Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group Meets With Miami Artist George Rodez To Kick Off Fund Raising Project

Conducting the formal transfer of the L-1011 from the Eastern Airline Flight 401 Tribute Group to Artist George Rodez are from left to right: Benny F. Benitez CEO of the 94th AeroClaims-Aviation Consultant Group, Artist George Rodez and Catherine Smallwood, Chief Aviation Artist for the Digital Aircraft Factory

Miami Artist George Rodez with Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Survivors

Shown left to right are: Patricia McQigg (Flt 401 Flight Attendant) Mercedes V. Ruiz (Flt 401 Flight Attendant) Artist George Rodez, Ron Infantino (Flt 401 Passenger) and Beverly Raposa (Flt 401 Flight Attendant)

Flt 401 Flight Attendant Mercedes V. Ruiz explains to George Rodez about the attitude of the aircraft as she recalled just before impact

Using an Eastern Airlines L-1011 interior ad from the 1970's Flight Attendants Mercedes V. Ruiz and Patricia Mc Qigg show George Rodez their location within the cabin before the impact
Flt 401 Flight Attendant Beverly Raposa visually brief George Rodez about the crash showing post crash photos from the Miami Herald News Paper indicating to him her location within the wreckage in which she was rescued from

Miami, Florida 28th March 2009: Saturday March 28th marked the 8th consecutive weekend in which the members of the Eastern Flight 401 Tribute Group held their schedule weekend meetings at the offices of Ron Infantino. For eight straight weekends, the Flight 401 Tribute Group Committee got together as they forge ahead with their dedicated project to establish a tribute site / public display for those who died and survived the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 back on 29th December 1972, which forever effected and changed the way in which commercial airline, corporate and military cockpit crews worldwide perform their duties and functions in an operational environment under Cockpit Resource Management (CRM).

The Flight 401 Group has formerly launched its first ever fund raising project by having local Miami Artist George Rodez utilize the 1/100 scale model of the L-1011 as shown above, which was generously donated by Atlantic-Models http://www.atlantic-models.com/ as his canvas to create a one of kind art piece for auction.

Scheduled to support an art expo in Barcelona, Spain next month, George advised that he will commence to work on the L-1011 within the next few days. During the meeting, George expressed many creative ways and ideas to approach this project and advised of enlisting the creative assistance of other local Miami artists to paint a fleet of 1/100 scale model of the L-1011's similar to the one shown above which will then be auction off.

One idea which was spawned from George creative thinking was to have Airlines sponsor the purchase of an unpainted 1/100 scale model of an L-1011 from Atlantic-Models so that the local artists could create their unique art work of which would then be donated for auction to the assist the Flight 401 Group obtain the funds needed to press forth with their vision of creating its tribute site / public display to those whose lives were touched by the lost of Eastern Flight 401 on 29th December 1972.

Atlantic Models Of Miami Florida Comes To The Aid The Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group

Mr. Roger Jarman of Atlantic-Models and Catherine Smallwood, Digital Aircraft Factory, Chief Aviation Artist and supporting committee member for the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group accepts a donated Lockheed L-1011 model for painting by Miami Artist George Rodez
A Lockheed L-1011-100 Resin model in 1/100 scale, which will be transformed into a one of kind art piece by famed Miami Artist George Rodez

Miami, Florida 24th March 2009: An avid supporter of "Miami Aviation" industry known and recognized Atlantic Models comes to the aid of the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group with their generous donation of 1/100 scale model of a Lockheed L-1011 aircraft. Through the talent and effort of famed Miami Artist George Rodez, the donated "unpainted" L-1011 model provided by Atlantic-Models shall become a one of kind special art piece for a fund raising auction.

The proceeds generated from the future auction will go to support the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group. Announcement of the auction shall be posted as soon as the gray L-1011 shown above is transformed into a brilliant and vivid art piece worthy of sitting in a special collection.

The Group is thankful to both Mr. Roger Jarman of Atlantic-Models and Mr. George Rodez, who's shall apply his creative talent to create in what will become a brilliant combination of "Aviation and Art".

Local Miami Artist Comes To The Assistance Of The Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group

Eastern Airlines Flight 401 survivor Mr. Ron Infantino and Miami based, world renowned artist Mr. George Rodez

Miami Lakes, Florida 19th March 2009: In a meeting arranged and coordinated through Mr. Benny F. Benitez of the the 94th AeroClaims-Aviation Consulting Group a strong and established supporter of the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group allowed group survivor Mr. Ron Infantino to meet and speak to world renowned, Miami artist Mr. George Rodez. http://www.rodezart.com/

In a first ever expansion into "Aviation, Mr. Rodez has agreed to assist the 401 Group by applying his brilliant and vivid style of art work onto cast resin mold, base mounted model of an L-1011 which is being donated by Mr. Roger Jarman of Atlantic Models http://www.atlantic-models.com/ This "One of a Kind" art piece produced by Mr. Rodez shall be auctioned off at a scheduled event to be established later this year with the proceed of the auction going to support the Flight 401 Group. The Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group appreciates the assistance and dedication in which Mr. Rodez has expressed toward rendering his artistic talent to help with the group fund raising.

Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group Establishes a U.K. Chapter

Rugby Warwickshire, England 19th March 2009: The Miami, Florida based Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group through the assistance and coordination by and between Benny Benitez and Beverly Rasposa has resulted in the establishment of the first International Chapter in United Kingdom. Mr. Nick Bavington has been appointed to head up the Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Tribute Group-U.K.

