Carmichaels pilot honored for 50 years of service
An aerial shot of Blomster Field Farm, where Chris Polhemus has a grass runaway and taught his children how to fly airplanes. (Photo courtesy of Polhemus family)
Chris Polhemus is greeted by his son as he arrives at a surprise award ceremony celebrating his aviation career. (Photo by Jon Andreassi)
Chris Polhemus speaks after receiving his award as his wife Katherine looks on. (Photo by Jon Andreassi)
news@greenecountymessenger.com
Chris Polhemus was expecting a simple breakfast with some local pilots at the Greene County Airport on a recent Saturday morning.
What he found instead was a room full of loved ones and colleagues he had not seen in several years who had come together to watch the Federal Aviation Administration award him with the agency无毛视频檚 most prestigious honor for pilots.
无毛视频淔labbergasted, is probably the one word. It无毛视频檚 amazing,无毛视频� Polhemus, of Carmichaels, said as he received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, which goes to pilots with 50 or more years of flight experience.
无毛视频淚 look around the room here, I see so many guys that I无毛视频檝e known for so long in aviation who also would deserve this award just as much as I do,无毛视频� Polhemus added. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檇 like to thank so many people, starting by thanking God for all the blessings he has given us.无毛视频�
Wendy Grimm, manager of the Allegheny Flight Standards District Office, presented Polhemus with the award after detailing his aviation history.
无毛视频淐hris had a godfather that flew the B-17, and paid for Chris无毛视频� initial flight training. He also had an uncle who was a naval aviator in World War II. These aviation aficionados inspired Chris to pursue an aviator无毛视频檚 path,无毛视频� Grimm told the crowd of about three dozen people.
Polhemus took his first solo flight July 19, 1972, the point from which the FAA begins tracking years of experience.
Polhemus and his wife Katherine own Blomster Field Farm in Carmichaels, where there is a runway on the property.
Grimm presented Polhemus with a plaque, as well as two pins for both him and his wife. Also part of the award? A 无毛视频渂lue ribbon package无毛视频� that contains every record and document kept by the FAA throughout his aviation career.
She explained to the crowd that the FAA sifts through these records to verify the detail无毛视频檚 of a nominee无毛视频檚 career.
无毛视频淏ut then we thought, what a nice gift to give that person. Those memories 无毛视频� all those names, the people you无毛视频檝e flown with and so forth, as a memento after receiving that award,无毛视频� Grimm said.
Polhemus无毛视频� passion for aviation has carried on through his children, who put together the award ceremony without his knowledge.
Chris Polhemus Jr. went through the process to nominate his father for the award.
无毛视频淚 know how much he has done for the aviation community, specifically in Greene County, and all the people that he has mentored to get into airline jobs and aviation-related jobs. I figured this would be a great way to reward him for everything that he has done,无毛视频� he said.
The younger Chris Polhemus is himself a pilot in the U.S. Navy. From a young age he fell in love with the work of his father, who was happy to be his teacher.
无毛视频淚 think we无毛视频檝e got pictures of my first flights where we had to put two cushions up on the seats so I could actually reach the controls,无毛视频� Chris Polhemus Jr. said. 无毛视频淚 think 10 years old is when I started to log flight time with my dad.无毛视频�
Emily Capule, Chris Polhemus Sr.无毛视频檚 daughter, also learned to fly from her father when she was in high school.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 just really excited for him. He deserves this, aviation is his whole life. I just love seeing people come together to celebrate him,无毛视频� Capule said.
After receiving the award, Chris Polhemus recognized his children and fondly recalled a lifetime in the skies.
无毛视频淭hey both learned how to fly in the backyard, it was great,无毛视频� Polhemus said. 无毛视频淭he flying that I无毛视频檝e done has just been unbelievable.无毛视频