Paul Rudolf Opitz

Quite by chance, I began looking through photographs of past events LAST NIGHT (!! -- no accident) and found many from the first Flying Wing Seminar, held in July of 1997, sponsored by the National Soaring Museum in Elmira, New York. Rudy was a speaker at that event and shared a bit about his flying a Horten IV flying wing -- first in Germany in the 1940s -- then later at a national soaring competition here at Hobbs, New Mexico, I believe, in the 1950s. He was leading the competition, but...

Martin and Michael if you receive this note I will be amazed as its years later. My name is Robert Butch Davis and I was fortunate to have known and flown with Rudy for at least four years or more. I was the Corporate Pilot flying the Queen Air for Lycoming Stratford and became assigned to Flight Test. We flew together in the Queen Air the AJ-2 and I got several rides in the Huey Helicopter and he also took me for a ride in the Glider. We had a trip to Texas and visited Martin when he was in...

Dear Mike, Marty, and Opitz Family, Bonnie and I met Rudy and you in the Nutmeg Soaring Association in 1970. Rudy gave my glider instructor flight test in June 1971. He was our friend, and my mentor as a pilot and instuctor. I will always cherish his kind guidance. Best wishes to you all. Jim Yankaskas

My deepest condolences to the Opitz family,

I only had the briefest handshake with Rudy at the 1997 National Soaring Museum Nurflugel Conference but I have admired him for years. I thoroughly enjoyed his antidotes about flying the 163 and still remember the twinkle in his eye, the mark of a man who thoroughly enjoyed his life. I will always regret never having had the opportunity of being taught soaring by such a master. May he rest in peace with all the other giants of aviation.

Dear Opitz Family: I was very privileged to meet Rudy first at the SSA Convention in Washington, DC, in the 1970s, and then again at the Flying Wing Seminar at Elmira, NY, in 1997. He was truly a gentleman and a great pilot. He signed his full-page photo in my book about the development of the Me-163 and I was blessed to be able to call him a friend. He will be missed very much here, but I look forward to soaring with him in the time to come... My deepest regard and expression of love...

Dear Opitz Family
I was saddened to read of Rudy's passing. Recently my co-workers found an old photo album and had great fun with photos from the 1980's. Photos of the AJ-2 and one of Marty curled up in the nose of Aztec. It brought up fond memories of Rudy and Marty.
I will always remember Rudy as a kind and gentle man. Always willing to help others. A person of great humility who showed so many of us how to accept life as it comes. I am a better person because our lives...

Please accept my deepest sympathies for your loss. Rudi was a great fellow, a great pilot, and I was fortunate to meet him when he came to Huntsville, Al for Soaring Conference a number of years ago.
Otha H "Skeet" Vaughan
Lt Col USAFR-Ret

dear Opitz family
wonderful flying memories of rudy and his help with the danielson soaring assoc. jim hendricks avco dc3 pilot
1980