References
David Pepe
In the spring of 1993 I earned my private pilot rating. After some discussion with local EAA
members, I started looking for a project aircraft that I could work
on at a pace that I would set. I looked
around and decided to build an RV-6, after having seen a beautiful example of
One built by Jeff Fiscus. A ride in Jeff’s RV-6 further convinced me to
do just that. Even though
all my experience to that point had been in tricycle gear
Cessnas, I elected to build the
taildragger version of the RV. I was
told that I could fly one with the proper training, and I liked the aircraft
type.
I bought and had finished the tail group
and wings, and had the fuselage in the jig, when someone suggested that I give
Joe Gauthier a call. I did just that and he came over, and inspected what I had
done to date. Joe gave me the pattern
for a good VFR panel layout, based on my needs. I followed that layout almost
to the letter.
When
the RV-6 was almost done Joe inspected the plane again as an EAA Tech
Counselor… at that time Joe offered me instruction in the PA-12 Cub Cruiser as
a basis for the transition to the tail wheel
RV-6, which I took him up on…
Every lesson consisted of a briefing session,
where Joe would discuss the upcoming flight in detail so that I could think
about what we were to do before we got into the air. Every minute on the ground and in the air, I
was learning something new, or re-learning rusty skills. The attention to
detail that Joe showed me can only come from someone who takes a personal
interest his student. This focus backed
up by many years of instructing and his thousands of hours in taildraggers enabled him to give
the safest, most effective training in the shortest time. After a flight, Joe
and I would do an honest debrief, giving reinforcement to skills well
performed, and constructive criticism where needed.
In addition to the basic tail wheel
endorsement, Joe signed off on a WINGS completion after the required
Instrument
training. Before I flew my plane Joe arranged for me to
get training in another RV-6. Joe also
helped me with the weight and balance and the final inspection on my RV-6. Finally, he test flew my RV-6 three times
before pronouncing me and the aircraft ready.
My first and subsequent flights were safe and rewarding, and I knew that I had done
all I could do in preparing for them with all the help I had received from Joe Gauthier
Therefore, it goes without saying that I
heartily endorse Joe for instruction in ANY area of aviation that
You might need.
David L.
Pepe
EAA 459075
Sam Oakes
I called Joe
in the fall of 2002 and told him I wanted to buy an airplane. I wanted a big
tail dragger, and after discussing it with him and with some other pilots
I knew I decided to buy a Cessna 170. I already knew Joe from my homebuilt
airplane project, but I learned a lot about Joe in the weeks that followed.
Joe is
a very patient man. He spent many hours on the phone with
me helping me to sort out the different aircraft that I found
for sale and which questions to ask. He even went to the trouble of typing up a
list of questions for me to ask the sellers and emailing it to me. I didn't
have a clue what to ask sellers, and I knew next to nothing about production
aircraft. This list was invaluable to me. He never asked me to pay him for this
time he spent doing the research he did or creating the list. I was so
excited I would have gone to look at and probably buy any of planes
listed, but Joe helped me choose which plane to go and look at first.
Joe flew out to
Flying from
Once we got the bird home, Joe helped me to repair the major
squawks on the airplane and he let me do a lot of the work with his oversight
to help me save money. He never charged me for much of his "less
productive" time and he is not a man to put a stopwatch on his
time. He was always more than fair with me in charging for his time, and
he gave me countless hours of "free" advice over the phone as I
needed it. His primary concern was that I had a safe aircraft, not how much I
paid him.
With the important repairs done, it was time for my checkout.
I had tail wheel time, but it was long ago and I had never flown a 170 before
flying mine. I will admit to being a terrible student,
and until my time with him a very poorly trained pilot. Joe deserves an
award for putting up with me through the training and he made me a much better
pilot in just the few hours we spent together. As with everything else, Joe
spent a lot of time with me on the phone, etc. that he didn't charge me for
which I really appreciated with my budget being stretched
to the limit at the time. When Joe told me I flew well enough to solo, I felt
confident that I was ready. My piloting skills were probably better than they
had ever been and with more practice and his techniques I now consider myself
to be a very good pilot. Again, Joe was much more concerned about my skills and
safety as a pilot than anything else. To be a "Gauthier-trained"
pilot is something to be very proud of.