Mr. Bavington has displayed and expressed a great deal of enthusiasm and willingness to help in expanding the presence of the group. With a large enthusiastic aviation / plane spotter community in the U.K., its a great realm to expand into concerning the awareness of flight 401.

This marks the group first world wide expansion as its promotes the cause, remembrance and the legacy of flight 401 onto the world stage. One of the missions in which Mr. Bavington will undertake, shall be to establish lines of communication with the Royal Air Force Squadron 216th based at Royal Air Force Station Brize Norton. The 216th still flys and shall continue to fly the Lockheed L-1011 until 2015 in the tanker / transport role.

One goal to hopefully reach, would be to invite the 216 to dispatch one of their L-1011's to the United States so as to hopefully attend this year Homestead Air Reserve Base airshow scheduled for the weekend of November 7th 2009.

The flight 401 group wishes to seek to have an L-1011 operator such the 216th to be an operational supporter and with Mr, Bavington being stationed close to RAF Brize Norton that is an important goal for the group to achieve.

Homstead Air Force Base 301st ARRS Came To The Rescue of Eastern Airlines Flight 401

Photo credit: Felix McLarney

Photo credit: Ron Olson

Sikorsky HH-34J "Choctaw"

Photo Credit: Mr. Ron Olson (http://www.rotorheadsrus.com/)

Homestead, Florida 14th March 2009: Aside from the U.S. Coast Guards HH-52A's helicopters dispatched to the crash site from Coast Guard Air Station Miami, which rendered the life saving capabilities consisting of medivac airlift and transporting the rescue teams to and from the crash site, the United States Air Force, also provided rotary wing aircraft assets toward the rescue effort. The 301st Air Reserve Rescue Squadron (ARRS) while operating the Sikorsky HH-34J "Choctaw", then based at Homestead Air Force Base also came to the rescue of Eastern Flight 401.

Originally developed by Sikorsky Helicopter as the UH-19 "Chickasaw", the HH-34 "Choctaw" first flew on 8th March 1954. Initially designed as the HSS-1 "Seabat" when it served with the U.S. Navy in the anti-submarine role. Thirty-Two (32) units were taken by the Air Force to act as transitional aircraft, thus filling the gap when the Grumman "Albatross" amphibious aircraft was retired and needed for the war in Vietnam.The Air Force Reserves (AFRES) operated the HH-34J "Choctaw" from June 1971 to June 1974. During their operational period, the HH-34J served with four U.S.A.F ARRS units, thus being the 301, 302, 304 & 305. Each ARRS unit had 8 helicopters each and in 1974 all 32 units were finally retired.

HH-52A's "Sea Guard" Helicopters From Miami U.S.C.G Air Station Comes to The Rescue of Flight 401 Survivors

Shown above was then ten month old Baby Miguel Junco being taken by a medic from U.S. Coast Guard HH-52A Helicopter (side / modex No. 1446) to receive medical attention
A ten year old boy who survived the crash of Flight 401 is medivac by a U.S. Coast Guard HH-52A (side / modex No. unknown)

A bleeding survivor walks out from a U.S. Coast Guard HH-52A Helicopter (side / modex No. 1360) at Palmetto Hospital

Opa-Locka, Florida 13th March 2009: The wings of gold, the wings of Naval Aviation played a pivotal role in the rescue of the survivors from the Eastern Flight 401 crash. During the first hours after the crash, rescue efforts were undertaken by the U.S. Coast Guard operating the Sikorsky HH-52A "Sea Guard" Helicopters from the Miami Air Station at Opa Locka Airport (KOPF). The HH-52A's played a significant roll in transporting the rescue teams out to the crash site and ferrying the survivors to Miami for medical attention. Our research of the Miami Herald newspaper archives produced the above photos, which showed two specific HH-52A's from U.S.C.G Miami Air Station, thus numbered as aircraft's 1446 and 1360.

We have established contact with Captain Richard Kenin, the current Commanding Officer at the Miami Coast Guard Air Station. We are seeking to work with Captain Kenin and his staff, so as to hopefully identify and obtain historical information as to the possible other Helicopters and crews who played a major role in the saving of many lives. Tremendous appreciation to the crews, their experience and the leadership of the Miami Coast Guard Air Station on that fateful night. FLY NAVY!

NOTE: Reviewing archived photographs from the Miami Herald Newspaper, a third HH-52A, helicopter was partly identified as taking part in the rescue effort, but the photographed viewed, showed the side number of the aircraft as 1_76, the 2nd digit was obscured by the winch rescue rig mounted unit outside the main cabin door. Therefore, we conclude that so far three HH-52A's took part in the rescue effort.

Eastern Airlines N310EA Flight 401 Post Crash Site Photographs

Nose section wreckage of aircraft N310EA within the Florida Everglades
N310EA tail section wreckage, visible and still attached to the aircraft is the aircraft number two Rolls Royce RB211-22C turbo fan engine (s/n-10073)

Miami,Florida 13th March 2009: The above crash photos shows the wreckage of N301EA nose section, which was photographed the morning after the crashed by the Miami Herald. The lower photo show the entire tail section of N310EA still with its number two Rolls Royce RB211-22C turbo fan engine installed.

A review of fleet engine records provided to us from the Eastern Airlines Company crash files collection, provided the the following data. The number two engine shown in the photograph, still installed onto the wreckage of N310EA had the following data.

Engine Serial # 10073

Installed onto N310EA on 14th December 1972

Total Time (Hours) 1,144

Total Time(Cycles) 623