Darrington pilot Anthony Reece keeps on flying
Published 11:11 pm Thursday, March 6, 2008
DARRINGTON — A year ago, Anthony Reece was struggling to recover from a helicopter crash that left him with three cracked vertebrae and a split sternum.
Today, he’s back in the air, flying logs and rescue missions and receiving major awards.
The Virginia-based Helicopter Association International awarded Reece, 71, the Robert E. Trimble Memorial Award on Feb. 25 in Houston. The award honors mountain pilots who have “displayed exceptional ability and good judgment.”
Next Wednesday, Reece is scheduled to receive the Harvey Bell Memorial Award in Reno from the Professional Trailbuilders Association. The award honors Reece’s contribution to trail building. He uses helicopters to fly logs and other trail materials to remote sites. The Civilian Conversation Corps received the honor last year.
Reece has spent nearly 22,000 hours flying. Owner of Hi Line Helicopters Inc. in Darrington, he has plucked injured hikers off cliffs during mountain rescues and dropped buckets of water on wildfires. He’s flown scientists and doctors to remote areas and moved logs for timber operations.
On Thursday, he was doing the same type of logging work over Skagit Valley mountains as he was on Jan. 4, 2007, when his chopper lost power and fell 140 feet to the ground. Reece spent months in bed recovering but was flying again by spring.
“It’d be sort of be like if you decided to stop walking,” he said Thursday. “You couldn’t stand that, could you? I have had a love for flying since 1940 or before — and I’ll probably fly as long as I live.”
About the awards
Robert E. Trimble Memorial Award
Given annually by Helicopter Association International, a trade organization for helicopter pilots. The group has more than 1,600 member organizations in more than 74 nations.
The award is named after a renowned helicopter pilot who died in a crash in 1961.
Harvey Bell Memorial Award
Given annually by the Professional Trailbuilders Association, a group of trail specialists, professional trail contractors, designers and consultants.
The award honors people and organizations who have demonstrated innovative and outstanding achievements in trail design or construction.
Harvey Bell was a longtime trail contractor who died just before the turn of the 21st century.
Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
