March 7, 2024 - Rich McFillin

Tragedy struck on February 10 when Rich McFillin suffered a heart attack while working on the RV-10 project at Essex Skypark. The paramedics were able to restart his heart but he never regained consciousness during two and a half weeks in intensive care. He flew west on February 29th.

After a Church service on the morning of March 7, we gathered at Essex Skypark and conducted a missing man formation with five RVs for Rich. The weather had been miserable the previous 24 hours but it cleared up magically in time for the flying.

Some Essex Skypark regulars at the airport to honor their friend Rich.

Rich was a police officer of the Baltimore County Police for 38 years. Two Baltimore County police helicopters showed up to honor Rich in a very nice gesture. They flew on either side of Chip's Stearman and made an honorary pass.

Chip's daughter Amy is an aircraft mechanic who works on Maryland State Police helicopters.

Nhu-An is Rich's life and flying partner. They have been building the RV-10 together for the last seven years.

We had five RVs pictured here to fly the missing man. We did the missing man, then formed up in right echelon formation for an overhead break, followed by circles around then Skypark, then individual low passes, and finally landing. Unfortunately I was only able to obtain a couple of aerial pictures.

One of the Baltimore County police helicopters was called away for a mission.

Chip with his daughter Amy and son Charlie and his Stearman Double Trouble in the background.

This and most of the following pictures were taken by Chuck B.

Here I'm briefing the Missing Man formation flight.

Brian is nattily attired for the Missing Man formation flight.

Charlie flew Chuck's RV-7 in the Missing Man, as Chuck was the chief photographer on the ground.

J.J. was the Missing Man in the formation, in his RV-8 Redline Two.

Rich's close friend Russell flew with Charlie in the RV-7A.

Brian is ready to go.

Yours truly.

Joe was flying Mark's RV-8 in the missing man. Mark had had some knee work done and was med down. He had a hand-held radio on the ground and coordinated the comms between the Unicom freq and the air-to-air freq we were using.

Rich had many friends. Lots of people on hand to watch the Missing Man formation.

The RV formation approaches. The RV with smoke is the missing man.

The missing man pulls up and heads west.

The five RVs at the end of the runway, just after landing.

One of the Baltimore County police helicopters lifts off.

Rich's family -- left to right -- daughter Krista, brother Don, daughter Deanna, granddaughter Lillyann, sister Carolyn, Brother-in-law Harry, and of course Nhu-An.

Chuck somehow took this nice picture of himself.

After the flying, we enjoyed a very nice lunch provided by Nhu-An in Chip's hangar. As you can see, Rich had a lot of friends.

Rich and Nhu-An with their RV-10 in the background.

I first got to know Rich and Nhu-An in 2017 when I started helping them on their RV-10 project. I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with Rich. When you build a plane with someone, you really get to know them. Rich was a good man who would do anything for anybody. He definately was a Giver, not a Taker. He was remarkably friendly, helpful, loyal, honest and social. I think the last seven years, with Nhu-An and building the RV-10 project with her were the happiest of his life. Thanks to the RV-10 project he learned all sorts of aircraft building skills which gave him even more ways he could help others. He loved working on the plane. He loved having people stop by the hangar and showing the project. He was an accomplished pilot and instructor pilot. I flew with him a few times in the 172, which I was unfamiliar with, and I experienced what an effective instructor he was. He was taken from us way too early, but I know when Nhu-An flies the RV-10 on its first flight, he'll be looking down from above watching with a big smile on his face. Tailwinds, Rich, you are missed; I'm proud to have flown with you.

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