Gary Vacin
A Canadian citizen who flew many years with KLM Airlines in Europe will be the featured speaker at the Sun Lakes Aero Club gathering on Monday, Jan. 19, at the Cottonwood Country Club Lecture Hall. The session will begin with camaraderie at 6:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend. The speaker will be Dik Cusveller who spends a few months in Sun Lakes each winter to escape the cold weather at his home in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Having been interested in flying airplanes since he was young, Cusveller received a private pilot license at 18, allowing him to get into aviation college. His career took him to the northern part of Alberta, flying a Cessna 206, through the commuter airlines to the regionals, flying Dash 8s on the East Coast.
He went to Europe and flew KLM Boeing 747s around the world. Returning to Canada, he flew for several years with WestJet Airlines before retiring in March of 2025.
Cusveller’s presentation will be the third in a series of aviation-related talks given at Aero Club gatherings. Future programs include former Vietnam helicopter pilot David Abernathy on Feb. 16 and retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Schear on March 16.
The Sun Lakes Aero Club is an official Sun Lakes organization made up of pilots, former pilots, and others interested in any aspect of aviation. The club has monthly gatherings November through April featuring speakers on a wide range of aviation-related topics.
The club also hosts field trips, including one to the Titan Missile Museum south of Tucson. The club is also considering a tour of Luke Air Force Base in March. For additional information, contact Cannon Hill at 509-539-7857 or Gary Vacin at 480-298-7017.