By Karen Hall

Editor

A man who has been flying longer than some of us have been alive was recognized for 50 years of safe flying by the Federal Aviation Adminstration at a small ceremony at Ellington Airport Wednesday.

Bob Hill of the FAA came to Lewisburg especially to present the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award to Bob Peters at a luncheon gathering.

"The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award recognizes pilots who have demonstrated professionalism, skill and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for 50 or more years," states the FAA website.

Hill described Peters' life in flying to the assembled friends, family and fellow pilots.

Peters is a World War II Navy veteran, but he did not start learning to fly until after the war. He started training in southern California, where he grew up, and then moved to Colorado.

Peters' first solo flight was made from Denver airport in a Cessna on Aug. 23, 1947, and he got his private pilot's certificate in 1953. He is a petroleum engineer, and traveled for his job to Venezuela, Salt Lake City, Lafayette, La., Mexico, and Minneapolis. Everywhere he was stationed, Peters did some flying, and even got a Mexican private pilot's certifcate.

After he retired, Peters and his wife Jackie vacationed in New Zealand and he got a private pilot's certificate there too.

The Peters moved to Marshall County in 1980, and he's been flying from Ellington Airport ever since.

"It's a real pleasure to be able to do this with you Bob," said Hill, who presented Peters with awards and mementos, including print-outs of all his FAA records.

There was a letter of commendation for Bob and another for Jacke.

"This is for the unsung hero, Jackie, who's had to put up with this guy," joked Hill.

"I appreciate it very much," Bob said. He went on to explain his parents were the instigators of his love of flying. Bob's mother and father went to San Diego on May 10, 1927, to see Charles Lindberg take off on the first leg of his historic flight that ended in Paris on May 21. Lindbergh became an instant national hero -- the first American to fly non-stop across the Atlantic in a fixed-wing aircraft -- and Bob Peters was born two months later.

"Bob makes two master pilots on this airport," said Clay Derryberry, owner of Big D Aviation, based at Ellington Airport, "George Waddington is the other."