William Donald Hightower Sr. as 17 year old flying student at Reid’s Hillview Airport 1945
Those who knew and flew with my dad during his 60 + year flying career should especially appreciate this article from over 70 years ago. Flying Taught Here In From 8 To 12 Hours (San Jose News 1945) (from personally scanned newspaper clipping) Flying instruction is now available to civilians at Orcutt’s Flight Service at Reid’s Hillview Air Field, East of San Jose. Don and Harold Orcutt, operators of the Service, report that it takes less than a dozen hours of instruction to learn to solo and costs a little over $100. Shown above, left to right, are Don Orcutt and Bill Hightower, student pilot; Harold Orcutt Jr., in the cockpit, and Harold Orcutt Sr., spinning the propeller on the plane in the foreground. --- San Jose News photo. By PATRICIA LOOMIS It takes only 8 to 12 hours to learn to fly. Some 30 flying students are now receiving flying instructions at Orcutt’s Flight Service School, Reid’s Hillview Air Field, on the east side of San Jose, and m