By Ryan M. Albashian, EAA 516822
William Arthur Hasenfus, EAA 98556, has been awarded the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. The award was presented to William in a surprise ceremony on January 17, 2023, at the Appleton International Airport (KATW) in Appleton, Wisconsin. The FAA’s Jurg Grossenbacher, EAA 1048667, presented William with the award, highlighting that, “Only one-tenth of one percent of pilots earn this award.”
Television crews and newspaper reporters were present for the event, as well as William’s wife, Donna Marie, family, friends, colleague pilots, and skydivers. According to the FAA’s description, “The award recognizes individuals who have exhibited exemplary aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment for at least 50 years of piloting experience and aircraft operations….”
Sport parachuting was only in its infancy, when, eight miles northwest of Oshkosh, William created a narrow, grass and gravel airstrip to support “Para-Naut DZ” in Omro, Wisconsin
(“Skydive Adventure” when Hasenfus retired in 2016). Starting in 1961, it was home to one of the world’s first sport parachuting operations and became a regular hangout for Paul and Audrey. One could often see and hear Paul making an appearance in his P-51 mere feet above the airstrip or coming by on his Harley to relax and hang out.
William was one of the first members of the Liberty Parachute Team — for decades seen in the sky above Oshkosh as the show openers at EAA’s annual fly-in and convention, as well as the Oklahoma City Air Show and the Las Vegas Air Show. He has trained more than 100,000 parachutists and skydivers, and established a reputation for his meticulous tailwheel training in his Cessna 190 and 180 aircraft. Many of William’s pilots continue flying professionally to this day. William’s name, city, and state will be added to a Roll of Honor located here.
