FliRite Aviation pilot and photographer loved flying the Vermont skies
Shirley was born on February 27, 1942, to Leroy and Josephine Guyette in Berlin, Vt. The Guyette family moved to Amsden, Vt., where they purchased and operated the town general store for many years. Shirley's family purchased a horse for her, which she named "Babe.” Shirley joined the local 4H club and became very good at riding in Gymkhanas, with its timed speed events. She spent many hours riding her horse, and she could even stand on Babe's back at a gallop. Shirley's schooling began in the one-room schoolhouse in Amsden, and she attended Springfield High School in Vermont. Shirley began her professional career working for a rental car company at the Burlington airport and was subsequently hired by the City of Burlington as a public relations and tour guide at the airport. She gave many airport tours to local schoolchildren. It was during this period that she was asked to take photographs of airport events. She soon discovered she had a talent for photography, not realizing where it would lead later in life. One day, a visiting pilot offered to take her on a flight to Portland, Maine, and she jumped at the chance. Unfortunately, the return flight did not go well on that particular day, and it left Shirley terrified of flying. In 1980, another visiting pilot found out about her fear of flying and offered to help her overcome it. She decided to give it one more try and, in small steps, slowly conquered her fear of flying. She then decided to take flying lessons, and in 1983 she successfully earned her pilot’s license. By then, she had become enamored with the sense of freedom, control and beauty that flying in Vermont's Champlain Valley brought. Shirley went on to teach an "Overcoming Fear of Flight" course to others, and her success rate attracted the notice of others, bringing more people to her courses. In 1984, Shirley purchased her own airplane, a 1959 Champion aircraft. It was older but dependable and became the replacement for her horse, Babe. Shirley spent many days and hours flying the Vermont skies. In 2001, she brought in a partner in her beloved Champ, and it was taken to Rutland, Vt., for a full restoration, which took two and a half years. In June of 2004, her Champ returned to its new hanger home at Burlington airport, fully restored to "brand-new" condition.…
FliRite Aviation pilot and photographer loved flying the Vermont skies
Shirley was born on February 27, 1942, to Leroy and Josephine Guyette in Berlin, Vt. The Guyette family moved to Amsden, Vt., where they purchased and operated the town general store for many years. Shirley's family purchased a horse for her, which she named "Babe.” Shirley joined the local 4H club and became very good at riding in Gymkhanas, with its timed speed events. She spent many hours riding her horse, and she could even stand on Babe's back at a gallop. Shirley's schooling began in the one-room schoolhouse in Amsden, and she attended Springfield High School in Vermont. Shirley began her professional career working for a rental car company at the Burlington airport and was subsequently hired by the City of Burlington as a public relations and tour guide at the airport. She gave many airport tours to local schoolchildren. It was during this period that she was asked to take photographs of airport events. She soon discovered she had a talent for photography, not realizing where it would lead later in life. One day, a visiting pilot offered to take her on a flight to Portland, Maine, and she jumped at the chance. Unfortunately, the return flight did not go well on that particular day, and it left Shirley terrified of flying. In 1980, another visiting pilot found out about her fear of flying and offered to help her overcome it. She decided to give it one more try and, in small steps, slowly conquered her fear of flying. She then decided to take flying lessons, and in 1983 she successfully earned her pilot’s license. By then, she had become enamored with the sense of freedom, control and beauty that flying in Vermont's Champlain Valley brought. Shirley went on to teach an "Overcoming Fear of Flight" course to others, and her success rate attracted the notice of others, bringing more people to her courses. In 1984, Shirley purchased her own airplane, a 1959 Champion aircraft. It was older but dependable and became the replacement for her horse, Babe. Shirley spent many days and hours flying the Vermont skies. In 2001, she brought in a partner in her beloved Champ, and it was taken to Rutland, Vt., for a full restoration, which took two and a half years. In June of 2004, her Champ returned to its new hanger home at Burlington airport, fully restored to "brand-new" condition.…
