SDPA meeting on 4/17/10 in Pierre.  Some of the participants in the Pierre meeting included (left to right): Top photo: Jerry Waltman, John Barney, Dianna Torson (all Brookings), Denny Lewis (Hot Springs), Dwayne LaFave (DeSmet); Bottom photo:  Mike Isaacs (Pierre), Norma Kraemer (Nemo), Mary Carol & Bobbie Potts (Gettysburg).

<< SDPA meeting in Milbank on 2/13/10.  Dave Quale (left) Director of Maintenance, SDSU Aviation Program, and Warren Hovland (right), Chief Flight Instructor, SDSU Aviation Program, gave FAASTeam presentations.

Fly SD (held 1995 to 2009) was an opportunity for South Dakota pilots to fly across our great state and aerially view the topographical changes that occur between East River with its uncounted prairie potholes and West River with its vast expanses of open range, Badlands, and the Black Hills, as well as the striking Missouri River Valley and the main stem dams and reservoirs. Stops can be made at state of the art airports like Sioux Falls and Rapid City or at warm & friendly airports along the way.

Starting in 2010, Fly SD will be renamed the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame Fly-in.

<< Twenty-one people participated in the SDPA at Oacoma on Jan 31, 2009

>>Jan 31, 2009:  Steve Hamilton (right) presented Mary Carol Potts (left) a commemorative “postal stamp” and SDPA crystal paperweight in appreciation of being the SDPA Treasurer since 1993.

<< SDPA meeting on 1/31/09 in Oacoma.  Bobbie Potts (left) and Grove Rathbun (right) were presented commemorative “postal stamps” in appreciation of being SDPA Presidents.  Rathbun also received a Certificate of Appreciation for being the SDPA President for 2007-2008. 

<< SDPA meeting on 1/26/08 in Yankton.  Hod Neilsen of Yankton talked about his experiences as a P-38 photoreconnaissance pilot in WWII prior to the invasion of Europe.

<< SDPA meeting on 1/20/07 in Watertown.  Tom Paulson , Director of the Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI) Foundation, talked about the LATI, and introduced Andy Griese, Hoven, SD, who was the first recipient of the SDPA Aviation Mechanic Scholarship at the LATI in the Aviation maintenance Technology program. 

>> Greg Klein (gray shirt), instructor in the LATI Aviation Maintenance Technology program, gave a detailed tour of the facility.

<< Erick Dahl, Watertown Airport Manager, talked about activities at the airport.

>> Captain Greg Hall, Watertown Fire Department, gave a tour of the fire station at the Watertown Airport.

SDPA meeting on 1/28/06 in Winner.  Front row (left to right); Shon Keith, Sirus Keith, Delbert Keith, Mary Carol Potts, Pam Hamilton, Theresa Marten, Marsha Sumpter, and Myra Christensen.  Back row (left to right): Steve Hamilton, Larry Pravecek, Clarence Raschke, Jeff Jackson, Dave Cwach, Grove Rathbun, Ray Jilek, Butch Oien, Dwayne LaFave, Dave Marten, Merle Vig, and Bobbie Potts.

SDPA meeting on 1/22/05 in Oacoma.  Norma Kraemer gave a presentation on the “Airports of the Black Hills.” Steve Hamilton gave a presentation on the “SDPA” in preparation for a formal presentation at the SD Airport Conference scheduled for March.

<< Major Doug “Jethro” Bodine gave a presentation on “B-1 Operations.

>> Jim Behnken (left) & Dr. Dennis Helder (right) gave a presentation on “Ethanol Aviation Fuel for South Dakota.”

<< SDPA meeting on 11/6/04 in Gettysburg. Seated (left to right) Steve Hamilton, Jeff Jackson, Norma Kraemer, L.A. Vern Kraemer, Pam Hamilton; standing (left to right) Dwight Pladsen, Grove Rathbun, Barry Bibler, Marsha Sumpter, Alfred Nagel, Bobbie Potts, Craig Michelson, Mary Carol Potts, Rick Jordan, Merle Vig, Mike Lehrkamp.

<< Fly SD (7th):  SDPA members Barry Bibler, John Feidler, Ray Jilek, and Steve Hamilton performed a “missing man” formation just prior to the SD Aviation Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Spearfish.

The 7th FLY SD included a tour of the Rapid City control tower and the Army National Guard facility and aircraft.

<< Fly SD (1st):  Lots of pilots, passengers, and planes participated in the 1st Fly SD event. The group assembled for a photo at Pierre, where lunch was provided courtesy of Capital City Air Carrier. Thanks!!

>> Steve Hamilton (left) won a 30-minute aerobatic ride with Jim Peitz (right) in Jim’s Christen Eagle at Pierre.