Bob Touchette has been in the club since about 1985 when he joined or rejoined the Gators and the same year he went into partnership with the writer with an Advanced Aircraft Buccaneer X A.

Over the many years Bob has always taken a great interest in the Flying Gators he has served as President, and been on the committee for many years, a stickler for going by the rules, his twenty years in the Navy, as a Marine corpsman has served him well in civie  street A Dental technician now at the peak of his profession, (he’s getting bloody old) In my opinion, the finest technician I have ever watched work. He gets a call, talks to the Doctor and by the time he is in the surgery goes right to the spot, and normally within minutes the Doctor is up and running

Bob retired from the Navy in1974 a Chief Petty Officer.

Born In Putnam Connecticut in 1938 to a family of seven, four brothers and sisters, he was schooled in a catholic High school, and worked in a mill at fourteen he joined the navy at sixteen, Bob was a bosons mate on a heavy cruiser. Went to Hospital Corp Medical School. Dental technician school.Field Marine Medical School. . Joining the 3^rd Marine Division, becoming a corpsman dental repair, for eleven years. Lovingly called Doc. 

Serving in Vietnam twice, the first time he volunteered, he was put up for the Vietnam Cross for Gallantry and was awarded the Purple Heart in 1969 after being shot in the back .He was also presented with The Combat Action Medal. Understandably Bob is very proud of serving his country

In 1970 Bob started flying and in 1971 and got his private pilots license flying a Cherokee six.

In 1979 he started flying Ultralights having lessons from Bernie Becker on Lake Apopka flying a weight shift Eipper on floats on his first Solo flight the Yamaha single cylinder engine quit, and Bob had to Dead stick it down, so he bought a High Nuski from Advanced Aviation and flew out at Lake Harney for two years. A wind gust caught him out and was flipped upside down he was lucky to be rescued, the plane was damaged beyond repair. Bob has since owned several more Ultralights, a Buccaneer XA, B Model Cobra. Maxair Drifter, Single, and a two place. Hipps J3 Kitten, Buccaneer SX, and now has an Explorer.

Bob soled in a Gyrocopter December 30^th 1991 and was taught by the famous Bill Parsons

He is a part Landowner and owns two hangers.  Currently a Director at Large.

A very generous man, very concerned for his fellow man. I went as his assistant to Jerame in Haiti to create a dental center, until Bob put this unit in, there were dentists coming from the States, every month and were taking a chair into the jungle pulling two hundred teeth a day, at this center they would be able to save some. Americans donated all the equipment; Bob gave his time and knowledge, plus did all this, at his own expense. Come to think about it I didn’t get paid either, I think he promised me a Rolls Royce. Or was it five gourds. (Exchange rate five to the dollar)

Bob heads up a Florida Flying Gator Dead Stick Club called Silent Wings, if you are not a member you ought to be.