On July 1st, 2024, Katie Henslin and her siblings took a journey from Florida to Arizona aboard a commercial airline flight with Katie's father, Tim Hardy at the helm. This was his last flight in a career that spanned almost 4 decades and began in west central Minnesota.
Tim's passion for aviation took flight at a young age, nurtured by his father before him. His father was also a pilot, and not only was this his profession, it was his passion. His hard work and dedication to aviation was unwavering, and this created a legacy that was passed down to Tim. I am going to give you this story from Katie and her siblings own words, so you can feel the pride they have in their father's accomplishments.
"At age 15, Dad started taking flying lessons from our grandfather. Our grandparents owned and operated 2 businesses, Willmar Aerial Spraying, and Olivia Flying Service, an FBO....Fixed Base Operator. These family businesses provided essential services to the community, and also ignited a lifelong love for aviation in dad.
In July of 1975, on his 16th birthday, dad achieved his first solo flight. A year later he earned his private pilot license. This early start to his career earned him approximately 22,000 hours in the sky over the course of his career. For the next 7 years, dad worked in the family business, crop dusting and providing aerial spraying services. His dedication and skill in these formative years were evident, setting the stage for his transition to commercial aviation. In 1985, he accepted a position as a first officer with a small airline based in Spencer, Iowa. One year later, he took a big leap in his career by joining a corporate division of American Airlines, where he served as a first officer and captain for the next 37 years."
As a preparation for retirement, Katie and her siblings were able to be on Tim's last commercial flight from Florida to Arizona and were able to spend a few days together, recalling his career, and their pride in his accomplishments.
Katie says..."Sitting in the flight cabin on my dad's last flight was a surreal experience. It was a time to reflect on his dedication, hard work, and the thousands of hours he spent soaring through the skies. To me, his career was a testament to his unwavering passion and commitment to aviation. When the plane touched down, and dad completed his final landing, there was lots of joy, and of course, tears. Dad had held his duty to safely transport millions of passengers to their destinations. It was a poignant moment filled with happiness and a touch of sadness as he signed off as captain for the last time. It was an incredible experience to embark on his last flight as a family, honoring my dad in his incredible career. For my siblings and I, this final flight will forever be etched in our hearts. A tribute to a man whose life was truly defined by his love of flying."
So, there you have it! A life of service to others, and a passion for doing what he loved. Add that to the way Tim inspired his kids, and there is a recipe for success!
