AOPA publications welcome leader
Kollin Stagnito is new VP
With experience in media mergers and acquistions as well as media data analysis and sales, Stagnito brings a wealth of publishing knowledge to AOPA. Stagnito has managed print, digital, and event components for numerous food and beverage brands, among other leadership responsibilities.
“Kollin’s experience in both print and digital publishing and the media business will be helpful as we continue to evolve our media properties to satisfy our current members and broaden their appeal to new audiences,” said AOPA President Mark Baker.
Stagnito is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating and is training to become a CFI. He holds certificates for advanced ground instructor and instrument ground instructor. He owns a 1947 Cessna 140 and built a Rans S6–ES Experimental aircraft.
Stagnito reports to Editor in Chief/Associate Publisher Tom Haines, senior vice president of AOPA Media, Communications, and Outreach.
AVIATION HISTORY
Movie mogul aviator
Already a pilot at age 19 when he inherited Hughes Tool Company from his father in 1925, Howard Robard Hughes Jr. became a successful American businessman, investor, philanthropist, and aviation magnate. He founded the Hughes Aircraft Company in 1932, modified and designed aircraft, set world airspeed records, and eventually purchased Trans World Airlines.
Few, however, know many details of Hughes’s Hollywood years—especially the 1930 film Hell’s Angels, which he produced and directed. Sound motion picture technology was introduced during production, and Hughes decided to incorporate it into the in-production silent film, replacing some of the cast in the process.
Hughes himself choreographed many of the dogfighting sequences, and the biggest flying scene required 137 pilots. Lead stunt pilot Paul Mantz deemed a steep pullout required for the final scene too dangerous, so Hughes flew the scene himself—and crashed, surviving the first of his four airplane accidents. However, three pilots and a mechanic died in the film’s production. Hell’s Angels cost $2.8 million to produce and earned $2.5 million at the box office. —Mike Collins
Excerpted from Freedom to Fly: AOPA and the History of General Aviation in America, published by AOPA on the occasion of its eightieth anniversary. You can buy the book here:
Related Articles
