Originally published in 1999
In September 1999, the Flight Instructor Hall of Fame, which is administered by the National Flight Instructors (NAFI), officially inducted three persons whose combined hours total nearly 40,000 hours of flight instruction time. The three inductees are Anders Christenson, Dale DeRemer and Verne Jobst.
Christenson, of Bloomington, Minn., has logged more than 27,000 hours of flight time, including more than 23,000 as a flight instructor. He was a high school teacher, who also became an outstanding instructor of student pilots and other flight instructors.
DeRemer, of Grand Forks, N.D., has more than 40 years of experience in aviation, including more than 3, l 00 hours of instruction. After careers in science and as a corporate pilot, DeRemer became a professor at the University of North Dakota’s aerospace program. He has also written several books used in collegiate aviation departments throughout the country.
Jobst, of McHenry, Ill., is an extremely versatile pilot and instructor who has flown aircraft ranging from B-17 bombers to 747 transports, as well as balloons and gliders. With more than 11,500 instructional hours of his 40,000 logged flight hours, he has contributed to aviation instruction and safety for both general aviation and the airlines.
The Flight Instructor Hall of Fame was founded in 1997; and the NAFI was founded in 1967, which is dedicated to raising and maintaining the professional standing of flight instructors across the nation, as well as providing a safe and effective learning situation for students. Additionally, NAFI initiates education and support programs throughout the aviation industry. The organization became affiliated with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in May 1995.