SSA Region 1
On July 2 2005, soaring in New England lost a pioneer and a great friend when Allan MacNicol died in the crash of his homebuilt Kitfox.  The accident occurred on takeoff from his home field in New London, New Hampshire.  Allan was one of the founders and first promoters of the Mount Washington wave site and most recently championed that site's designation as a National Landmark of Soaring.  He was a life member of the SSA, a past Director of the National Soaring Foundation, and a leader and mentor of too many clubs and soaring organizations to mention.  He owned, restored and flew a catalog of sailplanes that few pilots could match including an LK-10, a Hall Cherokee II, nearly every model Schweizer (including restoration of one of the 2 existing 1-21s), a Phoebus, an HP 14 and an ASW-17.  Allan was a true "gentleman of aviation."  He took the greatest pleasure in helping others achieve their goals.  We will not see another like him again. He will be missed.

This obituary was published locally::

Allan Edward MacNicol, 75, died Saturday, July 2, 2005, following an aviation accident.

He was born in Greenwich, Conn., on April 8, 1930, the son of Col. Allan Edward Sr. and Ann (Lee) MacNicol.  He grew up in Rye, New York during the depression and World War II era and attended Rye high school.

In school he was an excellent athlete, earning varsity letters in football, hockey, and track.  He was voted most popular in his class and had an ability to charm people and form strong friendships.  Growing up, he developed a lifelong interest in engines, cars, motorcycles, and aircraft, and showed an extraordinary talent for building, fixing, and restoring vehicles of all kinds.  After graduation from high school in 1948, he attended Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., where he enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps.  He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1952.

Allan was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force in 1952.  He attended Air Force pilot training in Moultrie, Ga., and went on to fly the A-26 "Marauder" and the RB-45 "Tornado," the first jet bomber of the USAF.  After four years on active duty, he transitioned to the Air Force Reserve and the New York Air National Guard.  He retired from the service with the rank of major in 1973.

He worked for Honeywell Corp. for a number of years during the 1960s and went to Vietnam with the company during the Vietnam War.  Later, he formed a company called Design Components, Inc., a private company in Medfield, Mass. that made linear bearings and ball slides.  He received several patents on ball slide technology.  In 1983, he sold the company and started Bimax, Inc., a company that made bimetallic valves for steam heating systems.  In the late 1980s, returning to what he knew best, he started Ball Slides Inc., which produced linear bearings.

His interests were many.  An accomplished glider pilot since 1959, Allan was a restorer and preserver of vintage gliders.  He was the originator and leader of the Mount Washington wave camps, and the founder and president of the Mount Washington Soaring Association.  He was a life member of the Soaring Society of America, a past director of the National Soaring Foundation, and a current member of the New England Soaring Association.

Another one of Allan's loves was antique cars.  A member of the Steam Automobile Club of America, Northeast Chapter, he owned a 1924 Stanley Steamer and had previously owned other steam cars.  He was also a collector of antique motorcars. He owned a 1926 Jordan Playboy and was a very active member of the Jordan Automobile Club.

Allan's generosity was immense.  As an example, he was a weekly volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program.  Most volunteers delivered every other week, but Allan did it every week.  He not only dropped off the meals, but also took the time to talk with each person and got to know them.  He would do anything for anyone at any time.

Allan is survived by his wife of 10 years, Shirley MacNicol; his three children:  Mary, Tom & John MacNicol; his two stepchildren: Pamela Keefe and Roy Thomas Shapard III; four grandchildren:  Felicia & Christopher MacNicol, Roy Thomas Shapard IV & Jamey Mills; and a sister:  Katherine MacNicol Purcell, as well as numerous friends and extended family worldwide.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the National Soaring Museum, 51 Soaring Hill Drive, Elmira, N.Y. 14903, with "landmark" or "MacNicol" on the memo line.

This page was last updated on 10/10/06.