Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND003 - SHSND Foundation - Aviation Hall of Fame
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 00023
Title: Phillip Miller
Date: 2005
Creator:
Inscription/Marks:
Summary: Phillip “Flip” Miller began his aviation career after serving in WWII as a Navy Seabee and returning home to Cando, ND. Using his GI benefits he learned to fly at the local airport and received his private pilot license in 1948. That winter he volunteered so many flight hours that the accumulated flight time qualified him for his Commercial Pilot license in the spring. Flip began crop spraying in 1949 and worked as an apprentice aircraft mechanic. That fall he earned his Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate as well as his flight instructors rating. In 1953 he moved to Fargo where he was lead mechanic, flight instructor and crop sprayer for Air Activities, a fledgling aviation business on Fargo Hector Field. In 1954, Flip ventured to Iraq and Kuwait as a contract agricultural applicator, aviation mechanic and flight instructor. Upon his return, he became a civilian employee of the North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo Hector Field, first as a mechanic and later as a radio/instrument technician. He was instrumental in the North Dakota Air National Guard’s “Happy Hooligans” transition to jet aircraft. In 1959 he contracted to Tunisia for a year where he sprayed for locusts and he also trained pilots. Upon his return to North Dakota, he established, on the West Fargo Airport, “Flip’s Spraying Service,” along with A&P services. He moved his business to Valley City in 1966, but continued crop spraying in the Fargo and West Fargo area for many years. He received his commercial FCC license in 1968 and became a certified broadcast engineer. In 1970 he started “Flip’s Avionics” which has provided quality avionics instrument service for the last 35 years. He has received North Dakota Aviation Safety awards for three of his inventions as well as the prestigious FAA Charles Taylor Award, Fifty Years an Aircraft Mechanic. In 1968, Flip became a charter member of Chapter 317 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). He built an experimental biplane called the Sievers-Miller Special. His aircraft received an “Outstanding Achievement Award” from the EAA and was featured in a number of national aviation magazines. Flip served on the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Aviation Association and has been an active voice in North Dakota aviation industry. As a civic leader he has served the community of Valley City in many capacities.
Red ID: FND_I_77372 Image ID: 509193 Image Notes: 10950 00003 00023

Collection: FND003 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - Aviation Hall of Fame
Date:

Summary: The North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame honors those in North Dakota aviation who brought exceptional recognition to themselves during their aviation careers. A 12-member committee of the North Dakota Aviation Council judges the merits of nominees based on: - Major achievements in aviation in North Dakota - - Significant contributions to the development of others in aviation in North Dakota - - Special service to the State of North Dakota in aviation activities - - Activities that bring credit to North Dakota aviation either nationally or internationally - - Significant contributions to the local community or the state of North Dakota that are not related to aviation (service clubs, church related, political action, etc.) -

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