Wright Brothers honor

Elaine R. McCalley of Mountain Home has been awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The award recognizes individuals who have held a pilot certificate for more than 50 years and have an unblemished safety record.

Mrs. McCalley, who says she was inspired by legendary pilot Amelia Earhart, earned her private pilot certificate in Boise in November 1939, soloing in a J-3 Piper Cub.

She became one of only four women in Idaho to hold a pilot's license at that time. Less than a year later she became the first woman in Idaho to earn a commercial pilot rating.

The award was presented at a banquet in Pasco, Wash., on June 16, just prior to the start of the annual Air Race Classic, an all-women cross-country air race that is considered to be the crown jewel of women aviation events.

The race originated on June 18 with many of the pilots stopping in Mountain Home for fuel.

"We are pleased to honor Mrs. McCalley who was an aviation pioneer in Idaho.

"Just as she was inspired by Amelia Earhart, she, too, has inspired a generation of women pilots and richly deserves this recognition," said Minard Thompson of the Federal Aviation Administration, who presented the award.

In addition to being an active pilot prior to World War II, Mrs. McCalley also provided outstanding leadership to women in aviation throughout the state of Idaho, serving as secretary, then president of the Associated Women Pilots of Idaho, which later became the Idaho chapter of the 99s.

She also served as secretary of the Idaho Pilots Association and under her leadership a group of volunteers put on Idaho's first air show at the Boise Airport.

In 1999 she was inducted into the Idaho Aviation Hall of Fame.

In the years that followed World War II she met and married another commercial pilot, Val Berriochoa, raised a family and never lost her love of aviation.

Now, at 95, she still seeks opportunities to fly with friends, her son and her grandson.