Passing Of A Legend

[youngbl...@gmail.com]

Some of you out there might remember a wonderful lady named Mary Gaffney, she was an aviation pioneer and a gliderport owner and examiner for many types. Mary passed away today after a long and wonderful life involving many forms of aviation. Mary was a two time world aerobatics champion and set speed records for flight. She worked with the likes of Pancho Barnes in doing the early aviation movie stunts and also worked as an aviation ferry pilot during WWII.
Mary owned the Kendall Gliderport until it was reclaimed by the National Park Service. Mary continued to give check rides into her 90's and stayed active in aviation until just a few years ago.
Mary gave me my glider check ride at the old Kendall Gliderport, where she worked with the likes of Bill Harris, one of the early instructors and Delta Captain. Bill's obituary was listed his flight hours at over 60 thousand. When Bill wasn't flying for Delta he was living his dream flying gliders at Mary's gliderport. Mary, thanks for all you did for aviation and especially the glider community of South Florida.

[eager...@gmail.com]

I trained at her FBO (Kendall Aviation) and had my private pilot checkride with her at Tamiami Airport (Now Miami Executive) in December of 1972. I was an AFROTC cadet at the time and went on to a career in the AF flying F-4s, F-5s, and A-10s. I still have my original licence with her signature on it.

[rscha...@gmail.com]

I just saw this after a google search. I saw her at Reading Airshow in mid 70's. In mid 80's I was stationed at Homestead and rode my motorcycle out to Tamiami to get the lay of the land for an upcoming airshow. I walked into one of the FOB's to ask about it and there was a bunch of kids hanging out in one end of the room, sitting on the floor just goofing off. I walked up to the short little lady behind the counter and saw "Mary Gaffney" on her name tag. I asked her "Are you THE Mary Gaffney?, I saw you fly at Reading back in the 70's" She got a big grin on her face, turned to the group of kids and exclaimed "See, I told you I used to be somebody!" She was delightful...RIP...

[rscha...@gmail.com]

Should be "Gaffaney"

[Josh Fletcher]

Very Sad to hear of Mary's Passing.

Mary was my examiner for my Commercial Helicopter rating back in the
90's. She was the nicest lady and examiner I have ever had the pleasure
to meet! She will be missed.

R.I.P. Mary I am sure you are happy being back with your husband!!

Josh




--
Josh Fletcher

[rishal...@gmail.com]

I remember Mary. She flew a yellow Pitts didn't she? I saw her when my high school boyfriend was taking stunt flying lessons with Bill Thomas in South Florida. Amazing woman and pilot, sorry to learn she has left us.

[youngbl...@gmail.com]

She had a wonderful life, her husband , Charlie was her mechanic and ran the shop there at Tamiami. She gave me my glider check ride back in the 70's. Great lady, talented and humble.

[marriag...@yahoo.com]

I saw Mary do a stunt I have seen a male pilot. It was at an airshow in Cocoa Fl. She took her Pitts Special and proceeded to a full vertical climb until it stalled. Maintaining her vertical position she went into a tailslide until she picked enough negative airspeed where then snapped that Pitts into negative aileron rolls. Damndest thing I ever saw and even Bob Hoover did not attempt this maneuver.

[rfk...@gmail.com]

I worked as a mechanic for Charlie and Mary at Kendall Flying School from 1985 to 1988 when I got out of the Air Force and left south Florida. They were both amazing people.

[Scott White]

Happened upon this post and just learned of her passing. My father was the Flight Service Station Operations Manager at Tamiami through the mid 70s and had nothing but the best words about her and her operation. Rest in peace.

[ls-8a...@comcast.net]

On Monday, April 26, 2021 at 11:15:26 AM UTC-4, Scott White wrote:
> Happened upon this post and just learned of her passing. My father was the Flight Service Station Operations Manager at Tamiami through the mid 70s and had nothing but the best words about her and her operation. Rest in peace.

Clearly, this is long after her passing but I just stumbled upon this thread when I did a Google search for Mary. I started flying with her when I was 13 at the Kendall Glider Port, located on the edge of the Everglades. I soloed at 14 and got my private with her at 16 and then started flying airplanes at the old Tamiami Airport. I had the last flight there before they moved to the New Tamiami Airport, now Miami Executive Airport. I went off to college but continued to fly at Kendall on breaks from school. I graduated from college in 1974 and was headed for USAF pilot training but since the Vietnam War ended there was a big cut back in pilot training so it was more than a year and a half before I entered active duty. During that time I worked as a flight instructor for Mary until I entered the Air Force. I spent 21 years in the Air Force but I kept flying gliders. I'm now the president of Mid-Atlantic Soaring in PA. During the early part of my Air Force career I would drop by to see Mary and Charlie occasionally but I lost touch and didn't realize she had passed until I read this thread. Brings back fond memories of a wonderful time in my life.

[youngbl...@gmail.com]

8a, I am sure our path's have passed, and you bring back memories of the old Tamiami airport out on Tamiami Trail. Mary stayed active for a few years prior to her death. My wife and Mary were very good friends, she did all her pilot training with Mary. Recently I posted a photo of the old Kendall Gliderport on Facebook, Soaring Forum. Please take a look at the photo and you can still see where the tarmac was and the outline of the runway. Those were some wonderful times.
You may also do a search on her obituary, it is a nice tribute to a wonderful lady and aviation pioneer. OBTP