Capt. Lorin L Wilkinson

Born 2 December 1929 in Ogden, UT, Capt. Lorin L Wilkinson got his 1st airplane ride on 7 December 1941 in a Waco cabin biplane at the Atlantic & Telegraph Airfield in Los Angeles, CA. He was 12 years old. His flying career began in July 1945 after logging his first 30 minutes in a J-3 Cub. Enlisting in the Navy's V-5 Cadet Flight Training Program in September 1947, he went to Advanced Aviation Electronics School becoming an Aviation Electronics Technician, Radar & E.C.M. Operator and aerial gunner. In June of 1949 Lorin sold his 1933 Chevy & saxophone to buy a 1946 Aeronca 7AC Champion, which led to his Private Pilot Certificate on 3 September 1949 and ten months later both Commercial & Flight Instructor Ratings. It was September 1951 when he landed in Olympia, WA earning his Instrument Certificate and a Multi-Engine Rating, then was off to Los Angeles to work for Compton Air College as a Flight Instructor for Airplanes & Instruments.

In December 1952 he was hired by Western Air Lines as a DC-3 Co-pilot and went on the line 19 January 1953 in Denver, CO. In April 1955 Lorin transferred to Los Angeles checking out in the Convair 240 & the Douglas DC-4. In June 1956 he checked out in the DC6B and in February 1960 the Lockheed L-188. September 1960 Lorin was type rated in the DC-6/7 & received his ATP certificate. He was checked out on the Boeing 720-B in August 1963 & the Boeing 727 on April 10 1974, then type rated in the Douglas DC-10 in July 1979. Captain Wilkinson took early retirement from Western Air Lines on 1 September 1985 at age 55, moving to a home/hangar on the Flying "B" Airfield in Yelm, WA where he owned and flew various light aircraft & began building experimental aircraft. In February 2000 he built a new home/hangar on Sky Haven Airpark in Collinsville, OK, becoming a QB in the Tulsa Hangar in 2001. Fall of 2004 Lorin returned to Olympia, WA where he was instrumental in forming a new QB Hangar (OLM-201). He has served this hangar as Beam Man, Alternate Key Man & Governor. He is also an active member of the National Biplane Assn., Founder & President of the Hatz Biplane Assn., A.L.P.A., E.A.A., Midwest Antique Aircraft Club, Silver Chiefs, Delta Golden Wings & also received the Wright Brothers Memorial Master Pilots Award from the F.A.A. Having never lost his love and wonder of airplanes, he continues to fly into his eighties.