FRANK MEYER 1967 - 1986 FLIGHT TRAINING INSTRUCTOR DEN I will put my Emily collection in the mail tomorrow. I have no qualms about you getting them back to me. I commend you for your OUTSTANDING dedication to the FRONTIERR AIR LINES ALUMNI GROUP. Donna Garland was a terrific lady. She worked across the hall fom us in Pilot Training & I helped her do some FA Training not part of their course ; but explaining Air Conditioning etc, so they could better understand what happened when they moved the systems controls & on the CV-580 how the FO would dazzle them about their Temperature Control. Donna had her Commercial Pilot's Ticket & was so wanting to be a FRONTIER PILOT that I taught her the 580 & certified her training also the 737. I was so proud of her, she was like a daughter to me, GOD BLESS HER. -Frank Meyer (2/9/03) We were looking for a retirement place near a lake & settled here in Grove, OK on the Grand Lake of The Cherokees. I retired from UPS Flight Operations in 1995. There are a lot of Frontier family at UPS & will get the word out to them regarding the ESOP. Frank Skubis is Chief Pilot , FAL Pilot & I will give him the info to pass on to ALL FAL people at UPS. Several years ago we stopped at a WalMart in Little Rock & got talking to a Lady employee & she was Bud Naylors widow. If I can locate her I will notify her of the ESOP. -Frank Meyer (2/10/03) Growing up in Long Island when aviation was really beginning I got to meet and know many famous people. I learned to fly while in High School & worked after school & weekends at our little airport named Fitzmaurice Field. It was home of the Skywriters of America & all the pilots had been "Barn Stormers" & also flew the US Mail. Elinor Smith a lady who set records in aviation for woman, i.e Altitude record for one was the first lady pilot I met. Her dad,Tom Smith, was a Vauderville entertainer who learned to fly back in the 20s visited us one day & wanted to relearn flying. I was told that he was 85. He was quite agile & he would give us a short performance of his old shows. He checked out in a WWII surplus L-2 Taylorcraft. He buzzed the field before every landing to warn us of his impending bounces. I got to know him real well. He took the job as the night watchman & after we closed the field each night I stuck around & he would tell me about the old days. I loved that Gentleman --he was so interesting. . Guiseppe Belannca , head of the Belannca Aircrat Co. visited many times since old friends of his either worked or kept their planes at Fitzmaurice. His speech was broken & with my Italian Ancestry I understood him better than most. He would call a valve a "vavala" I worked for Tyler Flight Service cleaning planes & an apprentice A & E Mech. Mr. Ken Tyler was the Chief Test Pilot at Republic during the war. Prior to the war he was a Hollywood stunt pilot & his claim to fame was flying inverted from LAX to SFO. He also flew as a fighter pilot for Spain during the 30s. He was killed in a crash while doing a film in Henderson,KY -I believe in the Mid 60s. Just before I retired from UPS Flight Ops I was in the B-727 Flight Test Section with our main project Recertifying the 727s with Rolls Royce Tay Engines. In 1995 we had a Flight Test Conference in Seattle & retired Boeing Test Pilot TEX JOHNSON was invited to our banquet. He was the first Jet Pilot in the USA when he worked for Bell flying the P-59. He was well known when he put on a demonstration flight of the prototypye 707 when he did a barrel roll over the grandstand. I was nearing my 50th year in aviation as a pilot with an accident free record & the Flight Test gang presented me with several framed photos of some of the civilian & military planes I flew followed by being congradulated by Tex. I keep all this so you can see why I want to keep Emily in my collection. She is SPECIAL. Emily was scheduled for B-737 Recurrent Training & also scheduled was a Capt (now deceased) who, when she was first hired said he would not ever fly with her in his cockpit. Prior to class start (Emily not yet there) he told me that if she showed up he was walking out & would attend another class later. My response, "just do