Willamette Aviation | Flight Instructors

They are a rare breed of men and women — FAA Certified Flight Instructors. And have no doubt, these are hardy souls who willingly allow novice pilots to fly them around day after day, in good weather and bad, enduring everything from awkward skids to back-of-the-curve approaches until their charges are seasoned enough to pass the requisite flight tests. At Willamette Aviation, our CFIs are among the best around, high-hour pilots who love teaching the art of the airplane. Come take an introductory flight to find out how challenging — and fun — flying can be.

Gladys Embury was Willamette Aviation's founding flight instructor — in fact, it's fair to say that without Gladys, Willamette Aviation may not have happened. A veteran pilot, she's logged more than 3,000 hours at the controls, holding a CFII rating. Gladys has lived in Oregon for several years, although when the weather gets a bit cold and gray in the winter months, she's been known to head south, where the flying weather lasts year-round. When not flying, Gladys enjoys spending time with her husband Glen.

A native Californian who has lived in Oregon for the better part of a decade, Steve Thornton loves to teach because it allows him to share his love of flying with other pilots, be they first-time students or multi-rated aviators. Steve also says that teaching flying allows him to pursue every pilot's first goal — to always be better. With more than 1,000 hours in his logbook, Steve has notched more than 400 hours in the right seat as a CFI, and he holds six FAA ratings. Besides flying, he enjoys skiing, back-packing, and scuba-diving. But flying remains his life's passion. His favorite place to get some altitude? Over the San Juan Islands in the spring and summer.

Frank Harlow was born and raised under the 28 right approach into PDX. He watched and dreamed about aviation as a child. When he was 18, the Air Force called his number. After serving his duty he decided that old, beat-up Vietnam-era airplanes were not to his liking and left aviation for education. But in 1988, one of his students conned him back into aviation on a dare, and he hasn't hit the ground since. Frank is a pilot on the Citation SII and a CFI for Willamette Aviation with more than 1,400 hours of instruction. In his spare time he teaches college and raises three wonderful kids with the aid of his wife Beth.

Rose Milbeck's first training flight, on November 2, 1974, was the beginning of a love affair with airplanes and flying. She received her Pilot Private certificate seven months later. A Certified Flight Instructor since 1980, she is still awed when watching students fly their first solos — remembering their first flight in the airplane as a nervous student and now watching as they take off, fly the pattern, and make their first solo landing. Rose says, "I love being part of the learning process of flying and the idea that no matter how long I've been in aviation, there is always something more to learn." When not instructing, she runs an executive coaching and consulting business and sees "a common thread connecting flight instruction and coaching — both are unique approaches for pushing the envelope of self-exploration."

Haley Devine has spent her entire life around airplanes, thanks to her father, who's an A&P. Haley's dad enjoys restoring airplanes, and his first completed project was a Mooney M20C, which Haley then used for flight training. Starting her aviation career just after high school, she's since worked her way up to CFII, logging 1,300 hours and passing her CFI examination on the first try. A native Oregonian, Haley's currently a student at the Portland campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and she says she loves instructing because of the variety of pilots she gets to meet while developing her aviation career. She's a self-confessed "flying dork," and it's not hard to guess what her favorite airplane make is — the classic Mooney. At last count, her dad's restored four of 'em.

Jess Smith is no stranger to Willamette Aviation, earning his instrument rating at Willamette Aviation in 2002, and returning for his CFII in 2006. Jess is a devoted aviation enthusiast, holding a Commercial Certificate, as well as Advanced Ground and Instrument Ground Certificates. He also passed both the CFI and CFII check rides on the first attempt — a rare accomplishment according to the FAA. When not around the office instructing, Jess will probably be found at his day job (actually graveyard job) as a patrol sergeant for the Portland Police Bureau. Jess also flies commercially for the Portland Police Air Unit. Earning an A&P certificate is Jess's next goal, and he can be seen occasionally assisting Jim Aanes in the maintenance department.

Neil Shepherd has always been passionate about aviation, earning his Private Pilot ticket when he was just 18. Back then, he dreamed of becoming a professional pilot, but his education and subsequent career in electronics sidetracked him. However, after flying as an instrument/commercial pilot for nearly three decades, Neil earned his CFI rating on his first try. "I've spent a lot of time with instructors," he says, "and I hope to take the best in what I've learned from them and share it with new pilots." Neil also has been spending a lot of time practicing aerobatics, with the hope of someday helping other pilots become comfortable with unusual attitude safety. In his spare time, you'll find him flying his Extra 300L aerobatic plane, which he hangars at the Aurora State Airport.

