The
Successful
Career Path
of Ed Eckhart
Test Flight in the Kaman SeaSprite Ed Eckhart enjoying retirement
ALL photoS couRtESY of EckhARt hELIcoptER SALES
by Andy Aastad
T here are many roads leading
to a rewarding career in the
civil helicopter industry. Most
to the average sale of new helicopters.
The focus of this article is on
helicopter exchange in general,
from Earlhan, Ed joined the Marine
Corps Officer Candidate program,
and was commissioned a Second
careers probably exist within and on Ed Eckhart in particular, Lieutenant on the 28th of May, 1955
commercial helicopter operations whose achievement and service to during the Korean War. The following
and manufacturing, simply due to the industry is the result of many week he married his childhood
greater activity. However, attractive years of experience with a variety of sweetheart, Joyce. His first assignment
opportunities exist in many other applications. This experience, coupled in the Marine Corps was to the
segments of the industry including with a well earned reputation for naval aviation program in Pensacola,
corporate and medical operations, integrity and reliability, plus dogged Florida. Although he was initially
law enforcement, and a wide range of determination, propelled Ed into a assigned to fixed-wing flight training,
ancillary activities that provide services very successful career in the helicopter an opportunity arose for helicopter
such as maintenance and overhaul, industry. training. Taking advantage of that
business services, parts support, and Eckhart’s story begins in Oak opportunity he was transferred to
helicopter exchange. The movement of Park, Illinois where he grew up with Ellyson Field, which was the helicopter
used helicopters is a necessary part of a devoted mother and a hardworking training base at that time. Ellyson,
civil helicopter operations, which over and caring father. He graduated from with a long history in helicopters,
the long run in terms of units creates a a local high school and felt fortunate was soon scheduled to close, and Ed
market six or seven times greater than to be awarded a scholarship to graduated as a Marine helicopter pilot
the sale of new helicopters. In terms Earlhan, a small liberal arts college in in the second to last class.
of dollar volume, total annual sales of Indiana. There he majored in Geology, Ed’s next move was to transfer to
used helicopters worldwide are close graduating in 1954. After graduation the Marine Air Station at Santa Ana,
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California in September of 1955. The was released. Nonetheless, this was At the conclusion of the development
Korean War was winding down, which Ed’s first experience with commercial program Ed flew demonstration
of course had a dampening effect operations and it added significantly to flights in the U.S. and Europe. This
on wartime helicopter operations. his resume. was probably Ed’s first experience
Flight activities now consisted of His next opportunity was with in helicopter sales. Other pilots on
routine training and support of the Kaman. At that time Kaman was the team included Bill Murray, Vice
troops at Camp Pendleton. In the deep into development of the Sea President of flight test; Chief Pilot
fall of 1957 his group flew in support Sprite, and in 1962 Ed was hired as a Al Newton; Frank Roberts, who
of the last two atomic bomb tests in test pilot. The program was intensive later moved to Sikorsky sales; and
Nevada. Then in January, 1958 there and supported by a total of 18 pilots. Don Bloom, who later joined Bell
was a requirement for support of the The Sea Sprite was considered very Helicopters as a test pilot. After
Atomic Energy Commission in the sophisticated by the test pilot team; working with the Sea Sprite, Ed was
Pacific Bikini Atoll. Approximately it had retractable landing gear, in assigned to a Drone Program for the
twenty pilots from Santa Ana were flight blade tracking, self contained U.S. Army in California. The Drones
assigned to this project as general navigation, and rotor blade de-icing. were Bell 47 helicopters modified to
support and to measure radiation
after a detonation. This continued for Ed Eckhart in the FH 1100
a period of about six months with a
total of thirteen atomic detonations.
According to Ed, the pilots were
generally unaware of the possible
effects of radiation. However they
used to tease each other that their
bodies would glow in the dark! These
were the early days of development
in atomic energy, and Marine pilots
assigned to the Bikini Project did their
job without hesitation. The pilots were
relieved to discover ten years later
at a reunion that there had been no
residual radiation damage to any of
them. Hats off and gratitude to the
entire group for their unwavering
service!