Joe is a true ambassador to aviation. He is incredibly
skilled and experienced, but ever cautious and conservative when flying. He
seems to know absolutely everything about flying and airplanes, but he is very
mild-mannered and never boastful. He
teaches caution above all else, and he is meticulous at honing basic skills and
constantly challenges his students. He has an amazing knowledge of aircraft and
aircraft maintenance, and he has excellent mechanical skills too. I would
recommend him to anyone for anything having to do with aviation. He is an
amazing guy.
Sam Oakes
Cessna 170
3B9 –
David
Faile
I
have known Joe since 1976, when we worked together as general internal auditors
for a major communications company. I witnessed Joe’s’ methodical ability to
look at any subject and not miss a single detail during an audit. I soon saw
that he used the same methodical approach to aviation.
During the years since our first meeting in
1976, I have worked with Joe, learned from him, and gotten to know both Joe and
his family. When I first met Joe, he was a Commercial and Instrument Rated pilot.
Since that time, he has become a Certificated Flight Instructor, an Instrument
Flight Instructor, a Multi Engine pilot, and a Master Flight Instructor. He has
also become a Mechanic, Airframe and Powerplant.. In
2002, he was named the Flight Instructor of the Year for the Flight Standards
District Office and the New England Region. Joe has also been named the FAA
Aviation Safety Counselor of the year (1999) for the FSDO and the New England
Region. The Experimental Aircraft Association has honored Joe with numerous
national awards. Her serves on the prestigious Experimental Aircraft
Association, Homebuilt Council
The Windsor Locks Flight Standards District
Office (FAA) has used Joe’s great skills as an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor.
His great teaching skills and technical knowledge have made him a valuable
asset to the aviation and especially the homebuilt community throughout the
northeast.
By my count, Joe has built and completed
six homebuilt aircraft and restored at least three antique/classic aircraft.
Many of these are trophy winning aircraft. These aircraft range from aluminum
aircraft, to tube and fabric biplanes, as well composite aircraft. Joe is
comfortable and competent in all mediums of aircraft construction.
In
summary, I have known Joe Gauthier and his family for more than twenty-five
years. Joe represents the ideals of EAA, aviation safety, and aviation
professionalism. Always teaching and always learning describes Joe and what he
does for aviation.
David
Faile, MCFI A&P
EagleAir Enterprises, LLC
1999 National Flight Instructor of the Year
FAA Aviation Safety Counselor
EAA Technical Counselor & Flight Advisor
Don
Mei
I met Joe at an FAA
Wings safety seminar. At the time I was
a 20 hour student pilot. After much research,
I had purchased a Vans RV-4. I knew I
didn’t want to finish my Private Pilot training in the plane so I was in no
great rush to get it into the air. Joe
and I discussed the plane and my goals and he accepted my request for
assistance. The first step was a
thorough inspection of the airplane, more thorough than had been done for the
pre-purchase inspection. We found
nothing seriously wrong with the plane, but Joe suggested some upgrades to
improve the safety of the plane. During
this process I was learning how my planes systems worked, as well as developing
a more thorough understanding of their interactions. I had the plane ready to go right about the
time that I finished up my Private Pilot training. The Cessna 152 I did my primary training in
was fine, but now I was ready to really learn something. Because of my inexperience, we took the
training gradually. Joe knew I wanted
him to push me hard, but he also had a good sense when I was getting too worn
out to learn. About then we’d stop for
Coffee and debrief. After about 15 hours
of training I had my tail wheel endorsement, but more importantly I was a safe
pilot in my new airplane. I had a basic
foundation of knowledge that I could safely build upon. Joe was very thorough in our training. I wheel landed it, I three pointed it, I flew
it fast, I flew it slow. Joe was not
satisfied until I was comfortable at all corners of the flight envelope. That was fine by me. I learned more in my 15 hours with Joe than I
did in my 70 or so hours of primary training.
I learned the mechanics of good piloting, but more significantly, I
learned the importance of judgment in everyday flying. Throughout all this Joe was always available
for my after dinner phone calls and questions.
Finally, his rates were very reasonable.
No more than most flight schools charge for a 500 hour 22 yr old
instructor just trying to bulk up his logbook.
In all, I couldn’t have asked for more.
Joe wasn’t just an instructor. He
was also a mentor who was concerned with EVERYTHING required to get me into the
air safely.
Don Mei
Vice President, EAA Chapter 334
Vans RV-4
3B9 –