Craig Hochstetler first became fascinated with aviation when he visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum as a high-school student, and he knew he would be a career pilot not long after he started earning his Private Pilot Certificate (in an Aeronca Champ) when he was just 17. In just a few years he worked his way up to Instructor, passing his CFI ride on the first try. He's also a graduate of Lane Community College, where he earned an AAS in Flight Technology, and he's currently enrolled at Embry-Riddle, pursuing a degree in Professional Aeronautics. In addition to flying, Craig enjoys being in the great outdoors, be it hunting, camping, or fishing. When he's in the air, his favorite plane remains the trusty Champ.

Ian Shanahan first discovered his passion for flying when he was given a flight lesson at Willamette Aviation as a high school graduation gift. It was then that he decided to pursue a career as a pilot, and he's been flying ever since. Ian received thorough training at the University of North Dakota, where he earned a B.S in Aeronautics. When not flying, Ian likes to spend time with his wife, run in local races (Hood-to-Coast is a favorite), and play ultimate Frisbee. He also isn't the first member of his family to take to the skies — his grandfather was a wing-walker.

Justin Schlimpert spent the last 10 years dividing his time between a career as an executive sales manager and pursuing his FAA credentials. Now that he's worked his way up to CFI (passing his checkride on the first attempt), he's taken on flight instruction full-time. Justin grew up in aviation — which is a bit of an understatement, considering that his grandfather was president of McDonnell Douglas during the space program years. Justin even remembers flying with his grandfather to the office in the "company car," a Beechcraft Baron. When not flying, Justin likes to ratchet up the adrenaline by riding his Harley and carving up sand in his dune buggy.

Trevor Conroy has been surrounded by aviation for his entire life, and aviation is very much in his bloodlines. His father owns an avionics business, and his uncle flies for American Airlines — both have played significant roles in his aviation career. Trevor won a scholarship from the Evergreen Aviation Museum in 2004 and used it to earn his Private Pilot Certificate, working from there through his Instrument, Multi-Engine, Commercial, and CFI tickets while concurrently earning a bachelors degree in business management from Portland State University. He has a significant aviation electronics background, and he also runs his own electronics business. In his free time, Trevor enjoys being outdoors and flying as often as possible.

Heikki Julkunen's love of flying has been ongoing for almost 20 years. He started off in hang-gliding, then moved to flying planes several years ago and hasn't looked back. Heikki has received his Instrument, Commercial and CFI ratings at Willamette Aviation and also holds a Multi-Engine rating. In his former life, Heikki was a computer engineer, and he still continues to tinker around with developing both software and hardware applications relating to flying. In his spare time, he likes working on his Piper Cherokee as well as scuba-diving, mountain biking, motorcycles, and hiking.

Eric Kemnitzer is the kind of guy who hears an airplane and immediately looks to the sky. Flying runs deep in his family, thanks to a grandfather who flew B-17 aircraft in World War II and an uncle who has owned both a Bell Jet Ranger and a Piper Saratoga. Eric started flying right after high school and has barely stopped since, passing his CFI checkride on his first attempt. However, he also knows that aviation involves more than mastering an aircraft, and he's passionate about the fundamentals of ground instruction, from aerodynamics to weather (his friends and family will attest to his enthusiasm for teaching). When not in the sky, Eric enjoys several outdoor activities, including rock climbing, cycling, and snowboarding.

Stan Swan is a native Oregonian who discovered a love of flying while in his teens, leading him to serve as a Civil Air Patrol cadet throughout high school and most of his university career. After a tour in the Army, he learned to fly on the GI Bill, earning his Commercial, Instrument and CFI ratings. Stan then transitioned to the business world, rising to management positions in several local manufacturing companies, and after a long hiatus he has return to flight instruction, his first love. Stan owns a Piper Comanche 260, which has provided him with most of his aviation experience. He always looks forward to introducing many new pilots to the world of aviation, while helping old pros become better and safer at what they do.

Sarah Sharp took her first airplane flight when she was just seven, and managed to talk her way into the cockpit for a tour. Her first time behind the controls of an airplane was just three years later, followed by a summer at the OMSI Space Camp. However, it would be another 15 years before she would fly again, getting a discovery flight while working on her M.F.A. in Savannah, Georgia, and then earning her private pliot certificate soon after. Sarah continued to gain experience and ratings upon her return to her hometown of Portland, including her Flight Instructor certifcation. When not flying, studying the fundamentals of flight, or analyzing the weather, Sarah can be found in her art studio or exploring all that Portland has to offer.

Dick Oman began his flying career in the 1970s, earning his private pilot certificate at Scappoose. However, it would be some time later that he would puruse his professional credentials as a cerfitied flight instructor. Regulars at Willamette Aviation know Dick as our office manager, joining our team in 2003. Since then, he's been a regular at our Aurora campus, both at the dispatch desks and on the ramp. In his free time, Dick likes to fly with his wife Karen (also a pilot) and daughter Stephanie, who is taking lessons. Favorite destinations in the Pacific Northwest include the San Juan Islands, while the family has taken extended getaways in Alaska, the Carribean, and Africa — always with the hope of finding a small plane for a tour by air.