Museum owner worked with pilot killed in crash
by Tim Hennagir
Life Editor
Golden Wings Museum owner Greg Herrick has fond memories of Jimmy Leeward, the pilot who died earlier this month competing at the Reno Air Races.
Golden Wings Museum owner Greg Herrick (right) has fond memories of Jimmy Leeward, the pilot who died earlier this month competing at the Reno Air Races. The pair worked together on the movie set of “Ameila,” a cinematic look at the life of legendary pilot Amelia Earhart. Herrick’s 1927 Ford Tri-Motor was used in the film.
Herrick’s hangar at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport is filled with vintage and antique airplanes representing the 1920s and 1930s, aviation’s golden age.
“I got to know Jimmy when we were contacted by representatives of a movie company to include our Ford Tri-Motor in a movie called ‘Amelia,’” Herrick said.
“Amelia” is a cinematic look at the life of legendary pilot Amelia Earhart.
Two-time Best Actress Oscar winner Hilary Swank played the lead role in the film, which was released in October 2009.
Herrick and Leeward became fast friends after Herrick was contacted by Avalon Pictures regarding use of the historic 1927 plane.
Herrick consulted with Leeward when the two met during an aviation event in Lakeland, Fla. Leeward offered his pilot services and encourage Herrick to get involved with the picture.
Avalon is owned by one of Herrick’s arch-rivals from his days in the computer business, Ted Waitt, co-founder of Gateway, Inc.
“We really became friends on the movie trip, and he provided good counsel when I entertained the thought of putting the plane in the movie,” he said.
Leeward flew to the Twin Cities and visited Herrick at the Golden Wings Museum, which is located at the southern end of the airport.
Leeward flew the Ford Tri-Motor to Toronto for aerial filming. Another area pilot, Jim Obowa from Lino Lakes, traveled with Herrick and Leeward. The trio was on the set for two weeks.
Herrick said he could not fly the plane in the movie because he hadn’t obtained his commercial rating as a pilot. That left all the movie flying in Leeward’s hands.
“He was thrilled to fly the Ford,” Herrick said. “Not only is it the oldest flying airliner in the country, it’s also the oldest flying metal airplane in the world.”
Herrick said the movie set experience featured a company car and hotel suite lodging. Leeward took production company members for rides in the 1927 Ford.
“They would not let us take the cast up, however,” Herrick said. “Swank wanted to go up, because she was getting her pilot’s license, but the movie company would not let us do it. Jimmy really loved flying. He was a great guy, and he got along well with everybody. He talked flying with everyone.”
Herrick recalled a critical scene that was being filmed near dusk. The generator in the Ford Tri-Motor failed, and Herrick had to scramble to replace a battery.
“That’s no big deal, because all we lost were our wingtip lights, which we had on for visual effect, and our radio. We had a hand-held radio backup,” he said.
According to Herrick, the film company really wanted the shot, which turned out well in the movie.
Post-production work made the museum’s Ford Tri-Motor appear over Washington, D.C., when in reality the plane was flying over Hamilton, Ontario.
“We got back after several takes, they said it was the perfect shot, even though it was a second-and-a-half too long,” he said.
During the “Amelia” trip, Herrick said Leeward talked about the highly modified P-51D Mustang Leeward was getting ready to return to the air racing circuit.
“I was a bit surprised to learn he was flying it [at Reno] after hearing about the accident,” Herrick said. “I was under the impression he was going to sit this one out and let somebody else fly.”
Herrick said he learned about the fatal crash that killed Leeward after a call from Obowa, who had received a Twitter text news alert about the accident.
“There’s a certain amount of risk in air racing. Pilots accept that, but when other people are hurt, it’s unfortunate,” Herrick said. “There were other people involved, too. Jimmy is one person, and I miss him. There are other people with families were killed or injured. That makes this tragedy 10 or 11 times worse.”
Tim Hennagir is at tim.hennagir@ecm-inc.com