Following this assignment, Ed
was transferred back to the United
States and released from active duty
in August of 1958. Back home he
visited Chicago Helicopter Airways
(CHA), whose President was Wes
Moore, a well known helicopter
pioneer. CHA was flying Sikorsky
helicopters in an airline operation
between Midway, Meigs Field, and
O’Hare. They were also flying Bell
47 helicopters in routine charter
operations. Ed was hired and reported
to Ed Packer, Chief Pilot. Other
management included Bob Angstadt,
General Manager, and his brother.
Bob was Chief of Maintenance.
CHA was an outstanding commercial
helicopter operation but was tied to
the government through a subsidy
program designed to promote
scheduled helicopter airline type
operations. Unfortunately the subsidy
expired in the early 1960’s and Ed,
along with many other employees,
Winter 2008-2009 83
look like a Huey
for the purpose
of target practice.
Ed said it was
amazing how
often the Drones
flew through
the firing range
unscathed. This
program was
completed and
closed in 1965.
Looking
for another
opportunity,
and while still in
California, Ed
contacted Hiller
Helicopters.
This resulted in
a visit to Palo
Alto in 1965 and
a meeting with
Phil Johnson,
Vice President
of Marketing
for Hiller
Helicopters. Gates Learjet Helicopter named the “Twin Jet” — Never Produced!!
As luck would
have it, Phil had an opening for a sales pitch. What a great way to earn and the 1100 became the FH-1100.
sales manager in the northeastern a living! Competition for commercial The acquisition resulted in the closing
territory of the U.S. and Ed became operations in the early 1960’s was of Palo Alto facilities and a move to
a full-time dedicated helicopter primarily with the Bell 47 line and to Fairchild in Maryland. Many of the
salesman, handling the famous line a lesser extent with the early Hughes Hiller employees elected not to move.
of UH-12 helicopters. Ed joined the 269. However, this was an era destined This led to a leadership vacancy, which
expert team of professional pilots to end dramatically with the advent resulted in Ed Eckhart’s appointment
assembled by the President, Stan of commercial turbine helicopters. as Director of Marketing for the new
Hiller, who was famous for developing This would be the beginning of a Fairchild Hiller Company.
the Hiller Helicopter while he was sophisticated marketing system in the Competition between the
still a teenager. Many of the industry’s U.S. FH1100, the 206A, and the 500 in the
pioneers worked for Hiller including Earlier in 1961 the U.S. Army commercial market really accelerated
Phil Johnson, Bob Boughton, and had initiated competition for a in 1965, with intense rivalry between
Fred Boeing. Boeing attended the turbine powered Light Observation the three companies for a number
first California Helicopter Association Helicopter (LOH). Entrants for of years. However, in 1970 the Army
meeting, which later became the the competition included Hiller, initiated a second competition for the
Helicopter Association of America with the OH-5A; Hughes, with the LOH and Fairchild Hiller elected not
(HAA). Also on the team were Buzz OH-6A; and Bell, with the OH-4A. to participate. Bell Helicopter won
Martin, Dick Peck, Ken Florence, and The competition was won in 1964 that competition and shortly thereafter
Don New. New was a recent recipient by Hughes. However, one of the the FH-1100 program was shut down.
of the prestigious Lester Morris competition design requirements Eckhart suggests the reason for closing
Pioneer Helicopter Award from was that the aircraft must meet FAA the program was that Fairchild made
Sikorsky, presented annually by the standards. As a result Hiller later a decision to focus all of its energies
pioneer pilots’ helicopter organization, redesigned the OH-5A, which became on the FH-227, a medium sized
Twirly Birds. In the early days, the job the 1100 for the commercial market. airplane for the airline and corporate
of helicopter sales pilot was a highly Bell redesigned the OH-4A, which industries. Thus, with the exception
sought after position. It entailed flying became the 206-A Jet Ranger, and of only a few production helicopters
a relatively new helicopter and visiting Hughes offered the OH-6A as the 500. to sell, the helicopter team was
prospective helicopter operators for Then in 1965 Hiller was purchased by essentially terminated.
