Jim Davis was my former partner in a Phoebus-B and remained a dear friend.

We had both gotten into soaring through the auspices of the Southern California Soaring Association flying out of El Mirage dry lake in southern California; we bought the Phoebus to get more soaring time than the club could afford. But Jim wanted more performance and after we sold the Phoebus he went on to get a Ventus and pursue long distance flights out of Crystal in Llano, CA following Henry Combs advisories; later out of Warner Springs.

Jim had been a USAF officer and a mechanical engineer who helped develop oxygen systems for fighter aircraft. After his service he started a business called MEDS to develop percussive devices to assist breathing which were used by many hospitals.