Foil: 60 Panel: 2 Column: 4 Line: 55

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Giles Whalen

Paul Kawolis is a lifelong enthusiast of everything related to aviation, a student of its history and an experienced and dedicated pilot. He was introduced to his love of flying by his father Frank Kawolis, who took Paul everywhere from a grass field in Milbury Massachusetts, in his fabric-covered Piper Super Cruiser, starting when Paul was an infant. After his father’s death, when Paul was only 14, his flying days were put on hold for the next ten years. At 24, out of college with a full-time income, he was finally able to get a loan for his first airplane, a Cessna 172, which he used for his flight training. Paul’s employer, Linder’s Inc. owned a twin engine Cessna 414 to transport employees. He got his multi engine instrument rating and started to fly the 414 under the tutelage of company pilot Loran “Pappy” Malone, a former WW2 bomber pilot instructor. He got his helicopter pilots license in order to fly his bride Mona off from their wedding in 1989, and actually received his training and checkout in the same Robinson R22 helicopter, N32AD, which is now on display in The National Air and Space Museum, Dulles campus. Currently he flies his Piper Meridian around the country with his wife and friends. Paul has kept his hand in helicopters and currently bases his Robinson R44 at his home. He is also rated to fly business jets which he does for pleasure as a volunteer charter pilot for his friends. Aviation remains intertwined with his work and pleasure, 45 years since he received his private pilot’s license.