By Ralph McCormick, Publisher/Editor Fly-Low Magazine

The Oklahoma Aeronautical Commission has presented Dr. Guy Baldwin of Tulsa (OK) with the Oklahoma Aviator of the Year award. The December event at the Oklahoma City Wiley Post Airport was a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of controlled powered flight. This was also the fortieth anniversary of the Oklahoma Aeronautical Commission. Governor Brad Henry recognized aviation heroes such as Wiley Post, astronaut Tom Stafford, and Ray Siegfried for Nordam's contributions.

Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin presented three proclamations to contributors of aviation. The Aviator of the Year Award was presented to Baldwin by Mike Huffman, Editor of The Oklahoma Aviator in recognition of his past and continued contribution to the enthusiasm, education, participation, the medical aspects of aviation and the advancement of Oklahoma aviation.

"This award came as a pleasant surprise," states Baldwin. "The fact that I was presented the award during the year we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of powered flight, makes it even more important. Flying and sharing flight is something I really enjoy," said Baldwin. Dr. Baldwin has been a family physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) for thirty years. Twenty-five of those years, he has been an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), performing as many as two-thousand aviation medicals each year. That makes him one of the FAA's top AMEs. Several National publications have featured Baldwin's activities in aerobatic flight on his medical contributions. Baldwin has been performing aerobatics at air shows for the past four years. He has performed at many air shows in the central United States. His aerobatic airplane is an Extra 300.

The aerobatic group, IAC Chapter 10, in Tulsa was revived by Baldwin four years ago. Its membership is near one hundred. Since then, the organization has had many famous aviation legends and World Champion Aerobatic performers visit Tulsa. Those legends include Bob Hoover, Duane Cole, Clint McHenry, and Eleana Klimovich, one of Russia's top aerobatic performers.

Baldwin flies under the banner of the Make a Wish Foundation (MAW). "It's always is a pleasure for me to provide a dream of flight for children with life-threatening illnesses," states Baldwin. Taking children for their first flight and providing a log book with either a log entry for that flight is a special treat to Baldwin. He provides flights in either the Extra 300 or his North American Harvard T-6 advanced trainer from World War II.

FMI: www.youroklahoma.com/aeronautics, www.fly-low.com