2005 Pilots

Iditarod Air Force Crew 2008

	Chief Pilot John Norris.
	Iditarod pilot since 1989. Chief Pilot from 1996 to 2007. 24 year Alaska resident, originally from Placerville, California. Lives in Anchorage with wife Donna, and son Jeffrey. John is Marketing Company President for U-Haul Company of Alaska/ Yukon. John flies a Cessna 180 for the Iditarod Air Force. His wife Donna works in the backgraound to make sure things get done.

Marty Carlson

Marty has been an Iditarod pilot since 2004. In his other life he is a commercial pilot close to retirement, a husband to Antje, and Grandfather to Tom and Max. He and Antje have called Anchorage home since 1994 and share their home with numerous rescued German Shorthair Pointers and a cat. Marty occasionally flies a C-185 for the IAF.

Danny Davidson.

Started flying for ITC in 1981, averaging 100+ hours per year. Every annual inspection, the bill comes, and I say "no more". Then the decision time arrives and I am in the plane again. Good fellowship along the trail! Is retired steel erection contractor. Currently is missions pilot and chief pilot for CPA Air. Wife is Matilda. Last daughter @ home is Dani (student pilot, hopes to be ITC and Missionary pilot), many animals and good friends. Has been in Alaska since 1957. Matilda keeps him in line and nurses his arm.

Richard Dowling

Iditarod pilot since 1994. 38 year resident, originally from Florida. Lives in Anchorage. Engineer for General Communication Inc. Richard flies a Cessna 185 for the Iditarod Air Force.

Russ Dunlap

I've been an Iditarod Air Force Pilot since 2001. Alaska resident since 1994. Alaska Airlines pilot since 1988. Lives in Palmer with his wife and 2 sons. Russ flies a Cessna 180 for the Iditarod Air Force.

Bob Elliott

Iditarod Pilot since 1996. 30 year Alaska resident who lives in Anchorage. Bob is an engineer with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. He flies a 1969 Cessna 180 for the Iditarod Air Force.

	*Wes Erb*
	Iditarod Pilot since 2005. Wes grew up in Hendersonville, NC, moved to Alaska in 1994 and lives in Chugiak with his wife and daughter. He is a MD-11 first officer for FedEx, is an active Civil Air Patrol pilot, and flies a 1965 Cessna 180 for the Iditarod Air Force.

David "Eric" Erickson

Iditarod Air Force Pilot since 2007. As a 10year Alaska resident, Eric and his wife Frieda live at Wolf Lake in the winter and Seldovia in the summer. Eric retired from Flying Tigers and Federal Express after 30 plus years. In ‘06 he spent 6 months flying the Twin Otter on humanitarian flights in the Darfur region of Africa. This past summer he flew the Twin Otter with fisherman and hunters down to a camp 450miles southwest of Anchorage near the Aleutian Chain. Eric flies a Cessna 185 for the Iditarod Air Force.

Robert “Bert” Hanson. Asst. Chief Pilot Unalakleet

Iditarod pilot since 1984, Assistant Chief Pilot at Unalakleet since 2006, one of our longest flying pilot volunteers. Born and raised in Alaska, lives in Anchorage with wife Reb and family. Chief pilot in 1989 and 1991. Ran the Iditarod (behind dogs) in 1990 and 1993. Aircraft pilot and mechanic, currently flying commercially for Alaska Airlines. Bert flies a Cessna 180 aircraft for the Iditarod Air Force.

Glen Hanson.

Pilot since 1984. Started flying a Cessna 185 and using a 182. A & P mechanic and was a commercial pilot for Northern Air Cargo and PenAir. Iditarod trail breaker 2 years. Currently living in Anchorage with his wife and working as an energy consultant.

Ken Kastner

Iditarod pilot since 2001. 25 year Alaska resident. Ken lives in Anchorage with wife Lorraine. Ken recently retired after 25 years with Eastman Kodak Co. and now operates a small construction business. Ken flies a Cessna 180 for the Iditarod Airforce.

Jim Kintz.

Iditarod pilot since 1993. 47 year resident of Alaska, originally from Gillette, Wyoming. Lives in Anchorage. Retired engineer and land developer. Commercial hunting guide and pilot. Jim flies a Cessna 180 for the Iditarod Air Force.

Mike Koskovich, IAF SAFETY OFFICER

A 31 year resident of Alaska, has provided Iditarod air support in various capacities since 1978. Iditarod Air Force since 1985. Assistant Chief Pilot in Nome in 2006, Originally from Shakopee, Minnesota, Mike and his wife Jayne have lived in the Palmer-Wasilla area since 1974. Mike flies long haul freighters commercially for Atlas Air, and a Cessna 185 on the Iditarod.

