Dale Prime Newton
A memorial service for Dale Newton, 66 of Chico, will be held at 11 am Thursday at the North Hangar of Aero Union at the Chico Municipal Airport. He died Monday Nov 27 1995 at a San Francisco hospital of a congestive heart condition. Newton was born Oct 17 1929 in Los Angeles to Dale and Elsie Newton.
At age 12 Newton moved to Phoenix, Oregon where he graduated from high school in 1947. From 1948-1950 he attended Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon. He served in the US Army stationed in Germany from 1951-1953. Later he worked for GMAC in Southern California and Tucker Sno-Cat Co. in Medford Oregon. From 1956-1959 he worked for Medford Air Service as a pilot and mechanic.
In 1960 Newton co-founded Aero Union Corporation in Redding which moved to Chico in 1963. In 1965 Newton became president of the company which now is the nation's largest air tanker provider and employs more than 130 people. In the 1980s under Newton's direction the company expanded to include aircraft modification for planes as large as 747s.
Newton was the holder of many aircraft ratings including B-25s and B-17s which were the original aircraft used by the Forest Service to fight forest and wildland fires. One of Newton's specialties was involvement in engineering challenges and FAA certifications. Newton was known for the pride he felt for the people who made up Aero Union.
Survivors include three sons, Glen, Scot, and Gary, all of Chico; two daughters, Kelly Newton of Chico and Shawn Mega of Central Point, Oregon; a brother, Fred of Sherwood Oregon; a sister, Nancy Alvord of Bethesda, Maryland; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dale Newton Engineering Scholarship Fund in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home or Chico State University Office of University Development, CSUC, Chico, California 95929-0155.
Enterprise-Record
Chico, California
29 Nov 1995, Wed • Page 22
Father: Marvel Dale Newton
Birth 28 SEP 1898 • Marysville, Marshall, Kansas, USA
Death 7 DEC 1989 • Central Point, Jackson, Oregon, USA
Mother: Elsie Josephine Prime
Aero Union Corporation was an aircraft operation and maintenance company based in Chico, California, United States. It was known for operating aerial firefighting aircraft, training crews and making custom designed firefighting systems tailored to specific aircraft requirements.
In 1960 Dale Newton and Richard E. "Dick" Foy participated in their first fire season with a surplus B-25 Mitchell. Newton & Foy operated for that season under the name Western Air Industries. The following year they purchased their first two B-17 Flying Fortresses and changed their name to Aero Union. In 1962 the company moved their operations from Redding, California to Chico. Between 1975 and 2000, the company used Douglas C-54 aircraft as tankers and as general support aircraft, nine being in use in April 1990.
One of the company's last projects was an improved version of the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System under contract to the USFS. Originally designed for C-130J model aircraft and later modified to fit on C-130H models, the new MAFFS II system has a capacity of up to 3,400 gallons, replacing the five retardant tanks with one large tank, and has an on-board air compressor. The original MAFFS has to be pressurized by a compressor on the ground as a part of the loading process. The ability to pressurize the system in the air cuts turn-around time, but adds substantial weight. The new system discharges the retardant through a special plug in the paratroop drop door on the side of the aircraft, rather than requiring the cargo ramp door to be opened; this allows the aircraft to remain pressurized during the drop sequence.
Aero Union delivered the first production unit to the USFS in July, 2007, with flight testing that following August. MAFFS II was used for the first time on a fire in July 2010.
In June 2010 Aero Union announced plans to move the majority of its operations to McClellan Airfield (formerly McClellan Air Force Base) just outside Sacramento. Reasons stated for the move include needing larger, more consolidated facilities, access to a larger labor pool and being closer to its primary customers. A smaller scale Chico operation continued to be maintained for several months to provide additional storage and flexibility. The relocation began in September 2010 but ended abruptly with the closure of the company.
A memorial service for Dale Newton, 66 of Chico, will be held at 11 am Thursday at the North Hangar of Aero Union at the Chico Municipal Airport. He died Monday Nov 27 1995 at a San Francisco hospital of a congestive heart condition. Newton was born Oct 17 1929 in Los Angeles to Dale and Elsie Newton.
At age 12 Newton moved to Phoenix, Oregon where he graduated from high school in 1947. From 1948-1950 he attended Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon. He served in the US Army stationed in Germany from 1951-1953. Later he worked for GMAC in Southern California and Tucker Sno-Cat Co. in Medford Oregon. From 1956-1959 he worked for Medford Air Service as a pilot and mechanic.
In 1960 Newton co-founded Aero Union Corporation in Redding which moved to Chico in 1963. In 1965 Newton became president of the company which now is the nation's largest air tanker provider and employs more than 130 people. In the 1980s under Newton's direction the company expanded to include aircraft modification for planes as large as 747s.
Newton was the holder of many aircraft ratings including B-25s and B-17s which were the original aircraft used by the Forest Service to fight forest and wildland fires. One of Newton's specialties was involvement in engineering challenges and FAA certifications. Newton was known for the pride he felt for the people who made up Aero Union.
