VIETS Maurice "Kelly" Viets, age 90, passed away on Friday, February 27, 2009. Kelly was a Lifetime member of both EAA and VAA. He served as a member of the EAA Aviation Foundation Board from 1974-1983, was a Director of the Antique/Classic Board starting in 1972 and became Secretary of the Division in 1980. He was also elected to two terms as Vice-President. His dedication and hard work was instrumental in making the Association the popular organization that it is today. Kelly was inducted into the VAA Hall of Fame in 1995.
Kelly’s Daughter told us, “He said to me many times that he had a wonderful life, and working with the EAA was one of the things he was very proud of. He loved flying and made some of his best friends there.” The VAA Board of Directors and staff passes along our condolences to Kelly’s family.
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Kelly Viets, Topeka, Kansas Lifetime member of both EAA and VAA Kelly’s love of vintage airplanes had its roots in his childhood during the 1920s and ‘30s, when he spent time at the Kansas City Airport. There he saw many of the great airplanes of the day—the first TWA DC-2, peeking into the hangar to see the Travel Air Mystery Ship (which earned him an abrupt removal from the hangar by the seat of his pants!) and Benny Howard’s Ike. Kelly was a voracious model airplane builder, a hobby he credits with helping him on his way to becoming a consulting engineer. During WW II, Kelly was busy designing airports and base facilities for the U.S. Government. |
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Kelly and Edna at Oshkosh 1983 |
In 1954 he began his own firm, Viets Consulting Engineers. Kelly received his pilot’s license in 1946 on the GI bill. In 1966, with gentle guidance from Edna, his wife, he purchased his first airplane, an Ercoupe. (Edna told him he could buy any airplane he wanted, as long as it was one of the cute airplanes he flew at night during his flight training!) He and Edna founded the International Ercoupe Association in the early 1970’s. He has also restored a 1940 Bellanca 14-12 and a 1947 Stinson Station Wagon. Kelly provided long-term service to both EAA (Lifetime member 16364) and to the Vintage Aircraft Association (Lifetime member 10) in its early years when it was the Antique/Classic Division (A/C). | ||
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Drawing on his civil engineering expertise, Kelly was active in the early planning for a move from EAA’s Headquarters in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. Kelly served as a member of the EAA Aviation Foundation Board from 1974-1983, was a Director of the A/C Board starting in 1972 and became Secretary of the Division in 1980. He was also elected to two terms as Vice-President. His dedication and hard work was instrumental in making Antique/Classic the popular Division that it is today. |
Kelly Viets accepts the congratulation of A/C Division President Butch Joyce during the ceremonies held at the EAA Aviation Center in November of 1995 | ||
