NAFI Presents First ‘Centenary Permanent Membership Award’
The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) is pleased to announce its first-ever Centenary Permanent Membership award to John Miller of Poughkeepsie, New York. John, who has flown everything from Jennies to jets, celebrates his 101st birthday on December 15. The CPM award will be given to every current NAFI member attaining the age of 100.
He flew his first solo in 1923 and is perhaps best known to EAA members as a pilot of the Pitcairn Autogiro. John began instructing flight students in a World War I JN-4.
In 1939 and 1940, he began a long and fruitful career with Eastern Airlines as the pilot of a Kellett wingless autogiro, an aircraft he test-flew during development. John flew 10 flights a day to and from the roof of the Post Office building in downtown Philadelphia in connection with an experimental airmail contract. His career progressed to flying DC-8 jets, and he retired from Eastern in 1963.
John still participates actively in the Bonanza community, and flies his own Beechcraft.