Survivors include three sons, Glen, Scot, and Gary, all of Chico; two daughters, Kelly Newton of Chico and Shawn Mega of Central Point, Oregon; a brother, Fred of Sherwood Oregon; a sister, Nancy Alvord of Bethesda, Maryland; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dale Newton Engineering Scholarship Fund in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home or Chico State University Office of University Development, CSUC, Chico, California 95929-0155.
Enterprise-Record
Chico, California
29 Nov 1995, Wed • Page 22
Father: Marvel Dale Newton
Birth 28 SEP 1898 • Marysville, Marshall, Kansas, USA
Death 7 DEC 1989 • Central Point, Jackson, Oregon, USA
Mother: Elsie Josephine Prime
Aero Union Corporation was an aircraft operation and maintenance company based in Chico, California, United States. It was known for operating aerial firefighting aircraft, training crews and making custom designed firefighting systems tailored to specific aircraft requirements.
In 1960 Dale Newton and Richard E. "Dick" Foy participated in their first fire season with a surplus B-25 Mitchell. Newton & Foy operated for that season under the name Western Air Industries. The following year they purchased their first two B-17 Flying Fortresses and changed their name to Aero Union. In 1962 the company moved their operations from Redding, California to Chico. Between 1975 and 2000, the company used Douglas C-54 aircraft as tankers and as general support aircraft, nine being in use in April 1990.
One of the company's last projects was an improved version of the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System under contract to the USFS. Originally designed for C-130J model aircraft and later modified to fit on C-130H models, the new MAFFS II system has a capacity of up to 3,400 gallons, replacing the five retardant tanks with one large tank, and has an on-board air compressor. The original MAFFS has to be pressurized by a compressor on the ground as a part of the loading process. The ability to pressurize the system in the air cuts turn-around time, but adds substantial weight. The new system discharges the retardant through a special plug in the paratroop drop door on the side of the aircraft, rather than requiring the cargo ramp door to be opened; this allows the aircraft to remain pressurized during the drop sequence.
Aero Union delivered the first production unit to the USFS in July, 2007, with flight testing that following August. MAFFS II was used for the first time on a fire in July 2010.
In June 2010 Aero Union announced plans to move the majority of its operations to McClellan Airfield (formerly McClellan Air Force Base) just outside Sacramento. Reasons stated for the move include needing larger, more consolidated facilities, access to a larger labor pool and being closer to its primary customers. A smaller scale Chico operation continued to be maintained for several months to provide additional storage and flexibility. The relocation began in September 2010 but ended abruptly with the closure of the company.
Dale Prime Newton
A memorial service for Dale Newton, 66 of Chico, will be held at 11 am Thursday at the North Hangar of Aero Union at the Chico Municipal Airport. He died Monday Nov 27 1995 at a San Francisco hospital of a congestive heart condition. Newton was born Oct 17 1929 in Los Angeles to Dale and Elsie Newton.
At age 12 Newton moved to Phoenix, Oregon where he graduated from high school in 1947. From 1948-1950 he attended Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon. He served in the US Army stationed in Germany from 1951-1953. Later he worked for GMAC in Southern California and Tucker Sno-Cat Co. in Medford Oregon. From 1956-1959 he worked for Medford Air Service as a pilot and mechanic.
In 1960 Newton co-founded Aero Union Corporation in Redding which moved to Chico in 1963. In 1965 Newton became president of the company which now is the nation's largest air tanker provider and employs more than 130 people. In the 1980s under Newton's direction the company expanded to include aircraft modification for planes as large as 747s.
Newton was the holder of many aircraft ratings including B-25s and B-17s which were the original aircraft used by the Forest Service to fight forest and wildland fires. One of Newton's specialties was involvement in engineering challenges and FAA certifications. Newton was known for the pride he felt for the people who made up Aero Union.
Survivors include three sons, Glen, Scot, and Gary, all of Chico; two daughters, Kelly Newton of Chico and Shawn Mega of Central Point, Oregon; a brother, Fred of Sherwood Oregon; a sister, Nancy Alvord of Bethesda, Maryland; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dale Newton Engineering Scholarship Fund in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home or Chico State University Office of University Development, CSUC, Chico, California 95929-0155.
Enterprise-Record
Chico, California
29 Nov 1995, Wed • Page 22
Father: Marvel Dale Newton
Birth 28 SEP 1898 • Marysville, Marshall, Kansas, USA
Death 7 DEC 1989 • Central Point, Jackson, Oregon, USA
Mother: Elsie Josephine Prime
Aero Union Corporation was an aircraft operation and maintenance company based in Chico, California, United States. It was known for operating aerial firefighting aircraft, training crews and making custom designed firefighting systems tailored to specific aircraft requirements.
In 1960 Dale Newton and Richard E. "Dick" Foy participated in their first fire season with a surplus B-25 Mitchell. Newton & Foy operated for that season under the name Western Air Industries. The following year they purchased their first two B-17 Flying Fortresses and changed their name to Aero Union. In 1962 the company moved their operations from Redding, California to Chico. Between 1975 and 2000, the company used Douglas C-54 aircraft as tankers and as general support aircraft, nine being in use in April 1990.
