BRUCE LATVALA

Kansas Ambassador Day job: Engineering Test Pilot at Textron Aviation (Cessna Aircraft Company) Favorite airstrip: That’s tough to narrow it down.  I can only narrow it down to 3: Moose Creek, Idaho. Thomas Creek, Idaho.  Flying B ranch, Idaho. Next adventure: Backcountry flying in Arkansas followed by a rock climbing and jeeping trip around the White Rim Road…

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DAVID WARNER

Illinois Ambassador Day job: Recently retired, I now have more time to fly. As a consulting forester in West Virginia most of the time since 1979, I’m now living in Southern Illinois and rediscovering my roots. Favorite airstrip: Oh so many to choose from! I enjoyed being based at Eastview (WV67) and flying into Sky Bryce…

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LORI MATERI

Wyoming State Liaison Lori grew up the youngest (with a twin sister) in a large aviation family. Her father served as navigator on a B-29 during WWII, and later piloted his family around the country in a PA-11, a Skywagon, and a Piper Navajo. Her childhood was filled with Sunday afternoon flights in the PA-11,…

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JEFF RUSSELL

Director A lifelong resident of Wisconsin, Jeff Russell grew up in Sheboygan and now resides near Madison, WI. He flies a SuperCub and Cirrus out of the Morey airport in Middleton. Young Jeff was exposed to general aviation while flying with is dad in their Cherokee 235.  It wasn’t until 1998 that circumstances allowed Jeff…

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DAVE WHITELAW

Washington State Liaison Dave was born and raised on an Indian Reservation in E Washington, he learned to love and respect the outdoors- camping, hunting, fishing and working. His father owned and operated a logging company which he worked for while going to high school and college, learning the value of hard work and being…

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R.M. "BOB" BURLEY

Vermont State Liaison What began as frequent 12 mile bicycle rides to a local Vermont airport in the early 1950’s quickly evolved into a full-fledged airport rat manifestation. Along the way, peripheral excursions have included: retired international corporate executive (F-10 company), former Air Force officer, pilot, stints as Highway Engineer, logger, Operations Director for a…

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RAY JILEK

South Dakota Ambassador Ray grew up on a family farm in southwestern North Dakota and moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota in the late 80s where he met Laura, the love of his life. Laura and Ray now live in Spearfish and have two daughters. Ray learned to fly in a Cessna 150,…

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ANDREW TURNER

Pennsylvania State Liaison Andy Turner was introduced to aviation at a young age, buckled in the rear seat of his parents’ TriPacer. Always interested in outdoor pursuits, he earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Michigan State University, and now lives in Clarion, Pennsylvania, where he works as a professor of Biology and Geosciences at…

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