Monte Mabry

Iditarod pilot since 1997. 22 year Alaska resident, born in Tennessee; lived in Montana, Oklahoma, the Carolinas, Texas, Mexico, Papua New Guinea and London, England before settling down in Alaska. Monte holds an ATP but prefers to fly on his own. In his other life he is an Exploration Geophysicist at ConocoPhillips Alaska. Monte flies a Cessna 180K for Iditarod Air Force.

Bill Mayer

Iditarod pilot since 1990. 29 year Alaska resident, originally from Philadelphia, PA. Bill is a cardiologist and president of Alaska Heart Institute, previous Chief of Cardiology at Providence Hospital. Bill flies a Cessna 185 for Iditarod Air Force.

Kenn Moon. Iditarod Air Force Pilot since 1993. Originally from New York, first came to Alaska as a US Air Force pilot in 1957 and has flown commercially since. Lives in the South Fork of Eagle River, Alaska with wife Judy. Kenn flies a 1978 Cessna 180K on wheel-skis for the Iditarod

Bruce Moroney

Iditarod pilot since 1986. 33 year Alaska resident, originally from Los Altos, Calif. Bruce holds an ATP and has been flying commercially since 1971. Bruce flew for several Alaska bush operators until joining Alaska International Air/MarkAir in 1977, where he spend 19 years flying the C-130 and B-737. Bruce now flies the B-747 for Atlas Air flying world wide. Bruce is an Iditarod musher, finishing twice, last Iditarod 2001. Bruce flies a C-185 on skis which he owns with his wife Diana , also an Iditarod Airforce pilot.

Diana Moroney

Iditarod pilot since 1998. 31 year Alaska resident, originally from Monterey , California . Diana holds an ATP and has flown commercially in Alaska since 1995, flying the DC-3, DC-6, Casa-212. Diana currently flies the Caravan for Grant Aviation. Diana has been involved in Sled Dog racing since the early 80’s and has raced the Iditarod 10 times, (last Iditarod 2005). Diana has also run the Hope race, Nome to Anadyr Russia and the Yukon Quest, Knik-200, Kobuk-440, Copper Basin-300 and Beargrase-500 as well as many others. Diana flies a Cessna-185 on skis for Iditarod which she owns with her husband Bruce, also an Iditarod Airforce pilot.

Phil Morgan

Iditarod pilot since 1995. Born and raised in Alaska. Lives in Anchorage. Captain for Alaska Airlines. Phil normally flies a Cessna 185 for the Iditarod Air Force. Phil was the Red Lantern Winner for the 2005 Iditarod. He has been flying with the IAF since 95.

Rich Mullowney

Rich was first on the trail in 1995 as a coordinator. he has been flying for the for the IAF since 2005. He first came to Alaska in 1970. Rich started flying in 1968 and recently retired from the airlines as a Boeing 747 Captain. He and his wife, Kaarin, currently live in Kenai where they own and operate a fishing lodge on the Kenai River. Rich flies a Cessna 185.

George Murphy

Iditarod pilot since 1980. Chief pilot in 1992. George and Danny Davidson are some of the longest flying members of the IAF.38 year resident, originally from Massachusetts. Lives at Long Lake in Willow, Alaska. George is an engineer, pilot and owner of Alaska Bush Expeditions, a charter service in Willow. George flies an Aeronica for the Iditarod Air Force. Dorthia keeps George young by going on really great adventures

Greg Niesen

Third year Iditarod Pilot Greg Niesen was born and raised in Alaska. Greg grew up around airplanes, flying out of his hometown of Seward, Alaska with his father. He currently owns a Piper PA-18 and a Cessna 180. Greg is President / CEO of Frontier Business Systems and rebuilds airplanes as a hobby. In his spare time, he hunts, fishes and explores remote areas of Alaska in his plane. He lives on a private airstrip in Peters Creek with his wife and two teenage boys.

	*Dale Olsen.*
	An IAF Pilot since 2006 and has been a professional pilot for more than 35 years, and a resident of Alaska since 1997. He lives with his wife and her golden retriever in Palmer.

Joe Pendergrass Asst. Chief Pilot Anchorage

Iditarod pilot since 1998. Was a Co-Chief Pilot with John Norris 2000 to 2004. Has been an Assistant Chief Pilot from 2006 to present. Born and raised in Alaska. Lives in Wasilla with wife Linda. Retired from the State of Alaska as a Correctional Superintendent. Joe flies a Cessna 180 for the Iditarod Air Force.

