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New silk scarf distinguished Mike Pape
as member of elite aviation group

Mike Pape has more in common today with Snoopy’s portrayal of the Red Barron than he did a week ago.

In the newspaper comic strip, Snoopy occasionally wraps himself in a silk scarf and flies into the blue sky. Pape, a lifelong friend of aviation in Idaho, now has his own silk scarf, a symbol of membership in an elite aviation fellowship.

Director of ITD’s flight operations the past year, Pape was honored with the “Silk Scarf” award Thursday during a luncheon meeting of the Idaho Business Aviation Association at the Boise Airport.

Pape is president of the association, which is affiliated with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

“Be it known to all present: Mike Pape, Idaho Business Aviation, is hereby appointed to the order of the Silk Scarf,” the award proclaims. “The Silk Scarf of the olden days made known to all that the wearer was a member of the elite fellowship of aviation. The Order of the Silk Scarf binds those modern-day members of the league of similar minded individuals with aviation in their blood.

“Entry to the Order is awarded for diligence, industry and persistence in nurturing, improving and enjoying aviation.”

It was given in recognition of Pape’s efforts to found the Idaho Business Aviation Association in 2003, explained John DeThomas, administrator of ITD’s Division of Aeronautics. Pape was named flight operations director in September 2007 following the retirement of Ray Glidden.

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter was a guest speaker at the ceremony. While there, he praised the efforts of the Quest Aircraft Company, based in Sandpoint, for its development of the Quest Kodiak aircraft. One of the planes was displayed at the meeting.