that & on your way stop by Dick Orr's Office & tell him I kicked you out of recurrent & tell him why". Had he missed this recurrent he would go non current thus pay became a concern. He stayed & Emily was there. He later apologized . He was a good guy but just didn't feel that woman should fly for the airlines. All of this is History & I am proud of being part of Captain Emily's career. Thanks for reading my looong message. -Frank Meyer (2/15/03) Honorary Captain Frank Meyer could use our prayers and best wishes. He has had some health issues lately which were not properly diagnosed and some improper medications were prescribed. This created a serious medical condition called Cervical Dystonia. He is under the care of the Baylor College of Neurology in Houston. Frank Meyer was one of the best instructors I ever had. He made it possible for many of us to complete our training and keep the Frontier skies safe. Frank was never given the opportunity to fly the line at Frontier. In 1986, the pilot group honored Frank with a certificate naming him Honorary Frontier Captain. -Billy Walker (9/15/03) I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR UP MY SITUATION. I HAVE PARKINSON'S DISEASE WHICH IS NOT TERMINAL. I RETIRED FROM UPS FLIGHT OPERATIONS SEPTEMBER 1995 AND IN NOVEMBER 1995 I WAS DIAGONOSED WITH PD. MEDICATIONS WERE ALL OK UNTIL MY NEUROLOGIST IN TULSA PRESCRIBED A MEDICATION NAMED BENZTROPINE. THIS RESULTED IN SEVERE HALLUCINATIONS, NUMEROUS FALLS BACKWARD HITTING MY HEAD NECK AND LEFT SHOULDER. FURTHER IT CAUSED OR ENHANCED A SITUATION CALLED CERVICAL DYSTONIA. MY CHIN REST ON MY CHEST DUE TO NECK MUSCLES DAMAGE. (makes it difficult to neck) LOL I HAVE BEGUN TREATMENT AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF NEUROLOGY IN HOUSTON WITH DR. JOSEPH JANKOVIC ONE OF THE TOP MOVEMENT DISORDER NEUROLOGIST ALSO ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS WHO BEGAN BOTOX INJECTIONS FOR MY PROBLEM. IT HAS PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN MOST CASES. I HAD MY FIRST INJECTIONS 2 DAY AGO AND IT TAKES ANY TIME BETWEEN 2 DAY TO 2 WEEKS. I HAVE FELT SOME CHANGE. MY NEXT TREATMENT IS SCHEDULED FEB 3. I MET PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD BOTOX OVER 15 YEARS AND ARE DOING WELL. TO ALL MY FRIENDS AT FRONTIER I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN AND TO THE PILOTS MY BEING ACCEPTED AS AN HONARY CAPTAIN IT IS A GREAT HONOR. TO THOSE OF YOU NOT KNOWING MY AVIATION BACKGROUND I LEARNED TO FLY IN 1945 IN A J3 CUB, BECAME A USAF PILOT JUNE 23,1950, FLEW 101 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER NORTH KOREA IN RF-80S RETIRED FROM USAF AUGUST 1967 AND WAS HIRED BY FRONTIER SEPT 1967 AS GROUND SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR IN B- 727S CV-580, TWIN OTTER, BEECH 99, B-737 AND MD-80. I HAD THE 2ND BEST JOB IN FLIGHT OPS PREPARING THE PILOTS TO PASS FAA ORALS OR COMPANY ORALS. I REALLY ENJOYED WORKING FOR THE PILOT GROUP AND WAS GREATFUL TO BOYD STEVENS AND RON ROSENHAHN FOR GETTING ME TYPE RATED IN THE 580 AND 737. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE BEING ASKED TO JOIN UPS TO HELP START UP THE UPS AIRLINE AS MANAGER GROUND TRAINING. AFTER GETTING 121 CERTIFIED I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE FLIGHT TEST DIVISION AS FLIGHT TEST FLIGHT ENGINEER ON THE RECERTIFICATION OF THE 727 WITH ROLLS ROYCE TAY ENGINES. SO AS YOU CAN SEE I HAVE HAD A GREAT CAREER IN AVIATION WORKING WITH SO MANY WONDERFUL DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN. MY SITUATION WITH PD IS NOT DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. AT AGE 75 NOW I HAVE NO REGRETS BUT GREAT MEMORIES OF PEOPLE AND PLANES. GOD BLESS TO ALL AND MY PRAYERS GO OUT FOR MY FRIEND BUTCH CARR. -FRANK MEYER (9/25/03) It's great to hear from you Frank and get the facts on your situation. I'm glad to hear that you have it under control. By the way, you say you flew F-80s in Korea but I thought you were the Sabre King in F-86s. That F-86 has been my favorite fighter jet since I was a kid. -Jake Lamkins (9/25/03) I flew the F-86A after graduating from USAF Aviation Cadets June 23, 1950. (June 