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  Signing experience: Bill Dana (X-15 pilot)

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Author Topic:   Signing experience: Bill Dana (X-15 pilot)
geoffpollard
Member

Posts: 27
From: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 05-27-2003 10:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for geoffpollard   Click Here to Email geoffpollard     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have an X-15 photo I would like signed by pilot Bill Dana, but wonder if he charges?

Russ Still
Member

Posts: 535
From: Atlanta, GA USA
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 05-27-2003 11:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Russ Still   Click Here to Email Russ Still     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Dana has always been a very accomodating (and free) signer. A true friend to collectors. You could probably still reach him thru Dryden.

albatron
Member

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 05-27-2003 04:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Alhought retired, Dana is still at DFRC almost daily doing some research and working on several papers and books. Some classified as yet.

He is arguably one of the greatest friends to autograph collectors and one of the finest gentlemen I have ever met.

While at DFRC I saw this man and woman (married) at the X-15 on the stand by Public Affairs. The man was, of course, an "expert" on the X-15 and of course told his wife all sorts of baloney with about a 35% accuracy rate. Very pompous.

Well, he asks this man in khaki pants and a plaid shirt to please take their picture. This man has to set his take out orders from the commissary down (actually my son and I held them), and proceeds to take a couple of different poses of them by the aircraft.

He then proceeds to lecture this nice man about the X-15 to which this gentleman, Bill Dana, thanks him for it, thanks us and says hello (we had met him prior) and walks off. By now of course, my son and I are cracking up and point out to the guy that this man knew quite a bit about it himself, as he was the last man to fly the X-15. Priceless.

COR482932
Member

Posts: 212
From: Cork, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 02-12-2013 09:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for COR482932   Click Here to Email COR482932     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Today I received my photos back unsigned from X-15 pilot Bill Dana, but inside, there was a short note, which read:
Due to illness, Bill Dana is unable to sign your materials. Thank you for your interest. I hoped he could improve enough to sign your pictures, but I am accepting the idea he is no longer well enough. I'm sorry I waited so long to answer. I will read your kind letter to him. - Judi Dana
I am just letting you all know that Bill Dana is no longer signing due to illness.

Steve Zarelli
Member

Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 02-12-2013 09:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Steve Zarelli   Click Here to Email Steve Zarelli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very sad and sobering. Bill Dana will be in my prayers. A true hero and gentleman.

Jurg Bolli
Member

Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 02-12-2013 11:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jurg Bolli   Click Here to Email Jurg Bolli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very sad. He sent me a signed photo a few years ago and was extremely nice.

machbusterman
Member

Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004

posted 02-17-2013 02:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for machbusterman   Click Here to Email machbusterman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Such a thoroughly nice man... I had the pleasure of meeting him at the GOE in Lancaster, CA in October 2003. He was always such a gracious signer and friendly towards collectors/enthusiasts. I'm really saddened to learn of the worsening of his illness.

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