Bob 'Wip' Wiplinger Aviation Memorial Foundation

Bob, or ‘Wip’ as he was widely known, loved aviation from the time he was a boy following his father’s footsteps at Fleming Field Airport, refurbishing warbirds into corporate aircraft.

As a teenager, He won Linda’s heart by coming to her rescue after his buddy tripped her at a roller–skating rink (on purpose?) and taking her for a ride in his Piper Cub; she knew with him she’d never have a dull life, and she was not disappointed! Bob graduated from the U of M with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering before he continued his father’s legacy in aviation, saving the world from bad floats! He worked as the chief brains of product design in the family business, Wipaire, which was closer to an extension of his family.

He befriended employees, customers, vendors, neighbors and anyone else who dropped by. Wip was also known for his love of animals, including his pet black bear, Willy, his parrot, Fred, and many dogs, cats and injured birds he found along the way. He engaged in a perpetual and futile battle of engineering wit against the raccoons to keep them off the bird feeders, while providing them a feast of leftovers.

Despite this setback against the raccoons, he is adorned with many awards from the aviation community including the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot award and being inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in April of 2023. History may show his greatest contribution to society will be the Fire Boss, an Air Tractor agriculture aircraft fitted with floats for scooping water and fighting wildfire. His design has saved the lives and property of countless people around the globe.

By Mail:
Bob ‘ Wip’ Wiplinger Aviation Memorial Foundation
CharitySmith Nonprofit Foundation
13100 Filly Lane | Truckee, CA | 96161

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