25,1950 Korean War began) My assignment was changed from Japan to March AFB, CA where I became a member of the Famed "Hat In The Ring" 94th Fighter Squadron that Capt Eddie Rickenbacker became the WWI Ace. We were the first Fighter Wing to get the F-86. Our mission was to intercept unidentified aircraft along the southern California coast. We moved up to Victorville, CA & activated Victorville Army Air Base that was renamed George AFB. I was sent TDY to the All Weather Interceptor Instrument School at Tyndall AFB, FL where we trained (all under the hood) in T-28s, T- 33s,B-25s (teaming up with Radar Observers) and finally in F-94s. All Take-offs & Landings were under the hood with the IPs monitoring. We made Touch & Gos under the hood because we were committed to intercepts in Zero Zero weather. Two weeks after returning to George AFB while returning from an intercept we were contacted by our CO to pack our bags & report to Camp Stoneman, CA for assignment to Korea. We left Travis AFB aboard Northwest Orient to Hawaii. Then from Hawaii to Japan aboard a MATS C- 54 via Johnson Island, Midway, Wake & Iwo Jima to Tokyo. In Tokyo we received orders to units in Korea. Was I shocked by my assignment to fly Recon RF-80s. NO GUNS ONLY CAMERAS (5 photos didn't make you an Ace). As it turned out it was a good experience. I soon found out how I wound up in Recon. The sqdn needed a faster airplane and mods were being made to install cameras in the F-86. This is where I became the first pilot to run camera tests in the RF-86. By the time the testing was completed I had flown 101 combat missions & was reassigned to the states. I again flew the F-86E & Fs from 1955 to 1960 & had a total of over 1200 hours in "The Last of The Fighters" It was the most favorite jet I flew & the C-47 my favorite of the recips. I was in the 15th TRS in Korea. -Frank Meyer (9/26/03) Phil Stallings was kind enough to invite me to the reunion and I was really planning to be there. I was a Flight Operations Instructor my entire 19 + years with FRONTIER following my 20 years as a Pilot in the United States Air Force. When hired I was told I was to old to get on the Pilot Seniority List& too old to fly Jets (38 yrs). I had over 6,300 hours of flight time of which 5,000 were in F-80s, T-33s, F- 86s,F-100s, T-37s, T-38s, F-94,F-5s. Thanks to Boyd Stevens & Ron Rosenhahn I was type rated in the CV- 580 & B-737. When hired I was checked out as a B-727 FE. This sounds like a "sob story" but the truth is I loved instructing the GREATEST FLIGHT CREWS. I had such a good feeling when putting a pilot up for an FAA oral or a Company oral knowing he/she would pass. To all of the Flight Attendants I helped Clayton Housh, JoAnne Evatz and Carol Jackson with F/A Training when needed. Donna (Peterson) Garland I also assisted. Donna, as you know, had her Pilot's license & wanted to be a Frontier Pilot. I invited her to sit in my CV-580 ground school & she excelled in learning the systems & performance. Likewise later in the B-737. Her going West at so young of age brought many tears from me. I lost my younger sister at age 48 & I felt the same sadness for Donna as my sister Jeanette. I had the second best job at Frontier & was breathless when Billy Walker informed me that the PILOT GROUP awarded me the title "Honorary Captain" From the Bottom of my Heart, THANK YOU to the GREATEST FLIGHT CREWS IN THE INDUSTRY. -Frank Meyer (6/20/04) When Rex Myers was a Ground Training Instructor he was identified as Rex Meyer and I as Frank Myers. This always was the case with a name like this. When in the USAF I was in same squadron with Fred Myers & both Captains. Our mail & various orders were constantly mixed up. Reminds me of first meeting Boyd Stevens. Like many others at FRONTIER I was called George thinking I was George Arwood & George was called Frank. One morning I was on my way to class & walking toward me was Boyd. He said ,"good morning George " & I replied, "good morning Chick". Boyd," I'm not Chick" of which I replied, "I know & I'm not George." We both had a good laugh & Boyd told this story quite often. I had the pleasure of working with both of these gentlemen & flying with them. Boyd was my flight instructor for my Type Ratings in the CV-580 & B-737. Been quite a while since I "talked" with you Jake. Thanks to you as well as Ace you do a teriffic job in your hard work of Keeping the FRONTIER SPIRIT ALIVE. -Frank Meyer (2/8/05) My brain surgery was June 28,2005 and it got rid of the tremors, but my neck muscles are still weak. At least I can get my head offf my chest whereas I couldn't before. Neurosurgeon said it will take a long time. Surgery on my neck is a possibilty since I had injuries several times (1948-1987 and 1997). I'm 78 now so if I have to live with my neck problem what will be will be, My Italian Grandmother would say "kay sada sada". -Frank Meyer (11/26/06) I can't keep up with all the email. A former neighbor from Kentucky sends me about 25 a day mostly funny stuff. He was an exceptional guy I hate to ask him to cut back. Three other guys about the same thing. I haven't visited FLamily in a long time. Every time I get into the Internet one of my kids or grandkids IM's me and with all my offspring it adds up. Did you get the word about my health? Another battle that I need to cope with. I have been diagnosed as to having Lymphomas Cancer. It is curable if caught in time which I believe has. I still have my sense of humor and a positive attitude, no depression or feeling sorry for myself Getting late so goodnight and GOD BLESS, -Frank Meyer (9/22/07) Up to date report. I have had two sessions with Chemotherapy and last Friday the nurse called to tell me that my blood test was very good. My third session begin Tuesday and who knows the results. For some reason which I feel is the many prayers that are being said from all over. To give you an idea of the treatment schedule it is well planned. The Monday prior to the first day of Chemo requires that a blood test be accomplished as well as an X-ray. Next day being Tuesday is DAY 1 of 13 days. This is the day that chemo begins. Wednesday being Day 2 you get a chemo shot in the arm. Beginning on Day 1 thru Day 13 you take pills. Days I thru 5 you take 5 Predispose Day 1 thru 3 you take 1 120 mg Emend on Day 1, Days 2 & 3 you take 1 80 mg pill each day Days 5 thru 13 you take 1 Leaguing pill a day. The 13 th day falls on a Friday. and on the following Monday you get another Blood test and X-RAY. This week you do not have chemo or take any pills. The next session begins the following Monday starting with a Blood test, no X-RAY Following day (TUESDAY) begins DAY 1 of the third session. I understand there are 6 sessions . This is when you get the results Remission or more chemo I didn't lose all my hair nor have I had any pain, nausea, vomiting and so on. The cancer treatments do have an effect wit h my Parkinson's. I have difficulty walking and talking. It would be tough instructing ground training. LOL -Frank Meyer (11/18/16) At a time when it seems like all the news is bad, here's some good news from Frank Meyer! I had sent him a news article of the Allegiant MD-80's runway excursion. Frank's son, Chris, is a captain there. Blue Skies & Tailwinds, -Billy Walker -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Allegiant MD-80 slides off runway at Idaho Falls BILLY, GLAD IT WASN'T CHRIS. I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT AN HOUR AGO TO TELL HIIM GOOD NEWS. I THINK AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL LIKE WHAT THE GOOD NEWS IS. I AM IN REMISSION AFTER THREE CHEMOTHERAPY SESSIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND I KNOW YOU WILL PASS THE NEWS ON THE PILOTS. THANK YOU, -FRANK MEYER (12/11/07) Hi Frank, I just got the GREAT news about your remission. Way to go, ol' friend. Best wishes for the Holidays. -Jake Lamkins (12/11/07) Thank you for your message. It's friends like you and so many friends that I have at our beloved FRONTIER AIRLINES just overwhelms me. Looking at the bright side of Chemotherapy I haven't had to shave since last August. Of course if I grew a beard same thing but you look great with your beard. Do you dress up like Santa at Christmas. You are SANTA CLAUS year round by keeping the Spirit of FRONTIER Alive and we all appreciate your