Glenn E Eggert

Glenn Eggert 1939 ~ 2015 Captain Glenn Elliott Eggert, age 76, “Flew West” April 7, 2015 after a long bout with melanoma cancer. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Joan who passed away in 2006. Born February 14, 1939 in Medford, Wisconsin, Glenn grew up in a small town 160 miles east of the MSP airport. His father ran a retail business servicing cars and trucks and selling gasoline, agriculture lime, and International Harvester trucks. In high school Glenn was a good student and active in basketball, track, and band. At the University of Wisconsin Glenn was active in the UW marching band before enlisting in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet in 1959. Like many of his NWA pilot colleagues, Glenn began his military flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida. Glenn’s first assignment after earning his golden wings was to airborne early warning squadron VAW-33 at NAS Quonset Point, RI. He flew the EA-1W, an anti-submarine warfare/electronic countermeasures (ASW/ECM) derivative of the Douglas AD Skyraider (A1E). This squadron deployed as detachments to various carriers. Glenn cruised mostly aboard the USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39), an anti-submarine warfare Essex class straight deck carrier and, at times, the aircraft carrier USS Independence. ASW was a critical naval component for the quarantine of Cuba during the October 1962 Cuban Crisis; Glenn was in the middle of the fray. Glenn separated from active duty Navy in early fall of 1964 to be hired by NWA on October 19, 1964. A couple years after starting with NWA, Glenn revisited VAW-33 and shared the word about airline life with his former squadron mates. His testimony must have been pretty convincing, because four others followed in his footsteps and one of them, Wes Vermillion, became a long term friend. Joan Perks, a NWA flight attendant must have also seen merit in the man, for she married Glenn in March, 1971. Glenn and Joan had concurrent careers at NWA. The L-188 was Glenn’s initial captain checkout aircraft. During his 35 years at NWA Glenn was rated in the Lockheed L-188, Boeing 707 (720/320), Boeing 727, Douglas DC-10 and both the Boeing 747/200 and 747/400. During a NWA labor dispute; Glenn and Joan flew for Ambassador Airlines, a charter operation at the Indianapolis Airport that operated a former EAL water wagon Boeing 720. With Glenn’s encouragement, Dale Nadon also hired on as a pilot for Ambassador. Glenn served NWA Flight Training as an instructor on many aircrafts. He was well known for his patient demeanor, outstanding flight skills and exceptional knowledge of his aircraft. On May 1, 1996, Glenn flew the inaugural Detroit–Beijing flight as well as the Beijing-Detroit return inaugural flight. The long range 747/400 crew on the inaugural consisted of Sarge Martin, Managing Director of Flying and Chief Pilot for Northwest; Gene Frampton, Managing Director of Flight Training, Procedures and Standards; Tim Olson, Director and 747 Fleet Captain; and Glenn Eggert, Senior Line Check Captain. Glenn spent his last 10 NWA years as an instructor on the 400 and finally put away his flight bag on February 14, 1999. Widowed in 2006, Glenn is survived by his son Sean Ian Eggert (Mariana), grandsons Bode and Jack, sister Marilyn C. Eggert and brother Douglas A. Eggert, as well as many nieces and nephews. He filled the grandfather role well and spent enjoyable hours with his grandsons at Arizona hockey rinks. Most of all Glenn treasured his time with Sean and family. Glenn’s long-term friend Dale Nadon writes: “Glenn and I met in 1964 on joining NWA. We have been lifelong friends helping one another through good times and bad times. I will truly miss him...Until we meet in that big crew-lounge in the sky….” (- Dale Nadon and Bill Day)

Glenn E Eggert

February 14, 1939 - April 7, 2015