Thank you James Wallace

Tomorrow morning is the final edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper and James Wallace, who has covered aerospace for 12 years, penned his final column for tomorrow’s paper.

Aviation journalism at its finest, I’ve come to appreciate, is the artful hybrid of global and local reporting. Mr. Wallace exemplified that type of journalism at the P-I. His words always had a way of reaching around the world without ever neglecting the fact that his audience was in Washington.

This blogger – this journalist – owes much to Mr. Wallace and his Aerospace Notebook. Long before there was FlightBlogger, there was a kid who couldn’t get his hands on enough aviation news. I always felt a connection to the Pacific Northwest as my attention was, more often than not, keenly focused on what went on there. Growing up in Boston, It was not uncommon to find me reading the Post-Intelligencer more than I was reading my hometown Globe.

James Wallace was the author of many of my favorite aerospace stories.

One story in particular that I re-read periodically – never failing to light a spark inside me – was the “silver suitcase” story. It told of the birth of the 787 and how it came to be from its earliest days as just an idea.

Mr. Wallace was able to encapsulate what I love so much about aviation: That fact that when it’s all said and done, the origin of these flying machines can be traced to a moment of inspiration. That inspiration, with all the trials and tribulations that come along with it, becomes something real.

His influence has been strongly felt in both my personal and professional life, guiding my love of aviation, and serving as an example for the kind of journalist I strive to be. There is a gaping hole left by the absence of his regular reporting that will be long felt.

Thank you James Wallace.