Dave Charles Maahs

Maahs Dave Charles Maahs, age 54, of Burnsville, passed away Fri. Feb. 28, 2003, at Fairview Ridges Hosp. Survived by parents, Dick and Renee Maahs of Hutchinson; son, Charlie Maahs of Lakeville; step son, Mason of Lakeville; brother, Gary Maahs of Minnehaha Falls; sisters, Anita (Michael) Liepke of Hutchinson, and Heidi McCann of Shakopee; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Dave was born on May 8, 1948, in Minneapolis. He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1966. He earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1982. Dave had over 22 yrs. of progressive experience as an International Corporate Pilot and in R&D programs for both flight control development and flight testing programs. Dave clocked over 14,500 hrs. of flight time and many type ratings. He received the FAA Flight Test Pilot Designated Engineering Representative certificates for Honeywell International and Consulting Certificates. Dave served his country in the US Army and US Air Force during the Vietnam War as a combat pilot, achieving 1000 hrs. of combat flight time. While in the Air Force, he was trained on the Craig AFB & 934 TALG in Minneapolis. In the Army, he was in Commissioned Artillery, flight school, was a Vietnam Combat Pilot, an Aviation Test Board, Aircraft test branch, Test pilot, in Test and Evaluation Command, Flight Test Pilot School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Awards Army Commendation, receiving a medal for Meritorious service. He was awarded 40 air medals, and also the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Division Level order for Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with the Silver Star. Dave held employment as a Bell 222 Project Pilot at Experimental Flight Test Pilot Bell Helicopter and Textron in Ft. Worth, TX, and also with Honeywell Corporate Flight Operations in Minneapolis, as a Pilot and Flight Test Development Pilot and Regional Pilot Captain. Dave played an important role in the research and development of many commonly used aircraft technology such as GPS and GII flat panel design. He also took part in many flight test demonstrations including the NASA CASPER/AILS Program in Minneapolis, Paris Air Show Satellite Landing System (SLS-2000) demonstrations in Le Bourget, France, Curved-path D-GPS approaches in Beijing, China, and at Chicago Midway Airport, Ontario, CA, Houston, TX, and Washington National. He also worked on a Space Shuttle approach flight demonstration. In addition to his military medals, Dave received many awards from Honeywell. Funerals services Tues. Mar. 4, at 11 AM, at Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. Visitation Mon. 5-8 PM and on Tues. 8-9 AM at Dobratz-Hantge South Chapel in Hutchinson and one hour prior to the service at church. Dobratz-Hantge Chapel 320-587-2128