Suzanne Parish Gives University Her Private Aircraft
Suzanne D. Parish, one
of the nation's best known pioneering women aviators, turned her
personal bird over to educators at Western Michigan
University's College of Aviation last week, boosting the college's
work with future aviation professionals.
Parish, whose flying days date back to World War II and her
service in the WASP-- Women's Airforce Service Pilots--came to
Battle Creek to turn over control of her 1984 Cessna 425 Conquest
to the college. The transfer occurred during a brief ceremony that
included WMU President Judith I. Bailey and Capt. Rick Maloney,
dean of the college.
"I remember so vividly being a young person and first learning
about the possibilities that are part of the aviation industry,"
says Parish. "I'm delighted to know my aircraft now will be a part
of an aviation education community I admire. I feel I've found a
good home for the plane--one where it can be studied and cared for
by the College of Aviation and where it can be used in the
college's transportation role."
Parish will retain ownership of the 1984 aircraft, but has
agreed to lease it to WMU for $1 per year. The plane has been idle
for three years and will require about a year of work to restore it
to an airworthy state. WMU students are expected to play a major
role in that restoration process.
"We are so pleased that Sue has chosen to make a statement about
our role in the aviation world with this move," said Bailey in
accepting the transfer. "Just knowing we have her support for our
work is a wonderful validation of what we do here. I think it's
particularly important to note that this is an aviation college
that works tirelessly to boost women's access to the aviation
professions. Knowing of Sue's pioneering efforts in that arena, her
support is particularly welcomed."
Maloney praised Parish's generosity and said having the plane on
campus is all the more meaningful because of the person it
represents.
"We're all aviators and we're here because we love this
profession," Maloney said. "We know how much she has contributed
over the years and what she means to the field. I'm going to be
really proud to be able to say, 'This is Sue Parish's plane and
she's letting us use it.'"
Parish, a member of the pharmaceutical industry's Upjohn family,
began flying in 1942 near her home in Kalamazoo. She was the first
woman inducted into the Experimental Aircraft Association's Warbird
Hall of Fame. The co-founder of the Kalamazoo Aviation History
Museum, Parish is renowned for more than a decade of flying her
signature pink P-40 Warhawk in national air shows. That plane now
hangs in the entry to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.
Her signature pink colors can be found on the Cessna now housed
at the College of Aviation as well. The camouflage pink exterior is
the same Libyan Desert color of the P-40 Warhawk she flew for
years.
The Cessna 425, with a seating capacity of five to seven
passengers, is small enough to get into smaller airports and is
considered quick and agile. It has a cruising speed of 285 mph and
a range of 1,400 miles.