Charlie F. Hudson, III, of Saratoga Springs, NY passed away Saturday September 27, 2008 from injuries sustained from an aviation accident that occurred at Schenectady County Airport on September 23rd. Charlie was test flying an EXPERIMENTAL P-51 Mustang when the accident occurred. He was 42.

Born on Nov. 11, 1965 in Eden, NC, he is the son of Charles F. Hudson, Jr. and Della Ann (Peach) Joyce and was a 1984 graduate of Lake Weir High School in Ocala, FL. Survivors include his wife of 18 1/2 years, Caroline (Galvin) Hudson; his children, Colby and Drew Hudson, all of Saratoga Springs; his mother, Ann Joyce and her husband Charles of Apex, NC and his father, Charles F. Hudson Jr. and his wife Carol of Ocala, FL; two sisters, Tammy (William) Wright of Fuguay-Varina, NC and Teresa (Paul) Moylan of Ashburnham, MA; one brother, Nick (Lucrezia) Hudson of Philadelphia, PA.

Charlie was a member of the Adirondack Soaring Club in Saratoga Springs, NY. He was one of the main towpilots in the club’s Pawnee and truly enjoyed towing. Charlie towed in the Adirondack Soaring Club’s Pawnee at the 2008 Region 3 Soaring Contest in Dansville, NY, where he meet many pilots from around the region. He enjoyed the contest and really couldn’t wait to tow at the next contest. When not flying the club equipment, Charlie could be found flying his Citabria or doing aerobatics in his Pitts. He recently earned his Private Pilot Glider Rating and earned his C Badge flying a borrowed Standard Cirrus.

We will all remember Charlie’s joy for aviation and the great ambassador he was for soaring and general aviation.

Submitted by:

Tim Hanke
Operations Director
Adirondack Soaring Group, Inc.