John Sandberg was my Dad. To me he was a man that taught me many lessons throughout my life. When things did not go as expected he had a way of looking at you and you just knew you where in for it; or when you least expected it he asked you unexpectedly "Did you have a good time?"
He had a passion for life, he believed in doing things right the first time or you don’t do them at all.
He was known in the family as Dad, JR, Grandpa, Jack and Sandy (from his earlier years).
When the decision came on where to hold a proper memorial for Dad; the only one logical place was in the Eagles Hangar at Oshkosh. In the Memorial tape that EAA provided for the family the following was said about Dad from his friends;
Paul Poberezny (Pope): He achieved higher standards, set a goal many would never attempt to do.
He was involved with many aviation organizations and gave of himself freely.
Uncle Jim (James D. Sandberg): Jack was the head of the household from the age of 8 – 10 when his own
Father was hospitalized for an extended period. He always had a great
knowledge of mechanical ability. All of his life he was involved with
speed. In 1950 he joined and help started the national drag racing
association in Minnesota. He was a “Hell” raiser at school.
Jim Blomgren (Son-in- Law; married to Linda Sandberg; oldest daughter): The day after the crash at
Wendover, UT (during the 3km speed run) Jim met Jack at the hangar to load parts
into the MU-2; Jim asked “Could they possible put this aircraft back together again?
Jack stated that he had to try because of all of the people out in Wendover.
George Timmerman (Long Time friend): Jack was a friend, generous, helpful, loyal, he was determined,
he was intense, he was unique, he was charismatic, he was dedicated,
He was a task master, he was extraordinary achiever. In 1989 Jack
may not have broken the 3 km record; but he did achieve his goal;
To build the fastest home built piston prop plane in the world – this was
proven by the speeds at Reno the last two years. (side note – as of
today there still has not been a race as fast and furious as the Gold race
of 1991 where speeds exceeded an average speed of 480 mph.
Gary Levitz (Long Time Friend): There was John Sandberg of the world and “Jack” Sandberg of MN and
there was a difference. When a person needed a friend; John Sandberg
was there 100%. Gary associated John with the shiny metal, the smell
of the musty air, burnt brakes from long ago, hydraulic fluid – everything
that makes these warbirds fly.
Dennis Bradley (Canadian Heritage Warplanes) Jack left his mark in Aviation
Ralph Royce: When Jack was your friend, he was your friend. He was a engineering
Genius. JR was sometimes a ???a)(a0i90i; at times he could be
as stubborn mule lipped as any human being could be. He was
extremely generous man. At that time (1991) JR was and still is the
single largest donor for the CAF. He helped established their wings and
service program for their aircrafts. Few men where as generous with their resources
and their knowledge as was Jack. He was forthrightness and strong integrity.
Jack said what he saw, his word was his bond, his hand shake was
His commitment; if Jack told you something that was fact, you could
Take it to the bank.
What would Jack say today if he was here: Let’s get on with the
Program; lets do it right, lets strike out on new paths, and have fun
While we are doing it. He flew so high he just couldn’t come down.
Dad started in aviation in the early 50’s. It was a natural step from going to race cars to airplanes. In the early part of 1960; he and his brother Jim found in Fergus Falls an F6F Hellcat pushed back in the weeds; He was told by the guy on the property; if they could get it started it was his. Dad and Jim made numerous trips up to Fergus Falls to work on the derelict aircraft.
Several months later the Hellcat arrived at the Crystal Airport with her windshield broken; battered wings, tires that needed to be thrown away etc. They completely restored this aircraft and painted her red. In 1965; Dad experienced engine failure over (now 169 and Bass Lake Road, New Hope, MN), he landed in the field (which is now an industrial park) and realizing halfway through on rollout that there was a berm coming up fast. To stop the aircraft he ended ground looping the aircraft causing the aircraft to roll over completely. Between Jim digging on the outside of the dirt and Jack on the inside of the canopy they finally got him out – but the aircraft was badly damaged. The brothers restored the aircraft again to a shiny black color scheme. In the late 60’s the aircraft was donated to the CAF in Harlingen and you can still see her flying at some of the airshows about the country. By then he had a new interest the P-63 King Cobra. He had the racing bug. Mom and him and gone out to one of the first races in Reno; and this bug picked him up and swooped him off. Originally he was going to race formula’s’; but the noise and the sound of the big iron attracted him.
The cobra was another complete re-build. She was ready to go in the summer of 1969. She was a shiny all metal aircraft; her engine an Allison produced from the newly founded company “Metma Aircraft’s Inc” later to be known as JRS Enterprises. Two months prior to the Reno Air Races; the test flight was scheduled for Friday Morning; Jack taxied his beautiful aircraft over to Maxwell’s the night before to fuel her. That night they were using 32L & 32R at Crystal, MN. Dad couldn’t wait for Friday morning. He called the tower for a straight out departure. He powered his machinery up and started on roll out with his flaps one notch down. He lifted off; he went to move his flaps into an up position only going to far – the emergency gear switch was directly above the flap switch. His gears fell down and he was going in. He managed to land between two apartment complexes on the north side of the airport; shearing off his wings as he took out the telephone poles. The engine came forward pushing into his back. He walked away with only a few minor scratches; but his dream to race that year was gone. Most of the damage done to the aircraft was by the wrecker that came to pick the aircraft up that night. Over the next two years it was a major rebuilt of the aircraft. The cobra with a bright orange/red paint scheme finally made it to Reno in 1971. Over a seven year period it was reported that over 33 engines were built for this aircraft.
The P-63 King Cobra was named into her third season of racing “Tipsy Miss” from the alcohol fuel that they were testing. It was too hard to control the aircraft. In 1977 Jack sold the aircraft.
It was shortly before the first incident with the Cobra that the FAA contacted Jack to start an aircraft engine shop in the Minneapolis, MN area. They were impressed with his mechanical ability and gave him cart blanch to move forward with the first aircraft engine shop in the Minneapolis, MN area.
1979 at the Tonopah speed record of the Red Barron is when Bruce Boland and Jack Sandberg put their dream together. According to Bruce this was more Jack’s dream then his. He wanted a private pilot to hold the 3km speed record and to dominate the air racing circuit. Bruce and Dad were not strangers with each other; Bruce had helped over the years with all of the calculations of the new designs of the King Cobra. It took 9 years before Tsunami would take to the skies.
During this time, Jack went racing with a P-51 named Tipsy Too; which he later painted it a bright red color scheme and sold to Gary Levitz. This aircraft renamed “Miss Ashley” was the testing ground for all new modifications to the engines that were put into Tsunami.