EPHRATA — Roger Patry has logged more than 23,000 hours of flight time since 1970. That’s more than two and a half years of his life spent in the sky. 

“Look at … all the things he got to see and experience, from implementation of the Jet Age, space travel, navigation technology advances from radio navigation to satellite,” Federal Aviation Agency safety program manager Robert Tickner said.  

Tickner was speaking to a group of 23 cadets at the Civil Air Patrol’s Camp Boucher in Ephrata Thursday, in a ceremony to honor Patry with the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. That award is given by the FAA to a pilot who has flown safely for more than 50 years.  

Patry was accompanied by his sons Andrew and Ed and his daughter Megan, none of whom had told him he’d be receiving the honor.  

“I was told we were having an inspection at the Columbia Basin Squadron, and the FAA is showing up for it,” Patry said. “(I thought), oh, great, after 55 years of flying, I’m going to get my first violation in front of everybody here.” 

Patry began flying at 15 years old, Tickner read from Patry’s official FAA biography, mowing grass, washing dishes and picking vegetables to earn the money for flying lessons. He received his private pilot license in 1970, his commercial license in 1976, his flight instructor license in 1977, his airline transport pilot’s license in 1979 and ratings for larger planes in 1995 and 1996. 

“I guess he got a little bored, because then he wanted to add a seaplane rating in 2009,” Tickner said. 

Patry grew up in Minot, Maine, and spent 20 years in the Air Force, moving around the country.  

He wanted to fly fighters initially, Tickner said. “But then the Air Force found that he could talk and fly airplanes at the same time, so they decided, let’s make this guy an instructor.” 

While serving in Texas, he met and married a girl from Ephrata, he said, and when he retired from the Air Force in 1995 they settled in her hometown. Patry went to work for World Airways, and then for Southwest Airlines, from which he eventually retired. Both of his sons had learned to fly as well, and Ed had followed him into commercial aviation. 

“In 2016 I was hired by Southwest Airlines and had the pleasure of being my dad’s first officer on five trips and his final flight in the 737 to Spokane,” Ed said. “I’ve flown with many pilots who knew and appreciated my dad’s airmanship and sense of humor. He was well liked by those who worked with him.” 

Retirement didn’t mean staying on the ground, however. Patry became involved with the Columbia Basin Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, mentoring young pilots. 

“Roger and I started here at the Civil Air Patrol in June of 2020,” said Garrett Clemetson, who was one of Patry’s earliest cadets. “When we started, there were 11 cadets, because COVID had hit us pretty hard. We started with ... the promise of a plane and about three or four months later, we got (a Cessna 182), the oldest plane in the fleet. Within the next year, we went from the squadron with no plane to the highest-flying squadron in (Washington). We’ve taken the program to the point where we’re up to almost 40 active cadets. As far as I know, we’re the biggest squadron on this side of the Cascades.” 

Patry’s devotion to safety, the reason for the award, was evident in all his CAP work, Clemetson said.  

“Not all pilot groups are the same as far as standards,” he said. “That’s why Roger really deserves this, because he really does hold a higher standard for being safe and legal and following the rules and doing what’s smart.” 

Patry accepted the award modestly. 

“I’m not (at CAP) for any additional ratings or recognition,” he said. “I’m just here to help men and women who are interested in aviation, to give them some guidance. “I had a little bit of guidance, and I stumbled around and figured it out on my own along the way. But the best way to learn is from other people … If you have the opportunity, soak that information into your knowledge base.” 

    Roger Patry shows his Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award with his children (from left) Ed Patry, Megan Snyder and Andrew Patry.
  

    Civil Air Patrol cadets listen to accounts of Roger Patry’s flying career of 55 years.