June 28, 2025 – A remarkable half-century in the skies, distinguished by an unblemished record of no accidents or FAA violations, has culminated in local pilot Timothy J. Dickerson receiving the esteemed Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This prestigious honor, bestowed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), celebrates aviators who exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and expertise over an extended career.
The discovery of the award itself was a stroke of serendipity, as recounted by his wife, Sharon Dickerson, who has chronicled his aviation journey for decades. “I was flipping through one of his magazines,” she explained, referring to the EAA Aviation magazine, “and I saw a little article about a man, an older man flying… and it had the caption in there that he was a recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award. So I thought, ‘Well, I wonder what that is.’ So I… Googled it, and I found out about it through the FAA website.”
Tim’s inherent connection to aviation blossomed early. At just five years old, his grandfather, Gale Sudduth—who built P-38s for Lockheed Skunkworks during World War II—gave him his first balsa wood glider. Sharon noted, “He understood that you had to make minute bends to the wood in order to make it fly straight and level.” This early grasp of aerodynamics propelled him forward; by 1974, at 15, he was washing planes at Fresno Airport’s Valley Aviation to afford flight lessons. His first solo flight in a Cessna 150 occurred on July 7, 1975, two days after his 16th birthday.
From Military Skies to Self-Built Wonders
Tim’s journey continued with enlistment in the U.S. Army, leading him to Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as a Warrant Officer Candidate. He graduated on October 1, 1982, earning his Army Aviator Wings. “He is such a good pilot. I can’t even tell you, when we’re flying, he’s so easy and gentle,” Sharon emphasized. “I always tell everyone that he was a bird in a prior life because he just can feel the air, he knows exactly what he needs to do.” His military service included flying UH-1 (Huey) and AH-1 (Cobra) helicopters, achieving Pilot in Command status and promoting to CW3…