hard work and enthusiasm. MERRY CHRISTmas and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR. YOUR FRIEND, -BALDY FRANK MEYER (12/12/07) Posted at the FL Club: Frank was in FL flight training 1967-86. Before that he was a Korean War hero flying F-86s and was awarded the Distiguished Flying Cross. Among many acts of kindness and help to me over the years, he sent me a book on the Convairliners. I was able to make the CV charts at the FL website from the info in that book. I certainly hope Frank is well. I found nothing in a TUL or Grove, OK newspaper search. Nor in a Google search. Let me know if/when you hear anything. -Jake Lamkins (2/2/11) Hello! My name is Tina Meyer. I am Frank Meyer's daughter-in-law! Just wanted to stop in and say hello! Oh, and for those that don't already know, I have the most AWESOME father-in-law anyone could ever have!!! -Tina Meyer (5/15/11) Frank's son, Chris, is an MD-80 captain for Allegiant Airlines. When we return to Arizona next Monday I plan on going to their office at KIWA (the old Williams AFB) and leave a note for him. Hopefully, Chris will update us on Frank. ...a better fellow there never was! -Billy Walker (6/10/11) I saw FL pilot Bob Erdmann at the FYV FSM Reunion in August. He told me he saw Frank a few weeks before and he was hanging in there. Frank has Parkinson's and is in a nursing home now at Grove, OK. -Jake Lamkins (10/31/11) Frank's always supported my FL efforts. He sent me the Convair book from which I made the charts posted at the FL website. -Jake Lamkins (4/19/12) Ron Gallop sent a CD of photos and two videos from his and John Green's visit with Frank on April 18, 2012. -Jake Lamkins (4/26/12) Note with FL News renewal: From Aug. 24 1986 to Oct 1987 I was hired by American Eagle as director of crew training. Hired as a 580 captain. Oct 88 - Hired by UPS Flight Operations. Held the following jobs Manager of Flight Crew Training, Crew Records Department Manager, and was hired as a captain on 727 but after doing the first two jobs I was 60 so I couldn't fly captain or first officer. Was assigned a B727 Flight test engineer on the B727QF. UPS was modifying the 727 with Rolls Royce Tay engines replacing the PW JT8D. Modified 44 airplanes as they rolled off the modification line. We delivered the planes to Louisville UPS Ops and Europe, Cologne Germany and Naples Italy. When the last planes was delivered I retired from UPS, 1997 Moved to Grove Oklahoma - bought a home close to Grand Lake of the Cherokees. Made two road trips to Alaska. Since then I have had Parkinson's and cancer. I live in assisted living about two miles from my house. My wife Suzanne still lives in our home. I have been visited by Phil Stallings, Bob Erdmann, John Green, Henry Rankin. Have received letters from Captain Emily, Rex Myers, Bob Folken. I can no longer write legibly - my daughter Suzanne has written this for me. Frank Meyer - Honorary Frontier Captain by Suzanne Hall (7/30/12) FLacebook: Posted pic of Frank with Ron and John: I had a great letter today from DEN flight instructor Frank Meyer. Frank flew flighter jets in the Korean War and is holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross medal. He was at FL 1967-86. -Jake Lamkins (7/30/12) You guys are looking great. Frank is still the best instructor I've had except maybe for Billy Walker. -Frank Malone (7/30/12) Best ground school instructor I ever had, both military and civilian. -John Hoffman (7/30/12) I'll be answering Frank's letter and will include everyone's comments. He's not online. Frank holds the Distinguished Flying Cross from the Korean War where he flew fighter jets. He was at FL 1967-86. -Jake Lamkins (7/30/12) Frank Meyer is the guy we all try to emulate as instructors. Simply, he's the Best of the Best. He is also the only one who was ever made "Honorary Frontier Captain." This was done by our MEC at the end of Frontier in 1986. We all felt he should have been given the opportunity to fly the line at Frontier. Most of us would not have passed the FAA orals without his tutoring. Frank flew unarmed P-80 recon missions during the Korean War - the most dangerous mission. Ron Gallop and John Green