Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND003 - SHSND Foundation - Aviation Hall of Fame
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 00033
Title: Alfred C. Piestch
Date: 1997
Creator:
Inscription/Marks:
Summary: Alfred Pietsch grew up on a farm south of Minot, ND. He demonstrated an early interest in learning about aviation from books and model planes. His flight instruction was interrupted by US Infantry service in the Phillippines during WWII. Al returned to Minot after the war and resumed flight instruction, did construction work, ran Al’s Hobby Shop and flew model planes competitively. In 1948, A1 and his brothers rebuilt a wrecked Champ and he began crop spraying. In the early 50’s, Pietsch Spraying became Pietsch Flying, a full served Fixed Base Operation. A1 also worked in a US Department of Agriculture program assisting the Libyan government in establishing a crop spraying and airport facility and pilot training program. One of Al’s early instructor’s, Bob Priewe, sparked his interest in aerial acrobatics. A1 and a group from Minot began building an aerobatic plane, a “Starduster Too”, in 1967. A1 first flew the Starduster in 1968 in the first of many air shows from the Yukon to Bermuda. Other homebuilts followed but the “Starduster Too” remained the only show plane he performed and competed in. For many years, he flew both solo and dual acts with his 3 sons. He was especially proud of his honorary membership in the “Snowbirds” of the Royal Canadian Air Force. A1 was an Aerobatic Competency Evaluator with the International Council of Air Shows and for 30 years was a Designated FAA Examiner. Al’s entire adult life was spent promoting aviation in North Dakota, serving the industry in many capacities. He was chairman and a long time appointee to the Aeronautics Commission, director of the North Dakota Aviation association, a charter member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Captain of the local Civil Air Patrol, instrumental in organizing the Dakota Territory Air Museum and chaired or served on committees for numerous local air shows.
Red ID: FND_I_77382 Image ID: 509203 Image Notes: 10950 00003 00033

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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