I dedicate this website to my father Leo Hazell Sr who had a very distinguished career in aviation that started in the Curtiss Jenny and ended in the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Leo taught me the importance of character and integrity and the concept of “let your flying skills and racquet do your talking.” It is my goal to continue this in my mentoring young people reach their dreams of flight!
Leo had an aviation career that spanned 60 years and his first exposure to aviation was his first plane ride at age 15 as a Marine Corps reservist at Squantum Naval Air Station in Quincy, Mass in 1947.
At the age of 16 Leo joined the Marine Corps and served his country honorably during the Korean War and was part of Marine Aviation’s transition from props to jets in the late 40′ sand early 50’s. He served in VMF-122 the first military squadron that flew jets at air shows. The squadron went from Corsairs (F4U-4’s) to Phantoms (FH-1) and later Banshees (F2H-2).
After military service Leo attended Boston University’s College of Industrial Technology where he studied for an engineering degree and an A&P license. After college Leo joined the Columbus Division of North American Aviation as a Field Service Representative on FJ series Fury jets.
Leo served in this capacity providing technical assistance to several Marine and Navy squadrons. Leo first came to California as a civilian field rep working with the Marines in El Toro, Ca in 1957.
In the early 60’s Leo worked with The Flying Tiger Line on the maintenance staff during the Connie and CL-44 era. Following Flying Tigers, Leo joined Trans International Airlines as a Flight engineer on the Lockheed L-1049H Constellation, more commonly referred to as the “The Connie”.
In l965 when the opportunity came to build the “Giant Plane”, Leo joined the Lockheed Corporation in Marietta Georgia in the engineering department as a Maintainability engineer on the C5A landing gear.
When a flight test opportunity became available, Leo joined the flight Department of McDonnell Douglas, as DC8 DC10/DC10 flight engineer. He served as Project Flight Engineer on the KC-10 and part of the flight crew on the first flight.
Leo also was associated with the MD-11, C-17 , MD-80, MD-90 and MD-95 Flight Operations/Certification/Design and Flight Test programs. While with Douglas Leo trained flight crews from 44 airlines around the world on the operation of Douglas built airplanes.
Leo founded Hazell Airmotive Service Inc. and established a new business at Orange County Airport providing light aircraft maintenance, maintenance inspections and as a Dinol distributor and application center.
Leo demonstrated FAA proficiency in aircraft corrosion and was awarded certification as a corrosion specialist. In addition to being an A&P, IA, F/E Jet and Recip., Leo was a pilot with 41 years flying experience and received the FAA technician Bronze award in 1994 and was nominated for the FAA technician of the year award.
In addition to running his business Leo was a contributing writer to In Flight USA and authored a column entitled, “shop Talk”. Leo was also a Cessna and Mooney airplane owner and based his planes at Orange County and Fullerton Airports.
On March 4, 1996 it was back to the big jets when Leo was called to help his friend Freddie Laker get his old airline reestablished with the new routes from Florida to England using DC-10’s.
MR. DC-10
On December 19, 1997 Leo was called once again to help Omni Air International get started using their newly acquired DC-10’s. Leo was on the first revenue flight for Omni on the DC-10.
On July 22, 2003 Leo made his last DC-10 flight and ended an aviation career that spanned 60 years.
Post aviation Leo dedicated himself to charitable events with the Elks and maintained two web sites for the Elks, served as an officer in the ELKs and was Chairman of veteran’s hospital visitations. As an Elk, he also participated in golf competitions, gave aviation history and photography presentations. He was a member of the Saddleback Valley BPO Elks Lodge 244 where he served as a Past Elk officer, Lecturing Knight and their webmaster. Leo was named Elk of the Year for 2010.
Leo was also an avid RV traveler and was secretary of an RV Club, “The Runaways.”