Mary Latimer
Pictured on left is Mary Latimer with a recent Gift Attendee Willow Hetrick who received her PPL at the 2012 event. The Founder and President of Gift Academy Inc.
Mary has been a flight instructor since 1974. She is a corporate pilot flying a Conquest II, and an A&P mechanic with Inspection Authorization. She is also a retired air traffic controller after twenty-four years of service.
She and her husband, Lawrence Latimer have been in aviation since meeting in 1970. They have been involved in aerial application industry, ferry, maintenance, rebuild, flight training, freight, and corporate areas...plan on taking a seat when the stories start! No one ever wants to leave when she starts!
Mary was named Flight Instructor of the year for the Lubbock Region in 2013!
Mary has been a flight instructor since 1974. She is a corporate pilot flying a Conquest II, and an A&P mechanic with Inspection Authorization. She is also a retired air traffic controller after twenty-four years of service.
She and her husband, Lawrence Latimer have been in aviation since meeting in 1970. They have been involved in aerial application industry, ferry, maintenance, rebuild, flight training, freight, and corporate areas...plan on taking a seat when the stories start! No one ever wants to leave when she starts!
Mary was named Flight Instructor of the year for the Lubbock Region in 2013!
Lawrence Latimer
Lawrence is commercial pilot, flight instructor and helicopter instructor and A&P mechanic, and also a corporate pilot currently flying the Conquest II. He began his training before meeting Mary and was starting in the aerial application industry at when they met.
This is what Lawrence does best, taking those who might have been strung along, have been scared or overwhelmed, needing to overcome bad initial training, or just a major confidence boost. He just has a knack for it. He is one of women's biggest supporter in aviation and most women and men always want to fly with him again and again. He will be brutally honest when required,
He and Mary teach year round from Wilbarger County Airport (F05) located in Vernon Texas.
Lawrence is commercial pilot, flight instructor and helicopter instructor and A&P mechanic, and also a corporate pilot currently flying the Conquest II. He began his training before meeting Mary and was starting in the aerial application industry at when they met.
This is what Lawrence does best, taking those who might have been strung along, have been scared or overwhelmed, needing to overcome bad initial training, or just a major confidence boost. He just has a knack for it. He is one of women's biggest supporter in aviation and most women and men always want to fly with him again and again. He will be brutally honest when required,
He and Mary teach year round from Wilbarger County Airport (F05) located in Vernon Texas.
Tamara Griffith
Tamara is pictured on the left with Chloe from the 2015 class.She is the Event Coordinator and Director of Marketing.
Tamara is the daughter of Lawrence and Mary and the only child. She was born into aviation already in planes at a month old. Had her first tool set at 4 years of age and was starting to learn the instruments also. She thought everyone had a plane and living on the airfield next to the hangars its not hard to see where she had learned that mindset.
Tamara is commercial pilot, flight instructor, and A&P with her inspection Authorization (like her mother and likely the only mother daughter IA's). Tamara has been a corporate pilot, freight pilot, and has crossed both oceans, flown to, in and around many other countries. She is currently an independent flight instructor and also a mechanic.
She gives the other perspective of the story to Mary's from when she was the passenger in some.
She lives in Justin Texas Near DFW
Tamara is the daughter of Lawrence and Mary and the only child. She was born into aviation already in planes at a month old. Had her first tool set at 4 years of age and was starting to learn the instruments also. She thought everyone had a plane and living on the airfield next to the hangars its not hard to see where she had learned that mindset.
Tamara is commercial pilot, flight instructor, and A&P with her inspection Authorization (like her mother and likely the only mother daughter IA's). Tamara has been a corporate pilot, freight pilot, and has crossed both oceans, flown to, in and around many other countries. She is currently an independent flight instructor and also a mechanic.
She gives the other perspective of the story to Mary's from when she was the passenger in some.
She lives in Justin Texas Near DFW
N3245L A donated 1967 C172 H
N2447R A 1969 Piper 180 Romeo |
we often get attached to our aircraft that were apart of goals and success! This one was donated in basically nearly unusable condition, needing an engine especially. We were also at that time in need of a plane ready for an event. We put personal funds into cylinders and managed her avionics. yes there is peeling paint places, and she eventually received another engine again personally funded and currently getting avionics and ADSB currency at Ezell Avionics in Breckinridge Texas.
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We often affectionally tell the Ladies this is your Romeo for your week during the event.
Elizabeth Hawley donated her right before our second year of our event. He has been an excellent plane and many solos and instrument students have flown in her. This airplane was also used with Elizabeth and Mary during 2011 Air Race Classic number 22!
Romeo is now reaching the end of life of his engine and soon need one, and is scheduled for avionics upgrade in August of 2020 to be done at Ezell Avionics.
Elizabeth Hawley donated her right before our second year of our event. He has been an excellent plane and many solos and instrument students have flown in her. This airplane was also used with Elizabeth and Mary during 2011 Air Race Classic number 22!
Romeo is now reaching the end of life of his engine and soon need one, and is scheduled for avionics upgrade in August of 2020 to be done at Ezell Avionics.