Wes was the best pilot I ever flew with. We flew a Gulfstream IV based in Buenas Aires, Argentina, managed by Jet Aviation, Teterboro NJ. Wes died of melanoma and left a wife and two sons, Wesley and Alexander.
As a Naval Aviator, Wes followed in his father’s footsteps. He flew combat missions over North Vietnam as a photo reconnaissance pilot in a Vigilante. He and his backseater survived an ejection from a Vigilante after a fire broke out in the bomb bay off the coast of (Spain, as I recall).
After leaving the Navy, Wes flew for Avions Marcel Dassault, demonstrating the Falcon series of corporate jets. Later he joined Jet Aviation and transitioned to the Gulfstream where he was the lead pilot on the Argentinian account. His sense of duty to his employer and their customer no doubt hastened his demise as he denied his own health needs time and time again to satisfy their wishes.
Wes Rutledge was the real thing, a devoted husband and father, a pilot’s pilot and a genuine American hero. All who knew him miss him.
As a Naval Aviator, Wes followed in his father’s footsteps. He flew combat missions over North Vietnam as a photo reconnaissance pilot in a Vigilante. He and his backseater survived an ejection from a Vigilante after a fire broke out in the bomb bay off the coast of (Spain, as I recall).
After leaving the Navy, Wes flew for Avions Marcel Dassault, demonstrating the Falcon series of corporate jets. Later he joined Jet Aviation and transitioned to the Gulfstream where he was the lead pilot on the Argentinian account. His sense of duty to his employer and their customer no doubt hastened his demise as he denied his own health needs time and time again to satisfy their wishes.
Wes Rutledge was the real thing, a devoted husband and father, a pilot’s pilot and a genuine American hero. All who knew him miss him.
