle that area while the wing was deployed. I spent time patching and
replacing the Bladder fuel tanks in the B-47 bomber (fuel Systems sheet
metal and welding shop. I worked din the Hydraulic and instrument shops
also. I spent most time in Engine building up workingman six other civilian
mechanics had the run of the base! This job came to and end when the air
Force starter building atlas Missiles. May 3, 1959, I bough a small hanger at he Municipal airport and started
my own shop while at the Air force Base, I also worked on small planes as
there was a need for this service. I also worked for Mohawk Airlines. October 15, 1958, I received my Inspection Authorization from the Albany
FSDO office and my little FBO preparation really began to operate in full
gear. It was during this time I bought and rented airplanes to the military
from the base. I rebuilt and recovered several Aeronca Champs, Aeronca
Chiefs, Piper cubs, Stinson Voyagers, Aeronca Sedans, and Skyrangers. Many
of these recover jobs were to replace the cotton fabric with the new
Cecontie processes. I performed the maintenance for the Air base flying club
which had two T-34's a Cessna 172, and two Aeronca champs. The activity at
the base was at full steam. January 1966, the business was incorporated as Plattsburgh Aero Service.
I purchased a Brantley Helicopter at this time and it was the first
helicopter operation in the area. The building of Atlas missile sites in the
area brought more business airplanes to the area and more maintenance. We
maintained airplanes including a C-182, Piper twin Comanche, a Piper Apache
and Beechcraft Bonanza at this period. January 1969, I was contracted to put cargo floors in Twin beech
airplanes that were used for deliver of the US mail and also did maintenance
on these airplanes at the Clinton County Airport at Plattsburgh. June 1969
thru January 1970 I worked for Mohawk Airlines at their Maintenance base at
Oneida County Airport in Utica. While there I mostly worked on the Engine
Build up section and on Auxiliary power units for the BAC 111 Airplane
worked d briefly doing Line Maintenance on the BAC 111 in Burlington,
Vermont. January 1971, I moved to Syracuse, NY and was Operations Supervisor for
Allegheny airlines. During the is period I continued to do Maintenance on
the mail planes at Hancock airport. I became chief of maintenance and set up
a progressive maintenance program for the Twin beech airplanes used in the
air mail service April 1976, I operated a small repair shop and performing maintenance on
and recovering small airplanes at a small airstrip in Constantia, NY during
this period I maintained my own personal airplane and a Cessna 175 and
Cessna 150 while keeping my position with Allegheny and US Airways as a
supervisor. During this period my family grew and I raised three boys
nurturing their interest in aviation. Two of whom became A& P
Mechanics. Gary works for Delta Airlines and Greg who works for Northwest
Airlines. Grant is a CFI who works at the Flight school at Oswego county
Airport. June 1994, I retried from US airways and continued my work on Small
fabric airplanes. I recovered a Piper J0-4 airplane and maintained a Taylor
craft BC0-12 June 1994 - 1995 I worked with Charles Hart who operated an engine shop
specializing in the major overhaul of Franklin Engines. During this period I
became proficient in the overhaul of these engines and engine accessories. June 1995 thru 1998, I worked for BELLAMY AVIATION at the Oswego
County Airport, again maintain small planes. I specialized on fabric work
during this period. Some of the airplanes that I recovered and rebuilt were
Piper J-5 Stinson Voyager, Piper PA-11. June 1998 thru 2001 I worked for the Flight School again on the
general
aviation airplanes. I worked as a mechanic IA doing the annual inspection at
their maintenance shop. June 2000, I accepted the job as maintenance officer for the local CAP
Squadron, responsible for the maintenance of their airplanes. And continue to maintain
my own personal airplane. I have worked on airplanes form 1948 through 2002 a period of 53 years.
I have maintained my A& P certification from December 16, 1953 to
present time - a total of 49 years with no pervious actions or enforcement
activity against my A&P certificate. I held my Inspection Authorization from 1958 thorough 1977 - 19 years and
from 2000 through 2003 - 3 years for total of 22 years as an IA I trust the information listed above will meet the eligibility
requirements for the Charles Taylor master Mechanic Award as listed din
AC-65-26B
Summary of Bob Sussey's Flying time
His first solo flight was on August 1, 1947 in a Taylor craft out of
Saranac Airport in Northern, NY. In reviewing the log books here is the time obtained in 10 year
increments. This shows the 50 consecutive years of flying experience. 1945 - Started flying His time was mostly obtained from flying light aircraft of all makes and
models including Aeronca, Cessna, Taylor Crafts, Piper cubs and Beech Craft.
Most of his flying was for enjoyment or test flying. He did hold his A&P
IA Certificate and obtained the Charles Taylor Award. According the last entry in my father's logbook the last flight was in
November 2002, this shows that his experience spanned over 50 years. He did hold a current medical and BFR on his death in December 2003
(Written by Bob in 2002 for application for the Master
Mechanic Award)
I enlisted in the USAF November 1949 and was sent to the Air Force
Technical School at Shepherd AFB, Texas. This was the USAF school for
Aircraft and Engine Mechanic which consisted of sixteen specialized branches
of intensive instruction. Each branch include detailed study of each subject
and included the following : Fundamentals, structures, Hydraulic,
Electrical, Engines, propellers, Fuel systems, auxiliary equipment,
inspection, Engine change, Rotary wing, Liaison Aircraft, Instruments, Sheet
metal repair, Engine operation, landing gear repair. The school was thirteen
months long and very intensive worked on the following airplanes at this
base. C-47, B-24, B-29, P-51, C-54. I have lasting memories of changing
engines on the B-29 and the C-54 and the trouble shooting of these systems
which was exciting to me.
June 2002 summary of maintain career:
Francis R. Sussey
A&P 1279392 IA
1004 Co. Rt. 23
Constantia, NY 13044
(Compiled by his son Grant for application to the Master Pilot Award)
According to FAA's records in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Francis Robert
Sussey applied for a student pilot's license in May of 1952. In reviewing my
fathers log book, the first entry was on Sept. 1st 1945, at age 14 in a
Taylor craft out of Saranac Airport in Northern NY. Both of these valid
legal records show that Mr. Sussey started his flying career in 1945.
1955 - 250 total time
1965 - 675 total time
1975 - 771 total time
1985 - 776 total time
1995 - 985 total time
2003 - 1235 total time
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