Crestline Soaring Society

Local PG/HG pilot Alex Hurtado was killed yesterday (Sunday, 15 July) while flying PG at Palos Verdes Peninsula near Long Beach. Initial reports were that the accident happened in Mexico.

Alex, his wife Rene and their two beautiful daughters were fixtures at Sylmar and AJ Airpark, always happy and really enjoying the moment. Alex was at the Anniversary Fly-In on Saturday, and was in fact the last pilot to compete in the HG glide contest.

Sad news indeed. Alex was young, vital, friendly and soft-spoken with enough of a wild side to keep you on your toes. He'll be missed by a great many of us. Condolences to Rene and the girls.

Alex's family is in the business of supplying those inflatable "bounce rooms"
and he often provided them for events at the Airpark and other flying sites (though we didn't need his services Saturday). I think his providing the bouncers did a lot toward making the LZs family-friendly during events and helped to maintain harmony within the families of pilots.

Alex and I said 'Hi' on Saturday, but unfortunately it was one of the few times we didn't have a conversation when we ran into each other. I'll miss him.

Alex Hurtado: Alex at Torrey Pines
Services

Due to travel and time constraints, Alex's Viewing will be Monday, Rosary on Tuesday, Mass on Wednesday.

Viewing: 2-8 PM, Monday July 23, Gates, Kingsley, and Gates, 1925 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404

Rosary: 6:30 PM, Tuesday, July 24, Same Address

Mass: 10 AM, Wednesday, July 25, Saint Ann Catholic Church, 20013 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404

There will be a gathering at Palos Verdes with Alex's ashes after that. Alex's ashes will interred at a cemetery in Santa Monica.

The CSS has established an account to benefit Alex Hurtado's family.

The account is at the Wescom Credit Union (Ontario Branch). Account number 752024. The account is in the name of Alan Crouse as primary and "Memorial Fund for Alex Hurtado" as the secondary account holder.

Donations can be made at any branch of the Wescom Credit Union (www.wescom.org) or send them to CSS and we'll get them deposited. Checks should be made out to "Memorial Fund for Alex Hurtado".

Our thanks to Wescom. They waived the usual account set-up fee and the Branch Manager personally worked through the account set-up process.

(If anyone has more, please post here or send to me and I'll post - )

Alex Heading to Launch

Alex Hurtado with Paraglider

Alex Hurtado Landing: Here's Alex landing at Andy Jackson Airpark on July 14, 2007, during the 13th Anniversary Fly-In (click for full-size image). Photo By Brian Watkins.

Alex After PG Flight #2: Alex ground handling after his second landing at Andy Jackson Airpark on July 14, 2007, during the 13th Anniversary Fly-In (click for full-size image). Photo By Brian Watkins.