One of the company's last projects was an improved version of the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System under contract to the USFS. Originally designed for C-130J model aircraft and later modified to fit on C-130H models, the new MAFFS II system has a capacity of up to 3,400 gallons, replacing the five retardant tanks with one large tank, and has an on-board air compressor. The original MAFFS has to be pressurized by a compressor on the ground as a part of the loading process. The ability to pressurize the system in the air cuts turn-around time, but adds substantial weight. The new system discharges the retardant through a special plug in the paratroop drop door on the side of the aircraft, rather than requiring the cargo ramp door to be opened; this allows the aircraft to remain pressurized during the drop sequence.
Aero Union delivered the first production unit to the USFS in July, 2007, with flight testing that following August. MAFFS II was used for the first time on a fire in July 2010.
In June 2010 Aero Union announced plans to move the majority of its operations to McClellan Airfield (formerly McClellan Air Force Base) just outside Sacramento. Reasons stated for the move include needing larger, more consolidated facilities, access to a larger labor pool and being closer to its primary customers. A smaller scale Chico operation continued to be maintained for several months to provide additional storage and flexibility. The relocation began in September 2010 but ended abruptly with the closure of the company.
A memorial service for Dale Newton, 66 of Chico, will be held at 11 am Thursday at the North Hangar of Aero Union at the Chico Municipal Airport. He died Monday Nov 27 1995 at a San Francisco hospital of a congestive heart condition. Newton was born Oct 17 1929 in Los Angeles to Dale and Elsie Newton.
At age 12 Newton moved to Phoenix, Oregon where he graduated from high school in 1947. From 1948-1950 he attended Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon. He served in the US Army stationed in Germany from 1951-1953. Later he worked for GMAC in Southern California and Tucker Sno-Cat Co. in Medford Oregon. From 1956-1959 he worked for Medford Air Service as a pilot and mechanic.
In 1960 Newton co-founded Aero Union Corporation in Redding which moved to Chico in 1963. In 1965 Newton became president of the company which now is the nation's largest air tanker provider and employs more than 130 people. In the 1980s under Newton's direction the company expanded to include aircraft modification for planes as large as 747s.
Newton was the holder of many aircraft ratings including B-25s and B-17s which were the original aircraft used by the Forest Service to fight forest and wildland fires. One of Newton's specialties was involvement in engineering challenges and FAA certifications. Newton was known for the pride he felt for the people who made up Aero Union.
Survivors include three sons, Glen, Scot, and Gary, all of Chico; two daughters, Kelly Newton of Chico and Shawn Mega of Central Point, Oregon; a brother, Fred of Sherwood Oregon; a sister, Nancy Alvord of Bethesda, Maryland; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dale Newton Engineering Scholarship Fund in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home or Chico State University Office of University Development, CSUC, Chico, California 95929-0155.
Enterprise-Record
Chico, California
29 Nov 1995, Wed • Page 22
Father: Marvel Dale Newton
Birth 28 SEP 1898 • Marysville, Marshall, Kansas, USA
Death 7 DEC 1989 • Central Point, Jackson, Oregon, USA
Mother: Elsie Josephine Prime
Aero Union Corporation was an aircraft operation and maintenance company based in Chico, California, United States. It was known for operating aerial firefighting aircraft, training crews and making custom designed firefighting systems tailored to specific aircraft requirements.
In 1960 Dale Newton and Richard E. "Dick" Foy participated in their first fire season with a surplus B-25 Mitchell. Newton & Foy operated for that season under the name Western Air Industries. The following year they purchased their first two B-17 Flying Fortresses and changed their name to Aero Union. In 1962 the company moved their operations from Redding, California to Chico. Between 1975 and 2000, the company used Douglas C-54 aircraft as tankers and as general support aircraft, nine being in use in April 1990.
One of the company's last projects was an improved version of the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System under contract to the USFS. Originally designed for C-130J model aircraft and later modified to fit on C-130H models, the new MAFFS II system has a capacity of up to 3,400 gallons, replacing the five retardant tanks with one large tank, and has an on-board air compressor. The original MAFFS has to be pressurized by a compressor on the ground as a part of the loading process. The ability to pressurize the system in the air cuts turn-around time, but adds substantial weight. The new system discharges the retardant through a special plug in the paratroop drop door on the side of the aircraft, rather than requiring the cargo ramp door to be opened; this allows the aircraft to remain pressurized during the drop sequence.
Aero Union delivered the first production unit to the USFS in July, 2007, with flight testing that following August. MAFFS II was used for the first time on a fire in July 2010.
In June 2010 Aero Union announced plans to move the majority of its operations to McClellan Airfield (formerly McClellan Air Force Base) just outside Sacramento. Reasons stated for the move include needing larger, more consolidated facilities, access to a larger labor pool and being closer to its primary customers. A smaller scale Chico operation continued to be maintained for several months to provide additional storage and flexibility. The relocation began in September 2010 but ended abruptly with the closure of the company.
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