recently visited Frank and got some terrific photos. Frank is a Great American and very special to our Frontier Family. -Billy Walker (7/30/12) Frank is a great guy and terrific instructor. He even managed to teach ME a few things. Say hey for me too. -Jack McLaughlin (7/31/12) Fantastic Instructor and friend! -George Fay (8/1/12) I consider him a good friend, know he can't attend the Reunions in Phoenix any more, but know he is loved and we keep him in our thoughts and prayers. Greetings Mr Meyer. Miss you a great deal. Take care. -Ginger Treptow (8/1/12) Frank was my Instructor on the CV-580 and the B-737, enjoyed his classes. Say HI for me. -Ken Larason (8/2/12) I went through F/O ground school on the CV-580 and the B737 under Frank ... he also put me through Captain check out on both aircraft ... BEST instructor I ever sat under - no question about it .... I think of Frank every time I walk in to teach classroom at SWA and every time I give a simulator period ... I just hope I am 1/10th the instructor Frank Meyer is .... -Phil Stallings (8/3/12) "No one cares how much you know, until they know, how much you care"! Mr. Meyer dedicated his experience, knowledge and total energies to instruction, and validation of his candidates/students. His preparation for corseware was intense. One of the most influential people I have ever met and had the pleasure of a professional and personal relationship. Mr. Frank Meyer was a total immersion into air safety and preparation. His example of excellence was remarkable in an industry in crisis. Thank you sir! Godspeed and tailwinds. -Dale Buss (8/19/12) I AM STILL AT THE ASSISTED LIVING FACIITY . SUZANNE WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON'S. I AM MUCH TO MUCH FOR HER TO TAKE CARE OF ME. I JUST CAME TO THE PC TO CONTACT YOU AND WRITE A CHECK FOR MY DUES THAT IS DUE JULY.. RECEIVED THE SPRING 2013 FRONTIER NEWS TODAY. HANK LUND WAS TRULY A GREAT LEADER AS WELL AS EXCEPTIONAL GENTLEMAN. AS YOU KNOW I KNEW ALMOST EVERY PILOT - HAVING TAUGHT THE CV-580, B-737, B-727, MD-80, TWIN OTTER AND BEECH 99. I ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM. GETTING THEM READY FOR THE FAA ORALS WAS REWARDING. I NEVER HAD A SINGLE PILOT FLUNK HIS/HER ORAL. WHEN I WAS TEACHING THE MD-80 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ACE AVAKIAN RAISED HIS HAND AND SAID, 'FRANK, I UNDERSTAND THE ELECTRICAL STSTEM, BUT WHERE THE HELL IS THE SWITICH?', ACE WAS A GREAT PERSON AS WELL AS A TERRIFIC PILOT. HE AND I WERE FROM ASTORIA, 'KNOO YORK' AS ACE WOULD SAY TEACHING WAS A LOT OF WORK BUT WAS REWARDING. WHO EVER KEPT ME FROM BEING A LINE PILOT DID ME A BIG FAVOR. MY REPUTATION KEPT ME EMPLOYED FROM THE DOWNFALL WITH AMERICAN EAGLE AND UPS UNTIL I RETIRED SEPTEMBER 1997. THE HIGH LIGHT OF MY 53 YEARS IN AVIATION WAS NAMING ME AN HONORARY FRONTIER CAPTAIN. THANK YOU ALL, -FRANK MEYER (4/26/13) I like your request for what we did at FRONTIER and what happend to us since the bankruptcy. My career at Frontier began September 5, 1967 following my retirement from the USAF August 1, 1967. In my 20 years in the USAF my total time was 6,000 hours of which 4,800 was in jet fighters. I applied to all the airlines and was rejected with the reply "your credentials are impressive. However due to your age, etc." My wife's sister's husband is Larry Burson. Thru Larry's Dad Elmer I was hired on as a B-727 Ground Training Instructor. My record as an instructor was rewarded when Capt. Billy Walker notified me that I was awarded as an Honorary Frontier Captain. I enjoyed working with all the Pilots. When Frontier closed American Eagle offered me the position, Director of Crew Training, which I accepted. I was sent to Lynn, Massachusetts to attend the Saab 340 power plant school. One night I got a phone call from George Fay asking me if I would like to work for UPS as Director of Crew Ground Training. I said yes. UPS was starting their own airline and ending the contracts with the 5 air carriers. I hired top notch instructors and after the ground schools were operating I was assigned to organize the flight crew records department. I was at that job 2 years. I had a meeting with