Phil Klass, senior editor at Aviation Week and Space Technology for 35 years, fellow of CSICOP, and arch sceptdebunker of UFO phenomena has passed at the age of 86.

Interestingly enough, Klass, despite his editorial job, was not a pilot which led many to 'question' his authority on much... especially his interest in Ufology.

His stances on many issues within paranormal studies were untenable at best. His constant whining and bothering of many Ufologists was legendary... To the end, Klass was the epitome of the word "Sceptdebunker" and set a standard for many who've tried to follow in his footsteps.

Jim Moseley of Saucer Smear fame put it best when he said Ufology needed Klass as "Every great religion needs it's Satan."

Now that the original Satan is gone, I'm sure another will attempt to rise in his place... but no one will match the status that Klass attended.

To give "Satan" his due, though, at least Klass showed up to the party. He attended many UFO conventions and even lectured at a few (on the side of sceptdebunkerisms) unlike many of his colleagues in CSICOP.

Klass will undoubtedly be sorely missed by a small few in Ufology, and his passing will also, undoubtedly, be celebrated by an equally small contingent... but in the end, I do believe the majority in the field will realise with his passing, the study has reached the end of an era.

As a side note, Klass even made a small contribution to my own ghost site with an article based on "The Klass Kurse".

See

http://www.torontoghosts.org/scienceandklass.htm