Page 228 - MY STORY

Helping Mesa

Our helicopter (rotary wing) brethren in Mesa had been
doing a study for a US Army advanced helicopter. S, my
boss, got word from some Army leader that Mesa was not

doing as well as they should be and needed help –
especially as the existing design study phase was
completing and Mesa was now in the throes of writing a

proposal for the next phase. Jim S asked me to go to
Mesa and take a look.

The Mesa folk were not enthralled with my presence in
their territory, but they were not immune to help — if it

was really going to help over the total time required to
prepare a major system proposal. I assured them that if we
folk in St. Louis got involved we were there for the
duration.

When I reported back to Jim S, he asked what I needed. I

figured we needed about five to seven people from
materials, analysis, and manufacturing and about
$250,000. He told me to gather the team and go west! So,

as a faithful servant, I gathered my team and told them
where we were going. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that it
was August, and my team would be enjoying the benefits