501(c)3
A 501©3 Publicly Funded Charity
Meet The Aviation Foundation Board Members:
Linda Benning
Linda graduated with a Political Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and spent several years in retail management while looking at her husband’s aviation job with great interest. Thirty years later, she is grateful she earnestly took the quantum leap and, learned to fly obtaining ratings from Private Pilot to Flight Instructor and Airline Transport Pilot, all while continuing to work in retail. She has flown Part 91 as a corporate pilot, 135 charter, and is type rated in Hawker turbojets.
Linda and her husband, Jim, became jet crew members twenty years ago, one of few husband-wife crews in the country. Eventually, they started a management and charter operation.
She was the only female President of the second oldest, continuously operating aero club in the U.S., The Aero Club of Pittsburgh, which was active for 110 years and was instrumental in founding the sister organization, The Aviation Foundation, a 501©3 public charity in 1997.
Ralph Beatty
Ralph is a graduate of Duquesne University. He had an interest in aviation at a young age and has been a pilot for over 51 years. Along with his wife, they have two sons, and both are pilots, one serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant. Colonel.
He is a flight instructor in multiple categories and holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate. Currently, he is a corporate pilot flying a King Air.
Ralph enjoys flight instructing, is currently working with motivated future aviators, and is also actively using the AOPA education model to demonstrate the aerospace career potential in public schools.
In addition to The Aviation Foundation, Ralph serves on the board of directors of the EAA Chapter 45 at Rostraver Airport and encourages anyone interested in anything aviation related to please contact him.
Sandy Levandosky
Sandy has been fascinated with automobiles and airplanes since she was very young, spending Sunday afternoons at local airports and antique car museums with her father. Trained as a draftsman and graphic artist, her first job in aviation was drafting wiring diagrams and mechanical drawings for cockpit voice recorder installations at the Allegheny County Airport. This little airport quickly became her home, where she has worked Line Service, CSR Fuel Desk and Ground Support. She has taken a keen interest in documenting the rich history of the Allegheny County Airport and directs walking tours of the airport for youth groups to inspire a passion for aviation in future generations.
Myles Lilley
Myles has always been interested in aviation, first through model rocketry and remote-control airplanes, and is now a 22-year Instrument Pilot.
Aviation has served Myles business over the years making for traveling to remote sites a faster and more enjoyable experience. After 28 years, he sold his printing company to focus on the banking industry and now enjoys the role as a Commercial Lender for a Pittsburgh-based, regional mutual bank.
Myles serves on regional non-profit boards, including the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce and Outreach Teen and Family Services, as well as The Aviation Foundation board,
Finally, Myles is the Aircraft Owner’s and Pilot’s Association Airport Support Network volunteer for the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Donald Rhodes
Don has a master’s degree in Mathematics in addition to a Ph.D. in Physics and worked as a senior research physicist specializing in nuclear physics and electronics for Gulf Research. Subsequently, he operated a technical research service and consulting company and is the author of more than thirty scientific papers and contributions to books.
Always interested in aviation, he has aircraft ratings for Airline Transport Pilot, Certified Instrument Flight Instructor single and multi-engine, and holds the technician rating for Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. He actively conducts instrument airplane training.
Don served the historic Aero Club of Pittsburgh as President and helped to found ACP’s’ sister organization, The Aviation Foundation. He remains on the board but recently stepped aside from the TAF Presidency where he served for many years. He devotes most of his time to the dance studio he co-owns and he is also an amazing professional dancer.
Karl Voigt
A retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, Karl graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Civil Engineering degree.
Karl’s support, and appreciation of “anything aerospace” began years ago. He is an Instrument Pilot and a member of the Pittsburgh Flying club.
Karl served as treasurer for the historic Aero Club of Pittsburgh and then as treasurer for the ACP’s’ sister organization, The Aviation Foundation. He remains on the board but recently stepped aside from the TAF treasurer’s position, where he served for many years, to travel and spend more time with his family.
He is a generous volunteer in time and expertise to the general aviation community including working through the Carnegie Science Fair for many years, specifically supporting aerospace themed projects.