February 8, 2000 -

The heartbraking midair collision of a Cessna 172 and a Zlin 242 1-1/2 miles north of Waukegan Regional Airport today at 3:04, local time, took the lives of three people, including radio personality, Bob Collins, WGN Radio, in Chicago.

Bob flew regularly out of Waukegan in his white Zlin and could be seen just hanging around the airport from time to time as well.

When Chapter 414 hosted the EAA B-17 at Waukegan, last summer, Bob graciously spoke freely about the event on the air, giving us a solid boost in attendance. During the weeklong event, Bob would also discreetly visit us, seeing how things were going, and he just had some fun being a part of what was happening. It was these visits by Bob to the flightline that allowed me the privilege of enjoying his sense of humor, his "aw, shucks" response to our thanks and praise, and his love of aviation that we all shared with him.

Now we won't be seeing the white Zlin on the ramp any more. We won't hear that laugh anymore. We won't see that large man with the graying beard and the easy smile around the FBO anymore. And the loss will be deeply felt for a long, long time.

Goodbye, Uncle Bobby.

-Doug, Chapter 414