My love for aviation began when I was a helicopter crew chief in the U.S. Army. I was assigned to an Air Cavalry Squadron, and mostly flew helicopters around the Hawaiian Islands. I could never get enough flight time in, so I decided to earn my FAA Private Pilot rating. I took my training at Wheeler Air Force Base, Oahu, Hawaii in 1977. My first solo cross-country flight was from Oahu to Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Today I have the FAA Commercial Pilot certificate with Instrument Rating. I am pursuing the Certified Flight Instructor rating at this time. I am also pursuing the B.S. Degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.My minor is in Aviation Safety.

I am a Squadron Commander in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol. I lead an outstanding squadron of dedicated volunteers. The missions of Civil Air Patrol are emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs. We are responsible for nearly 90% of the inland search and rescue efforts in the United States.

We also have the mission of Aerospace Education, and in 2001 I was honored to receive the Aerospace Education Officer of the Year award from Minnesota Wing, CAP. I enjoy helping others to learn about the great field of aviation. Our other mission is Cadet Programs, and I am blessed to work with some extraordinary cadets!

My squadron Captain, Lt. Mark Helseth, introduced me to the International Air Rally.

Captain Mark R. Helseth
Flight coordinator- results compilation

Flying has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. My first memories are of flying with my Dad at our local airport’s “penny-a-pound” events. I seem to recall my first ride costing about 75 cents!! Growing up, it seems my family’s culture was a love of anything aviation. During the spring and fall, I remember warm Sunday afternoons lying on the hood of my Grandfather’s car watching workhorse DC-3s and graceful Constellations coming in for landings. The radial engines resonated as they adjusted power on final approach just 100 feet above our heads prior to touchdown at Wold Chamberlain Field (now Minneapolis/St. Paul International). As a city kid, I built balsa airplane models, attached plastic models of Mosquitos and Stukas to my bedroom ceiling with fishing line in frozen aerial dogfights, subscribed to aircraft magazines, and dreamed of flying.

The dream of flight became reality in 2001 as the priorities of school, work and raising a family finally fell into place. I truly enjoy flying. I am a Private pilot working on my Instrument and Seaplane ratings.

I’ve always wanted to give back something honorable and worthwhile to my community through aviation. The U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) fulfills those objectives. I’m the Operations Officer for our squadron of about eighty volunteer members. I watch over and tend to the needs of Viking squadron’s Cessna 172 and 17 pilots. In 2004, our squadron will fly close to 600 hours of training and actual mission flights. In addition to my local Operations role, I also work at a state level within CAP’s Homeland Security program. My role in Homeland Security is managing the statewide implementation of CAP’s digital Airborne Imaging from our aircraft. CAP will use the Airborne Imaging for Homeland Security, Search and Rescue, and serving our local Law Enforcement. This is an exciting program of almost real-time photographs that are sent to the Internet directly from the airplane.

I read about the International Air Rally on the “Wings over Canada” website. Captivated by the description, I wrote to Catherine Tobenas about the event and mentioned that I fly Search and Rescue with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol. That short statement started the ball rolling quickly! The International Air Rally is a wonderful event bringing together aviation, communities and countries. I am truly honoured to be a part of this International aviation event.