Our featured member for September, 2022 is Don Whiteside. Don is an active pilot with a passion for his family and flying. Don became a Chapter 393 member in the 1980’s for a period of time until life and career got in the way. He rejoined our chapter in 2017.

Dons' father served in the Army Air Corps as a ‘Crash Boat Skipper’ and became a pilot by spending all his GI benefits learning to fly in Alaska. His dad introduced him to flying and encouraged him during the early years with trips in the family Stinson. 

Don began flying at age 16 and soloed while in high school but abandoned flying for a few years. In his early 20’s the flying bug struck again and Don received his Private Pilot license and ASEL rating. Don exercised his PPL privileges for business in the early days and now just flies for the joy and experience of looking down on the world because he can.

Don with his Aeronca

Don is flying his second factory built 1947 Aeronca and is hands on with the plane. As we all know any 75 year old airplane is a constant project and is therapy for the time involved in keeping it flying safely. He flies the Aeronca around 80 hours each year.

Don also gets another 15 hours per year flying his wonderful friend Stew Bowers’ 1946 Cessna 140.

Don’s earliest memory of aviation was flying with his dad in the family Stinson 108 Station Wagon

He has many wonderful flying memories that include:

Joining the MDPA group on a trip to La Paz.

Flying a Cessna 150 from Pennsylvania to Buchanan Field.

Spending 25 hours doing aerobatics in a Super Decathalon.

A trip to Oshkosh where he got to watch the midday airshow from the Tower.

The best memories for Don are all the great people he as met in the aviation community.

Don loves the physical and mechanical challenges of being an aviator. When asked for details he quickly responded with “Especially landing my taildragger in gusting crosswinds!”. He likes the people he meets in aviation activities and really ‘loves’ looking down on the world from 1000’ AGL just because he can. He is always excited to return to KCCR and loves the sight of the runway numbers for 32L.

Don, just like all of us, really doesn’t like how expensive and rigidly regulated aviation has become. 

He has logged hours in  the following categories

100 LL is still in Don’s veins  and other activities he enjoys include lap swimming which keeps him in shape so he can keep up with his young grandchildren. He also enjoys hiking and an occasional attempt at piscatorial activities. 

His whole life now revolves around his family. He has a wonderful wife; a son, daughter-in-law and 2 little grandchildren in Santa Cruz; and a daughter and 11 year old grandson in Ft. Bragg. Don’s family keeps him hopping and happy.

Chapter 393 appreciates Don’s contribution to our group!