a demonstration and an enthusiastic Fairchild in Hagerstown, Maryland (Continued on page 86)
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(Continued from page 84) contacted shortly thereafter by Tony the Blue Book to the industry. He
In February of 1972 an opportunity Cosimano, Director of Helicopter now manages EHS. Later, Ed Sr.’s
with Gates Learjet surfaced, with the Operations for Envirogas Company nephew, Bruce Kantenwein also joined
development of the new “Twin Jet” in New York. Tony was faced with the the company, further enhancing the
helicopter. Ed met with Tom Gillespie, challenge of dissolving the Envirogas company’s capabilities.
Vice President Today EHS
of Marketing for is a leading
Gates, and was turbine helicopter
hired as sales marketing firm
manager for this working worldwide
exciting program. with both
The helicopter equipment buyers
promised great and sellers. They
potential, as the offer brokerage
first light twin, and financing
particularly for services, plus they
the commercial provide refurbishing
market. Beginning capability
in 1970 the program for product
quickly moved improvement.
into high gear with Their established
a complement reliability,
of 125 engineers documented with
and tremendous many years of
enthusiasm directed experience with
by Mal Harned. a wide range
However, according of helicopter
to Eckhart, the models including
business climate Ed Eckhart Jr., Bruce Kautenwein, and Ed Eckhart at HELI-EXPO Agusta, Bell, MD
for jet airplanes Helicopters, and
was declining in 1972, which also cast helicopter fleet as a result of a Sikorsky, offers a unique marketing
a shadow over helicopter activity. merger. Tony had worked with Ed advantage. Their expertise in product
By December Learjet sales dropped much earlier as an officer of Decair value and ever changing international
from seven jets a month to one and, impressed with his capability, market requirements adds yet
every other month. As a result Gates he awarded Ed the responsibility of another very important component to
Learjet decided to close the helicopter moving five helicopters, including significantly benefit their customers.
program, and high hopes for a new a 365 Dauphin. Ed’s move into his Ed Sr. retired after the death of
aircraft ended. Ed then moved back to own business was proving to be the his wife, Joyce in January 2001, and
the Chicago area and in 1973 joined successful culmination of many years in November of that year he moved
Phil Sacks and Air Associates in the of perseverance in the helicopter to Naples, Florida. Sometime later he
business of selling and leasing used industry; he sold twenty helicopters in met a wonderful and accomplished
helicopters. This activity really gave the first year. His philosophy to “never lady named Carolyn Davis, and they
him in-depth experience in helicopters. sell a helicopter you wouldn’t buy married in April 2002. Ed Eckhart
After approximately ten years of yourself” was paying off. shines as an outstanding example
successful activity in this market, Ed In 1986 Ed’s son, Ed Eckhart, Jr. of success in the highly competitive
decided to form his own company, joined the company. His background civil helicopter industry. All it took
and HAI member Eckhart Helicopter added significantly to the company’s was determined perseverance, strong
Sales (EHS) was born in October expertise since he previously had unwavering dedication, and personal
1984. Because of his well developed been a marketing representative with integrity – plus a deep conviction
visibility in this field, and an exemplary Agusta Aerospace. Additionally, he in the outstanding potential of the
reputation for integrity and service, was instrumental in the development helicopter industry.
his entry as a new player was met with of the Official Helicopter Blue Book,
responsive support. His first sale was which was originated by Phil Sacks. Andy Aastad was Vice President of
to his friend Peter Wright, Sr. then I can remember his personal visit to Marketing for the MBB Helicopter
President of Keystone Helicopters MBB Helicopter Corporation for Corporation from 1981 to 1991. He
is the former editor of the Helicopter
in Pennsylvania. Peter needed a Bell the detailed information on MBB
Market Letter and currently is a market
205, and Ed was able to satisfy that helicopters to be included in the Blue consultant to the helicopter industry.
requirement with one Okanagan had Book. His thorough attention to detail He can be reached at 717-464-4222
available. Off to a good start, Ed was substantially increased the value of or at aastad@comcast.net.
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