Milestone: Toepke honored for aviation safety

Published 10:42 am Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Safety is paramount when it comes to flying and local pilots recognized Dennis Lee Toepke for his efforts last week.

At the Oct. 31 meeting for the EAA 430 group, Toepke was awarded the FAA’s Wright Bros. Master Pilot Award and the FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award to recognize his contributions to building and maintaining a safe aviation system through practicing and promoting safe aircraft flight operations and maintenance for more than 50 consecutive years.

Toepke served in the U.S. Navy and started his training in 1965, initially to be an aviation structural mechanic. He served at Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island, worked briefly for Boeing in Everett and had jobs as a mechanic in locations such as Walla Walla, Olympia, Spokane, Portland (Ore.), Silver Valley (Idaho), Port Townsend, Westport and finally Port Angeles before retiring in 2013.

Group member Ray Ballantyne, representing the FAA Northwest Mountain Flight Standards Aviation Safety Team manager, presented Toepke with the awards.