Love is in the Air

My flying days as a passenger actually started in Anchorage, Alaska. My first late husband, Atlee Dodge, owned and operated an aircraft maintenance business. His team repaired airplanes, performed annual inspections, and worked with insurance companies. We owned a de Havilland Beaver airplane. Depending on the season, the Beaver would be on floats, wheels or skis. Atlee was highly respected in the aviation community. Unfortunately, he died in an accident in the Beaver. Atlee was a great mentor and partner.

I met my late husband, Bill Hartley, through a personal ad. Back in the early 1980s, we didn’t have internet or dating apps. I lived in Anchorage and Bill lived in Seattle. We got married 6 weeks after we met. I married another pilot! My daughter Reni & I moved to Seattle. I was a newlywed and Reni a college student. Bill owned a Beechcraft Bonanza airplane. Of course I was nervous about him flying. He suggested I take some lessons to alleviate my fears. About that time, he decided to get back into flying helicopters. He had previously earned his helicopter rating through the GI Bill. I earned my airplane (fixed wing) rating, my helicopter rating and an instrument rating in both. Bill and I favored flying helicopters over airplanes. Our first helicopter was a Robinson R22, two person helicopter. We built a flatbed trailer to tow the R22 behind our motor home. We towed the R22 through the Northwest and Southwest. Needless to say, we attracted lots of attention wherever we went.

There were times when we were flying the helicopter cross country, we would get permission to land at a motel. The owners were delighted as long as they could call the local small town newspaper and get lots of pictures. Other fun flying adventures were group helicopter camping, picnics on the beach and of course flying out to lunch for the famous “$100.00” hamburger.

The first question many people ask is, “Have you ever flown solo?” Yes! You can’t earn your rating without logging a required amount of solo hours plus several solo cross country flights. It is a very powerful feeling to take off and land by yourself.

“To fly is heavenly, to hover is divine,” is a well known quote among helicopter pilots. Hovering a helicopter, is one of the most fun and challenging maneuvers.

HOW DO HELICOPTERS HOVER, Credit Matt Claiborne. One of the things that makes operating a helicopter so unique is its ability to hover in midair. With just the right control inputs, a helicopter can remain nearly motionless over the same spot on the earth. But, how does it do this? The helicopter’s rotor blades must produce an amount of lift equal to the aircraft’s weight to hover. Then, the pilot must make constant corrective control inputs to counter all other forces, including wind, ground effect, turbulence, and the torque created by the main rotors.

I am a member of the Whirly Girls, International Women Helicopter pilots. I served as International President and was also on the board for 8 years. I have always mentored students about flying. I always say “If you get good grades, anything is possible.” There are many scholarships available.

Bill and I moved to Eagle, Idaho in 2018. He had a stroke and passed away a short time later. We enjoyed 35 years together. He always encouraged me in my many endeavors. He used to say that women had more finesse than men when it came to flying. Finesse: skillful handling of a situation; adroit maneuvering.

Women have definitely come a long way since that first little boy said to me: “I didn’t know girls could do that!”

Edweena is a Board Member, Volunteer and member of the Center. We thank you Edweena for sharing your amazing story with us!