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Gauthier New
Joe Gauthier, EAA #6758, has been named Flight Instructor of the Year for the
New England Region. Joe, also a NAFI member, has been an aviation educator for
more than 30 years. As a CFI, Joe has taught primary through instrument and
flight instructor. He is one of the few accomplished tail wheel instructors in
the northeast. Joe, who is also an EAA Technical Counselor and Flight Advisor,
is based at Meriden Markham Airport (KMMK) in
Gauthier Receives Tony Bingelis Award
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Joe Gauthier, next
to his Thorp T-18, recipient of the 2003 Tony Bingelis
Award. Photo by John Faulkner |
Joe
Gauthier of
Gauthier, an active
EAA Technical Counselor since 1977, is also certified as an FAA Aviation Safety
Counselor, an EAA Flight Advisor, and as a NAFI Master Flight Instructor. In
addition, the FAA’s Windsor Locks Manufacturing Inspection District Office
recently selected him as an amateur-built designated airworthiness
representative (AB-DAR) under the new AB-DAR program.
As southern
regularly at Chapter meetings throughout the area, as well as forums during EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh.
“Joe Gauthier
embodies the legacy of Tony Bingelis in an
outstanding manner,” EAA President Tom Poberezny
said. “He not only has dedicated himself to expanding his own knowledge of
aviation, he has unselfishly shared his expertise to help others safely and
successfully enjoy the world of flight. He is a most deserving recipient of the
Bingelis Award.”
The award was
created last year to honor the late Tony Bingelis, a
noted homebuilding authority and EAA Sport Aviation columnist. The award
recognizes significant contributions to the encouragement of aircraft projects
for fellow EAA members, the promotion of aviation safety, and for maintaining
the values of EAA. A nominee must have been an active and current EAA Technical
Counselor for at least five consecutive years.
Gauthier, a former
member of the U.S. Air Force, spent 33 years with Southern New England
Telephone, and is now providing tailwheel and
instrument flight instruction and leading two group aircraft construction
projects. Gauthier has received many other awards such as EAA Chapter 166’s
Outstanding Contribution to Sport Aviation in 1984; EAA’s
Major Achievement Award in 1987; EAA’s President’s
Award in 1991; Chapter 166’s Aircraft Completion Award in 1973, 1974, 1980, and
1995; Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year (New England region) in 1999; and
Certified Flight Instructor of the Year (New England region) in 2002.
Appointed to EAA’s Homebuilt Aircraft Council in 2002, Gauthier has
constructed two BD-4 homebuilts, a