Remembering Darren Banfield
On this day in 2004, Darren Banfield escaped these surly bonds. Darren was a guy in the wrong era. He restored and flew very early antique aircraft. He lost his life doing what he loved – flying a unique old aircraft in preparation for a full restoration. You see, Darren not only flew old, very old airplanes, he rebuilt then from splinters and rot to remind us of their prior glory.
On the Friday following Darren’s accident, here is what I recall from the day me remembered Darren …
The Newspaper …
SHARON, MASS. The former aviation director and aircraft technician at the Owls Head Transportation Museum was tragically killed Friday when his newly purchased vintage aircraft crashed in Sharon, Mass.
Darren Banfield, 37, of Brookline, N.H., had just purchased the Cessna T-50 floatplane in New Bedford, Mass., according to the Associated Press. The crash occurred in a wooded area 50 yards away from Massapoag Lake, where Banfield could have attempted a water landing, according to the report. Banfield managed the museum’s collection of 28 vintage airplanes from 1998 to 2001, according to Executive Director Charles Chiarchiaro. As aviation director, Banfield was also responsible for the museum’s aircraft collection and a cadre of volunteers. Darren Banfield, who managed the aircraft collection at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, was killed Friday in a vintage airplane crash in Massachusetts. (Image courtesy of George Hoyt/OHTM) Chiarchiaro said Banfield was one of the most enthusiastic pilots the museum has ever employed; his enthusiasm was matched only by his skill in the cockpit of an aircraft. Banfield could fly anything, Chiarchiaro said, "with wings or without." "He could fly a magic carpet," the executive director said. "During his years on the staff of the museum, he used his energy, enthusiasm and ability to inspire and excite thousands of visitors." Banfield had extensive experience flying vintage aircraft, and had taken off from New Bedford after purchasing the Cessna T-50 a few hours before. He reportedly was en route to Amesbury, Mass., near the New Hampshire border with Massachusetts. Banfield was also the president of the New England Aircraft Association, and ran a company in New Hampshire called Golden Age Restoration.
The remembrance …
Darren died in an airplane crash bringing a Cessna T50 Bobcat (Bamboo Bomber) back to his restoration shop. the plane was over gross, with floats, and one engine failed. He flew it until it would fly no longer and just 50 feet short of the lake, I ran out of altitude. He missed the houses. Hi missed the family outings. He missed everything that would have made the situation worse for others. He flew the plane until it would fly no more.
For the service, they performed a formation fly by and then scattered the ashes across the field. The biplanes did a formation flyby with Rob Holland flying Darren’s Bucker as the missing man. Once the planes landed, everyone gathered to tell their stories. Even though Darren was only in his 30’s the stories flowed and flowed – people standing up and telling stories of there experiences with Darren and then a slide show of his antics through out his life. It was really positive. What was most amazing was the turnout – there had to be 350 people at Darren’s hangar. There were lots of stories and some really funning and telling pictures. The one I liked most is the one I include here. Thanks Darren.
