Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, Oct. 18, 2019

High Desert Hangar Stories
Air Show Tow? Dick Jewell and His “Tow 5”

by Bob Alvis rewarding but intense job flying for
special to Aerotech News the Forest Service and the Bureau of
Land Management.
For those of you who have en- Flying air ops from Alaska to
joyed the Los Angeles County Air Florida for the Forest Service, Dick
Show in recent years, one aspect of became the “tip of the sword” as they
that show that you never give a sec- say, in his Cessna 210 or Aerostar,
ond thought to is a guy and his truck leading air tankers in on fire drops in
who, for almost 30 years, have been canyons and mountain ranges when
shuffling aircraft around flight lines wildfires were ravaging the terrain.
like the director of a New York stage With nerves of steel and a steady
production. hand, Dick earned the trust of those
Dick Jewell is a pretty cool guy. heavy air tanker crews who depended
I’ve never seen him with ruffled on his guidance to get the drop on tar-
feathers while working in an envi- get and the aircraft in and out safely.
ronment that is, shall we say, pretty Somewhere around 1979, Dick had
intense and filled with many dangers. an old ‘73 Ford Bronco that was a
I met Dick some years ago working at bit of a hobby project. In a decision
the Capitol Air Show. He was work- that would end up being a big part
ing with the Airedales who make sure of his life, he made it into an airport
that, from the very first airplane in to plane tug and went looking for oppor-
the last one out, they are at the loca- tunities to get involved with moving
tions they need to be to put on a safe aircraft during air show events at air-
and well-choreographed air show ports. Dick hit Reno Gold when the
with few interruptions. Reno National Air Races became his
Over the years, Dick and his spe- flight line home for decades, towing
cially equipped Ford pickup truck the planes that would become leg-
have been dubbed “Tow 5.” They can ends in the air racing communities
be found at air shows up and down around the world. Dick has built a
the state, doing their dance with all very close relationship with the pilots
varieties of aircraft, from civilian to and ground crews of those very rare
military and everything in between. and expensive aircraft. His expertise Photograph by Bob Alvis
One may wonder, how does a guy end is trusted in making sure the aircraft When the owners of priceless aircraft see that Dick will be the keeper of their treasures they all breath a sigh of relief.
up in such a specialized field of air are treated with velvet gloves, and Dick is one of the very best at his craft.
operations? Dick was between tows that their travels on the tarmac mimic
when he shared a bit of his history the air they were built to perform in. of aircraft have been attached to with him at many of these air shows, him well in his love of making sure
and told me of his love of flying. I was watching Dick and Tow 5
After time spent in the 1960s and move a row of old warbirds during that hitch of his! I realize that so many people will just any plane in his charge arrives at its
1970s working some covert opera- the latest Capitol air show. When a Taking some photos of Dick Jew- take for granted the work behind the designated spot intact and ready to
tions in very interesting parts of the break in the action came, I brought ell doing his job and watching how scenes that puts airplanes in the skies. perform again!
world, he found himself back here in up the subject of the value of the he can expertly maneuver an aircraft What amazing stories and skills are This coming March, keep an eye
California, pursuing his love of fly- aircraft he has moved over his work- into a tight spot, I started thinking possessed by individuals that we out at the Los Angeles County Air
ing with crop dusting and air freight, ing life. After some back and forth, how many times I was at Reno and don’t truly appreciate, until we think Show and give a tip of your cap and
building up those hours in his log we came to the conclusion that more never once gave a thought to the guy about what it means to look down a a wave to a great guy. We know him
book that would lead him to a very than likely a billion dollars worth in the tow tug. But now after working tow bar with a couple million dollars- as Dick Jewell, but on the airwaves
worth of aircraft attached, with a ton and behind the scenes of the show,
of people looking on and a tight fit he’ll just be good old “Tow 5” —
to navigate. I guess Dick’s experi- the man and truck that dances with
ence shoe-horning fire bombers into planes!
tight canyons raging with fire served Until next time, Bob Out …

Photograph by Bob Alvis
Photograph by Bob Alvis
Dick Jewell, the pro of the tarmac. Dick, aka Tow Five, and his trusty mount doing what he does best!

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