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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Maureen K. Devine

Tim Devine was first bitten by the aviation bug at the age of seven years old when, as a loyal fan of the Saturday morning TV show "Whirlybird" he was lucky enough (thanks to his grandfather) to get a short ride in a Bell Model 47 helicopter. His early aviation dreams were confined to model building, small gliders and reading every aviation article and book that was available. He continued his interest in aviation in college where he graduated from the USN/USMC ROTC Aviation Training Program in 1972.

It was not until later in life that he was able to fulfill his aviation dreams. In 1998 he was one of the charter members of the Northeast Aviation Group from Schenectady New York who was instrumental in helping recover a Fairchild C-123K S/N 54-0592 that had been sitting derelict in Avra Valley, AZ. This aircraft was the last C-123K to escape South Viet Nam after the fall of Saigon. As a tribute to all those who served in that theater the Northeast Aviation Group devoted itself to restoring the aircraft to operational status to fly again on the air show circuit to honor the men and women who answered the call to duty.

In 1997 with the support of his wife Ellen and children Maureen and Danny he earned his private pilot’s license. Since then he has added complex and high performance and tail wheel endorsements to his certificate.

It was finally in 2000 that he found his aviation niche however when he was given a ride in a 1946 Aeronca Champ. He fell in love with tail draggers and grass strip flying. In 2002 he was able to purchase a his own 1946 Champ and has spent many hours enjoying one of the most simple but exhilarating forms of flight. His greatest joy is giving rides, flying "Young Eagles" and promoting general aviation. "Thanks to my daughter Maureen and son Dan I am lucky enough to have my name placed on this wall."