WRIGHT BROTHERS MASTER PILOT

I joined the EAA recently and attended my first chapter meeting last Thursday. This was not a regular chapter meeting, as the chapter awarded not one, not two but three Wright Brothers Master Pilot Awards. To have three recipients in one night is almost unheard of. The Wright Brothers Mater Pilot Award is presented to a recipient who has flown safely for 50 years accident free and has obtained other aviation distinctions throughout their aviation careers. The first person of the evening to receive this award was Arv Shultz. Arv started his aviation career in 1966. He is a CFII, and he went through all his ratings from 1966 through 1967. He has flown aircraft from a Cessna 150 to MD 80. Arv retired from Northwest Airlines and is in the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame.

The second award was to Bernie Gross. Bernie is retired from US Airways flying as a captain on a 737. He also flew for Braniff Airlines flying the 707,727 and DC8. Bernie is also a esteemed glider pilot. He also flew the B17, P51 and F4U. Bernie is also a CFII.

The last recipient of the evening was Robert Bloemer. Robert started flying in 1964 and is also a CFII. He started his Airline career with Airwest Airlines. From there he flew for Hughes and then Northwest Airlines flying the DC9 and MD80.

This was an esteemed honor for me to be present when these three men received their Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. After seeing their accomplishments in aviation, I doubt that I would ever apply for this award. In closing I must compliment the Scottsdale FSDO for their professional presentation. It was a first class evening.