1/4/2024 0 Comments Mate translate french![]() He pursued the things that he loved to do. ![]() When he got in the cockpit, he was incredibly professional and over the top.”Īdding to Smoot’s praises, Dart said, “Sherm was always a happy guy. “I don’t think I ever met anyone who didn’t totally love Sherm,” said Mike Kelley. Speaking to some of his talents, Jack Sinton of Sinton Helicopters says, “He was one of those guys who was extremely calm in a bad situation.”Īs if his talents in the sky weren’t enough, Smoot’s warm personality made him loved by all who met him. Through that community, Smoot was known for being a highly intelligent pilot, some saying the air was where Smoot was most at home. The aviation community is tight-knit, unique, and full of characters. Never hold back, whatever happens, happens.” Through all of Smoot’s lessons, Stetzle said he learned to “Live every possible day full throttle. They would fly Betsy to air shows all over California, Nevada, or anywhere they wanted her. Then in 2007, they formed the Gooney Birds and had the opportunity to purchase Betsy. It was interesting … it was absolutely natural.”Īfter meeting Stelzle in the early 2000s, Smoot taught him how to fly the various warbirds at the Estrella Warbird Museum. “People were drawn to whatever he said or whatever he did. “He just had that way of having a captive audience,” Stelzle explained. ![]() Smoot was a beloved member of not only the aviation community but every aspect of life he touched. The two played football together and graduated from Atascadero High School - Healey as the quarterback and Smoot as the center. This experience led him to open and build Bella Luna Estate Winery in Templeton with his high school friend Kevin Healey. His travels around the world let him experience unique wine from various countries. Some would say his life paralleled the likes of characters in “Top Gun” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” Following his Navy career, Smoot spent more than 30 years in commercial flying for Continential Aviation.īy the end of his commercial career, Smoot earned high seniority as a 777 captain. We greatly appreciate all he has done for us.”Ī Vietnam veteran himself, Smoot excelled as a Navy Aviator, piloting F-4Js from the Ranger Aircraft carrier in the Tonkin Gulf. “Whenever we needed anything, Sherm was there to give us a hand on things. President of Honor Flight, Bear McGill was honored to have had Smoot pilot the veterans for Honor Flight but was disheartened knowing they couldn’t give Smoot his own Honor Flight. Following the mini-tour, Smoot spoke with emotion, thanking the veterans for their service. The flight was an effort to thank and honor the veterans as they await their official Honor Flight Tour to the East Coast later this year. Just a week prior to his untimely death, Smoot and the Gooney Birds flew 17 local veterans around San Luis Obispo County. Smoot was one of the primary pilots for the county’s famed 1944 World War II C-47, “Betsy’s Biscuit Bomber.” In 2019 Smoot and fellow friend and pilot Scott Stelzle flew Betsy to Normandy for a re-enactment of D-Day to celebrate the historical day’s 75th anniversary. “He was one of the few pilots that could fly a number of those airplanes out there and teach other people how to fly those aircraft.” “A huge hole will be missing from the Paso Robles community, especially the museum there,” said Smoot’s friend and local aviation mechanic Marc Dart. Smoot was also a long-time and dedicated member of the Estrella Warbirds Museum in Paso Robles and pilot for the nonprofit Honor Flights.Īccording to a press release from Honor Flight, Smoot “was piloting his refurbished WWII Russian fighter plane when he experienced engine failure shortly after take-off at Minter Field Airport in Shafter. After hours you could often find him in a hangar singing a rollicking karaoke version of the Eagles’ hit “Hotel California” - usually more than once. At the Air Race, he was constantly surrounded by his friends and family, who would come from near and far to watch him or race against him.
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