Golden Years Goal
Pilot logs 1,000th hour at 93
ON SEPTEMBER 17, AT THE AGE OF 93, IKE KIBBE, EAA 262617,
logged his 1,000th hour when he flew from Martin State
Airport in Essex, Maryland, to Piper Memorial Airport in Lock
Haven, Pennsylvania.
Ike has been flying since 1940 when he was 22 years old. Since
that time, he said he has been enamored with the “romance, glam-
our, and glory of avi-
ation.” In his senior
years when he was
no longer medically
certified, he began
flying with an in-
structor out of State
College, Pennsylva-
nia, near his home in
Beech Creek. At that
time an octogenar-
ian, he volunteered
at the Piper Aviation
Museum as a tour
guide and archivist.
His grandson,
also a private pilot,
introduced Ike to
an instructor, Sue
Instructor and copilot Sue Shambeau and Ike .
Shambeau, who shared his enthusiasm
for flying and was as excited as he was to
take to the clouds. With about 965 hours
logged, Ike set a goal for himself to complete 1,000 hours within his lifetime. He
began flying a Cessna 172 every few weeks
during the warmer months to complete
the hours needed to reach that goal. Ike
and copilot Sue landed at nearly every
airport within an hour’s radius, including
Clearview, which rewards pilots who are
able to land on its short field with a congratulatory mug.
On September 17, the trio took off at
about 10: 30 into a cloudy sky. Flying north
over Lancaster to avoid restricted airspace, they then turned west toward the
mountains on the west of the Susquehanna River. Crossing the final ridge, Piper
Memorial came into view with family and
friends waiting for the final landing. Ike
circled the airport once to position for a
perfect landing.
Ike celebrated with his family and friends
during a luncheon at the Piper museum.
