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John Kell dies at 82

By Janice Wood · May 22, 2011 ·

John Kell, a well-known pilot and FAA Designated Pilot Examiner in the Pacific Northwest, died April 29 at his home in East Wenatchee, Washington.

Kell had had a long battle with his health over the last several years, but passed quietly at the age 82, according to friends.

A pilot for more than 55 years, Kell had accumulated more than 28,000 hours and had given thousands of check rides out of Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee and Boeing Field in Seattle. He was a commercial pilot flight instructor, FAA designated pilot examiner, charter pilot, freight pilot, and a forest service reconnaissance pilot. He worked for Columbia Skyway, Executive Flight in Wenatchee, Richardson Aviation in Yakima, and Wings of Wenatchee, which is now Wenatchee Jet Center.

There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. June 11 at the Wenatchee Jet Center’s hangar at Pangborn Airport. “Please bring your best John stories, I know that I have several,” said Alan Hunter, owner and manager of Wenatchee Jet Center.

For more information: WenatcheeJetCenter.com

 

About Janice Wood

Janice Wood is editor of General Aviation News.

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