Lee Wallace who was the Director of Flight Operations to have a flight assignment. I was age 60 so my only position could be a Flight Engineer. I had my FE rating and was assigned to the B-727 Flight Test section in San Antonio. UPS was re-engining forty-three 727s with Rolls Royce Tay engines to meet noise abatement requirements. The FAA required that all the testing be what it took to have the 727s certified back in the 1960s. As each 727 completed the conversion we delivered it to Flight Ops. We delivered 14 B-727QFs to Germany and Italy. -Frank Meyer (7/9/14) A reflection on Frank Meyer: In early June of 1976 I was upgrading to CV-580 Captain along with Gary Winn. I had worked with Frank Meyer to prepare for my oral on the Convair. I knew the airplane pretty well as I had flown F/O for 8 years in the CV-580 prior to my upgrade. Frank assured me that I would have no problems. On the appointed day the FAA arrived and the inspector they sent was brand new in the DEN FAA office. We went back and forth for over three hours and he was determined to catch me on something but fortunately he never did. Frustration finally set in on a performance problem he had posed and he said my answer was wrong and said that if I didn't agree with him then he would fail me on my oral. I stood my ground and told him he was wrong and the sparks flew. All during my oral, Frank had been monitoring in the back of the room. As the inspector and I came to loggerheads, Frank jumped up and left the room for about five minutes and returned to monitor our argument as it progressed. About five minutes after that, Del Gregg who was a senior inspector at the FAA arrived and courteously asked the new inspector to ‘go on back to the office, I'll finish this’. Del Gregg was a consummate gentleman and asked me what was the question that we were hung up on. I told him. He asked my answer to the question and agreed with my answer. He filled out the paper work, apologized for the trouble, shook my hand and left. Of course, Frank had called Del and asked him to come over. I will always respect Frank Meyer for standing up and refusing to let anyone badger his student. He is the epitome of a good instructor and a gentleman. I feel fortunate to have had the privilege study and work with Frank Meyer and Del Gregg. The new inspector was assigned the next day to Toledo. As it turned out, the new inspector was right and so was I! He had just graduated from the FAA 580 program and their performance was figured a lot different than ours. Del Gregg told me that much later. -Ron Gallop (10/8/14) Janet Avakian phoned to tell me she had a call from Frank's sister and he had flown west due to pneumonia and Parkinson's. -Jake Lamkins (1/22/16) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Frank Meyer DEN flight training instructor Frank Meyer has flown west. He was so highly regarded by FL pilots they made him an honorary captain, the only individual I know to have been so honored. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/francis-meyer-obituary?pid=1000000177380899 -Jake Lamkins (1/22/16) Frank Meyer was a good friend and the best Instructor I ever sat in a class room under .... a great man!!! -Phil Stallings (1/22/16) Here's my favorite pic of Frank - from the Korean War where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Frank helped me for years with FL research and the newsletter. He sent books, papers, and videos to assist me. There is a lot of info in the newsletters and posted on the website that he made possible. -Jake Lamkins (1/22/16) A good friend and a great instructor. RIP -George Fay (1/22/16) The best instructor ever. I can still remember him demonstrating a text book landing. -Lance Lau (1/22/16) One of the best. -Dan Albers (1/22/16) Frank was the best instructor Frontier ever had. He made it his personal business to get you through your check ride. -Frank Malone (1/22/16) See Frank's article in the Spring 2004 FL News, page 11. