His father told him to ride his bike to the Renton, Washington, airport and see if anyone needed a hand. The first person Dale Weir met was aircraft designer and historian Pete Bowers. Pete put Dale to work on his Bowers Fly Baby.
And, as they say, “the rest is history.”
On Nov. 8, 2019, Dale received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA recognizing Dale’s more than 50 years of safe flight operations.
Dale received the award at the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club meeting.
After serendipitously meeting Bowers, Dale went on to earn his Private Pilot certificate and Instrument rating, before being drafted into the Army. Dale flew CH-47 Chinooks in Vietnam, where he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross.
Following Vietnam, Dale flew for Columbia Helicopters for 37 years and finished his career with Erickson Air Crane flying the Sikorsky S-64 Aircrane. Today, Dale is retired and lives on Crest Airpark in Kent, Wash., flying one of his three antique airplanes.
In total, Dale has accumulated more than 32,000 accident free flight hours, with more than 28,000 in helicopters.
As of Jan. 14, 2020, just 5,919 pilots have earned the Master Pilot Award.
Hey Ben this is just a minor point but nobody earns Master pilot recognition qualify for it by having 50 years as a certificated Airman and somebody had to submit his paperwork or self to prove to the FAA that you met the qualifications there is no test for master pilot ebony head certified Airman qualified I think it’s a better word has been presented with the recognition from the FAA again just a minor point just my opinion thanks for listening or reading keep up the good work
Bill… I think I get what you are saying. But in my opinion… after 50 years of accident free flying, I’d say all Master Pilot Award recipients have earned that award. Thanks for reading General Aviation News.