Just in case you happen to get confused about who's who around the airport I thought I would make a page to give you a brief summary about all the characters in my stories.
AufderHeide Flying Service
This flying service was started by my Papa Cal over 60 years ago. He was a crop duster, my daddy Mark was a crop duster, and now my big brother Matthew is a crop duster. We are located at the DeWitt Municipal Airport and are available for all your spraying, seeding, and fertilizing needs!
Katherine AufderHeide: Yep, that's me. After graduating college in 2007, I worked for Congressman Marion Berry & the U.S. House of Representatives until his retirement in December 2010. I started helping out my brother at the flying service during wheat season in February and just kinda hung around while looking for a job in Little Rock; where I still own a home and live during the weekends. My title here is Office Manager/Secretary/Scheduler/Cleaning Lady/Renaissance Woman/Head Blogger. I have an incredibly dry and sarcastic sense of humor and tend to find hilarity in most all situations. I started this blog out of boredom and the need to document all the exciting happenings around the airport and share them with you!.. You're Welcome.
Matthew AufderHeide: Chief Pilot. Matthew's my older brother who's been working at the flying service since he was 14. This is his first year to be the main man and the head honcho. He takes his job very seriously and works incredibly hard, yet still has a great sense of humor and always makes me laugh. (This morning he did some dance in my office where he stuck his hands on his hips and shook his booty from side to side, while singing "Kimosabe, Jump On It") Matthew is married to Ashley and they have two daughters (Ashtyn & Mary Grace) and a new little bundle on the way. His nickname around the port is "Blue" to my grandpa or "Brother Bear" which is what I like to call him!
Shawn Watkins: Shawn is part of the ground crew at AufderHeide Flying Service. He's the main mechanic, the chief loader truck driver, and master electrician when needed. He's got fiery red hair and a temper capable of matching it. Shawn worked for us previously when I was in high school and after several years away, he remembered his true calling and is back at the airport working hard for his money!
Alex Hanson: Junior, as my dad nicknamed him and we currently call him, began working for us last year after previously working for several different flying services around the county. He makes up the other half of our ground crew and works incredibly hard day in day out. He's our head "Mr. Cool" and likes to keep us apprised of what all the cool kids are doing these days. In the off season Junior is a KA at Arkansas State in Jonesboro.
Margo AufderHeide: AKA Big Boss Lady. Margo is the momma to me & Matthew (& Alexis) She keeps all the books for the flying service, fills in for me when I need to go back to Little Rock, and most importantly, she signs the checks!
Gerald Whitcomb: G.W. as we affectionately call him has been a recent addition to the airport over the past few years. He is a former teacher (retired several times) and is currently head of the airport commission. He usually reports for duty every morning around 7 and finds various task and projects to work on throughout the day. He is a certifiable genius and always has the answer and back story to my questions. He also loves to sing, quote poetry, and tell funny jokes!
Bullock Flying Service
Bullock Flying Service is our neighbor at the DeWitt Municipal Airport, located just across the tarmac. Their flying service has also been around for quite awhile and was started by Mr. Billy Paul Bullock. The have been incredibly helpful to us since my daddy got sick and since Matthew and I started running the show. Many of the Bullocks, their ground crew, & pilots are included in my day to day stories.
Heath Baker / Cupcake: Cupcake is currently the chief pilot over at Bullocks and he'll be sure to remind you of that if you forget. Like Matthew, his daddy and grandpa were crop dusters and ever since he was little that's all he's ever known. Cupcake is a native of Humphrey, Arkansas and that is where he lives during the off season. However, during the main season he & his dog Canine live in a camper off the side of Bullock's hangar... His chateau away from home. The love of his life, an American flag-themed Citabria, sits in our hangar and if you're sweet to him I'm sure he'll take ya up for a spin! Cupcake has a very southern accent and has lots of many "oldy but goody" southern sayings. Most of my favorite quotes come from him!
Lonnie Kagebein: Lonnie is an experienced pilot with a few decades of crop dusting under his belt. He has retired from the profession three times now but, like a bad habit, I guess he just can't quit. He came out of retirement again this year to work over at Bullock's and I'm pretty sure because of his comrades this is his favorite year yet! Although maybe I just think that because Lonnie is one of the jolliest fellas I know and never seems to be in a bad mood. In the off season Lonnie likes to tinker on cars and drive around the races in his bright orange Ranger. Ladies, be on the look out for this one... You can't miss him!
David & Shannon Bullock: David's daddy Billy Paul started Bullock's Flying Service many years ago. Until recently, David was the chief pilot, but now he's the chief overseer and keeps everybody lined out. His wife, Shannon, answers the phones and runs the books for the flying service, and also makes delicious desserts from time to time!
Moe, Rickey Bobby, & Corby: These guys make up Bullock's ground crew and are also frequently used in my blogs. Rickey Bobby has been fired and rehired about 4 times already this year so by the time I finish writing this page, I can't promise you he's still there. Corby is Shannon's brother who reads everything he puts his hands on and Moe is a good old guy who has been there forever.
Minuteman Air Service, Inc.
This aircraft inspection/maintenance/mechanic business is owned and operated by our good friends Robert and Rose Craig and is fairly new to the DeWitt Municipal Airport. They relocated here from across the river a few years back and we couldn't be more please to have them! Robert is a wonderful mechanic who always helps us out whenever need be.