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/FL_News.html -Jake Lamkins (1/22/16) Frank was the ONLY one ever to have been named "Honorary Frontier Captain." The rest of us were simply honored to have been one. Many of us made it thru the check-out because of Frank's tutelage! He will always be remembered as an excellent instructor. ...a finer human being will be difficult to find! -Billy Walker (1/22/16) May God Rest His Soul... Frank was one of the finest instructors at FAL... He was the 'Consummate Professional' in all aspects... On many occasions I would take Frank with me on training and maintenance flights, and give him "the stick".. (Yoke)... He was an excellent pilot, and a pleasure to work with for 15+ years... His desire to help any pilot requiring extra help, saved many 'sleepless nights' for Captains and F/O's I hope his family is aware of the high regard and respect we all had for Frank. With Deepest Sorrow, -Dave Kaplan (1/22/16) Damn. Quite possibly the nicest guy on the airline and unquestionably the best ground school/systems instructor ever. A stand up guy like no other. Absolutely the best. -Ron Gallop (1/22/16) Frank Meyer was a valuable employee at UPS too. Best Wishes, -Al Beardsley (1/22/16) May I add my condolences to the Meyer family also. On my first day in the FAL training department Frank took me in and began to teach me how to teach. I learned everything from Frank. When he announced I would be teaching my first class class by myself, I realized just how much Frank had accomplished. He was an amazing man - a TRUE Officer and Gentleman. -Rex Myers (1/23/16) I can understand why so many feel such attachment to Frank. He was an excellent instructor and had the understanding how to relate what he was teaching. As an ex-Air Force pilot, we often talked about Korea and why he was not hired as a Pilot. I related my experience with the same result with United Airlines. As a Flight Operation Instructor with United, I admired how well the students valued him. As a friend I will miss him, a true professional in all aspects. Condolence to the Family. -Bob Ashby (1/23/16) Everyone has their favorite "Frank Meyer" story. I will never forget sitting in Frank's CV 580 initial class. He used the entire chalk board and had the entire 580 engine drawn out across the room as he explained each and every bolt and nut on the engine. Actually, he was explaining the electrical system. Not being the best mechanic in the world, I thought to myself, I'm going to have to learn all of this, boy, I will never make it in this business. I just wanted to fly em, not build them. But Frank worked tirelessly to train all us mere mortals to become pilots. I owe a tremendous debt to that man. Love and respect you Frank. -Tom Robertson (1/24/16) Captn Frank Meyer passing struck a chord...I owed him a lot...things left unsaid... his including us furloughed guys in his class room to help keep us connected to FAL, his respect and continuous efforts in making us "grunts" feel important to the process. -Dale Buss (1/26/16) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Frank Meyer DEN flight instructor Frank Meyer's memorial webpage is posted: http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Frank_Meyer.html -Jake Lamkins (1/30/16) FLacebook posting about the CV580: Dad loved that airplane! Loved teaching it! -Christopher Meyer (9/9/18) Frank Meyer was “the best of the best”! -Al Beardsley (9/9/18) Frank was a GREAT guy! http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Frank_Meyer.html -Jake Lamkins (9/9/18) Your Dad was best Instructor I ever had at FAL. When I had to leave the line (60 yr old) at SWA and went to Flight Training Department, I used many of the techniques I learned from him. -Phil Stallings (9/9/18) Captain Frank Meyer Hard to believe but Wednesday marks three years since Captain Frank Meyer’s Gone West! RIP ol’ friend! -Billy Walker" (1/14/19) Frank was an excellent instructor He taught me the B-737 and the Super 80 as it was originally called. He had a tremendous knowledge of aircraft. Frank, Thank you for all you did for me and all the rest of the pilots you taught! -John Winter He helped me with systems when I was learning the MD-80 at my current airline. I eventually became a line check airman in the MD. Thank you for the kind words about Dad. -Christopher Meyer (12/17/20)