Arthur Art Howard Hansen

Arthur Howard Hansen, Marietta, passed away Friday, July 22, 2011 at his home from Congestive Heart Failure. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Linda Dickson Hansen, three sons, Craig S. (Eliza) Hansen from Santa Fe, New Mexico, David A. (Cheryl) Hansen from Richmond, Utah, and Forrest Hansen from Salt Lake City, Utah, one granddaughter, Jennifer Kaye Reese from Ogden, Utah, and one brother, Gaylen (Heidi) Hansen from Palouse, Washington. He is also survived by three great grandchildren and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his daughter , Eve Hansen Reese Dicus.

Art was born in Garland, Utah. His father was a civil engineer and his mother was a homemaker and dress designer. He has a younger brother Gaylen who is a retired Professor of art and a very successful artist in the northwest.

Art attended first grade in Wellesley, MA while his father went to Harvard for Civil Engineering studies.

He grew up in Utah on grandparents’ ranch and attended Utah State University majoring in finance before he took an aviation course as an elective to fill in his coursework. He buzzed his hometown and his grandfather’s ranch while flying a WACO UPF 7 Bi-plane and became hooked on flying during his time at Utah State.

Art joined the Army Air Corps and after being based at Bush Field in Augusta, he flew B-29 bomb missions during WWII off Saipan. Later, while based in Wichita, Art flew a B-47 and again buzzed the valley of his hometown…with suitable impression made…especially on his Uncle Dean’s turkeys!

Art attended the Air Force Institute of Technology and earned course credits for several college degrees. He was in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) during Korean War. He was a nuclear bomb commander with a target, if necessary, assigned in Russia.

He left the US Air force in 1953 and went to work for Lockheed as a Test Pilot. Assignments there included military aircraft produced by Lockheed as well as being the Project Pilot for the JetStar, a 4 engine business jet. He flew the JetStar for such people as John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr., Bill Cosby, Danny Thomas, Hubert Humphrey, LBJ, Del Webb, Kirk Kerkorian, and other celebrities, royalty, sports figures and politicians during those years. However, the autographed picture on display in his home is one of Art and Jack Nicklaus. Mr. Nicklaus wrote, “To Art, Thanks for your help.”

Art lived in Libya from 1970-75 as an assignment with Lockheed international. He along with a staff from Lockheed were training the Libyan Air Force to fly C-130s. His daughter lived with him for one year and attended high school in Switzerland. His three sons all attended schools in the US.

Art retired from Lockheed in 1975 and spent a year traveling around Europe, Australia, and other countries and places before working as a consultant with Flight Safety International and as a private consultant to various companies that owned JetStars. He trained pilots for their type ratings and gave Pilot In Command check rides in concurrence with the FAA. Also, he filled in with companies such as Campbell Soup, Hercules Powder, 3M, etc who needed additional pilot work for their JetStars.

Art was an avid golfer, being a lifetime member of Pinetree Country Club. He also loved trout fishing. He waded mountain streams throughout north Georgia and also fished in Canada and Scotland.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 from 10:00-11:00am. The memorial service will follow at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Neuropathy Association in Art’s name. www.neuropathy.org.