Wes Price

The is Wes's 2nd year with the IAF. He started last year at the begining of the race. Wes grew up in a ranching family in eastern Oregon and moved to Alaska in 2004 to go to work for KPMG. He started flying in high school and earned his private license at age 17. Now he enjoys flying the Last Frontier to get out of the office as much as possible. Wes runs Price Accounting & Consulting LLC, a local CPA firm specializing in outsourced accounting functions. He looks forward to many more years of flying with the Iditarod Air Force. He flys a beautiful Cessna 185.

Reagan Russey. Asst. Chief Pilot Nome

Iditarod pilot since 1986 and flying without a break ( 20 years straight with IAF). 28 year Alaska resident after having lived all over the world in the military. A retired Air Force pilot, Reagan is originally from Texas and now lives in Anchorage with his wife, Charlene, and works as a real estate agent. Reagan flies a 1966 model Cessna 180H on hydraulic wheels skies in support of the race. During the off season when Reagan is not selling real estate or helping with the family owned travel agency he is out flying in pursuit of serious hunting and fishing.

Tim Skala.

Iditarod pilot since 1996. 32 year resident, originally from Canton, Ohio. Lives in Eagle River where he also has a private medical practice. Likes fishing almost as much as flying. Tim flies a Cessna 185 for the Iditarod Air Force.

Chris Urstadt:

I've been flying since a teenager over 32 yrs. ago, accumulated nearly 17,000hrs. Iditarod pilot from 2004-06 I've taught flying, commanded DC-3's, flown single and multi engine floats all over Alaska, I got my ski flying mainly high up in the Chugach flying climbers, skiers and flightseers with glacier landings. I'm currently on furlough from flying 747's at Atlas Air Cargo. I live in Girdwood.

Jerry Wortley

This is Jerry's 1st year as an IAF pilot. I wasas raised on a farm in Idaho and graduated from the University of Idaho in 1971. My interest in aviation started at a young age and I began flying 40 years ago in a PA12. After college I spent a tour in the Marine Corps as a RIO in F-4J Phantoms. After the Marine Corps I became an aviation insurance broker specializing in commercial accounts. I hold an ATP with 5,700+ hours and currently fly a Piper Cheyenne for business and a Cessna 180 on wheels, skis & floats for business and pleasure. I live near Talkeetna with my wife, Susan.

Our Pen Air Crew

Bill Batman has been flying Idtarod Support since 2001. He flies the Caravan and can load a whole dog team and sled without breaking into a sweat.

Now we have the Load Coordinators

	*Bette Balanger Anchorage HQ*
	Bette has been an Assistant Load Coordinator since 2007. I live with my husband Ernie and our sled-dog wannabe Teddy on Wallace Lake in Wasilla. We are both pilots and enjoy flying back and forth to our property at Trapper Lake. I have been in Alaska kind of full-time for 5 years. I return to my home in California several times during the winter.

	Hannelore Kelliher NL7EA.McGrath and Nome Iditarod Comms volunteer, since the late 70’s, holds a private pilot SEL/S. Iditarod Load Coordinator Since 2001.
	Mary "Mike" Olsen McGrath and Nome

	Mike has been a resident of Alaska since 1997. Working with the IAF as an assistant load coordinator since 2007. Mike is a licensed SEL/S pilot, works as a physical therapist in Wasilla, and lives in Palmer with her husband, Dale, and his Golden Retriever.
	*Teri Paton, Unalakleet*

	Teri has been a Vollunteer with the Iditarod since 1999, started with ANC HQ sales, phone room, ITC HQ office help, restart dog handler, trail guard, and working both ( musher and people) food drops. In 2001 headed out on the trail as a “hub” cook, and last year helped in UNK as an IAF asst. load coordinator and took over as housing coordinator for out of state volunteers/mushers. The rest of the year, I’m a soccer mom, school volunteer and C.P.A.

	Susan Watson, Anchorage HQ
	Susan is a long-time fan and first time volunteer. She moved to Alaska from Columbus, Ohio in 1999. She works at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport as a Leasing Officer at the Lake Hood General Aviation office. She loves flying (especially on floats) and airplanes of all kinds. She is very excited to be a part of the "Last Great Race"!

Mark Kelliher KL7TQ McGrath

I have been a Communications Volunteer since the 70's, but now retired from Comms.. I am assisting the IAF with prestaging of supplies from Anchorage and McGrath. I create the IAF website and Handbook

THE OFFICIAL IDITAROD PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF SCHULTZ

Jeff has been photographing the Iditarod since 1981 and has been volunteering his time and talent as the official photographer since 1982. His God-given talent has resulted in his Iditarod photos being published worldwide in books, calendars, advertisements, magazines and the like. You can see more of his work or purchase Iditarod books, calendars and posters at www.schultzphoto.com

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