Member Spotlight

Dwight Irby

Dwight lives in Longview with his wife Patty. 

He has a son in college, two grown daughters and 5 grandchildren.  Dwight’s wife, son and his grandson are all working on their pilot’s license.

By trade Dwight is a journeyman diesel mechanic and welder.  Although during his long career he has had a dump truck business, excavating & construction business, property development & real estate and pawn stores.

Dwight has a commercial pilot license with ratings of Airplane Single Engine Land and Sea, Airplane multi-engine Land, Rotorcraft – Helicopter, Instrument Airplane.  Dwight’s qualifications are further enhanced by completing high altitude ground and flight training in a twin engine Beechcraft B-60.  He also hopes to finish his commercial multi-engine Sea Rating by October of next year for his 70th birthday.

 

Dwight has been flying fifty (50) plus years with over 5,000 hours, and says he is still learning with every flight.  He started flying in 1960 and purchased his first plane a Piper PA-28-140 in 1976. 

The next plane purchase was a Cessna 185, then an Enstrom Helicopter, that he kept for 35 years.  Other planes Dwight has owed include a Rockwell Commander, Cessna 182, Beech Craft B60 Duke, Pitts S1T and a Super Decathlon.  Dwight purchased his Duke in 2004 and feels the Duke and the Pitts along with the Helicopter were the most challenging and still are.  I wonder if he knows that it would be less challenging to fly a helicopter if he wasn’t dragging water skiers behind it!

Dwight has enjoyed being a member of the Kelso EAA group the past thirteen (13) years.  He has enjoyed serving as Chairman of the Building Committee and as a two (2) term President and says it is a pleasure to see the club continue to grow with the new officers and their great leadership.  Dwight has been a great asset to our club over the years.

Dwight’s future plans are to move to his new airport home in Bermuda Dunes, California with his wife and dog Buck.  He’d like to trade his Beach Duke for a Lance Air P-IV and enjoy his retirement, by learning how to relax!