The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – After spending nearly three decades spraying crops for Touchet Valley farmers, Kevin Winger is passing the keys of Wing-Air to six-year employee Seth Murdock of Dayton. Murdock and his wife Paula, took over ownership on Monday, renaming the business Maco Aviation, Inc. after their two sons, Max and Connor.

Murdock grew up in Alaska and learned to fly under the tutelage of his father, who was an airline pilot. He moved to Canada as a teen, but after graduating high school, he returned to Alaska where he flew float planes and air taxis.

"Alaska is a special and unique place, but there's not a lot of agricultural flying. I always liked the idea of crop dusting and wanted to try it," Murdock said.

Murdock said he did some crop dusting in Tennessee and Idaho before coming to work for Wing-Air. He and his family have lived in Dayton for about six years and he says they love the area and the people.

"Crop dusting and flying float planes are both adventurous, but in different ways," Murdock said. "In Alaska you're always watching the weather and terrain. With crop dusting you're right in there and it can be over in a second if something goes south. And you're by yourself, so it's all on you."

Winger said that Murdock has been doing about 80% of the spraying since he came on board and the business is in good hands.

"I feel that Seth is the best pilot I know in the aerial application business. He has worked with us for six years and has an intense work ethic, positive attitude, and is easy to talk and work with," Winger said.

At age 61, Winger said the time has come for him to say good-bye to crop dusting, even though it is a job he has enjoyed and finds exhilarating.

Winger worked as a "gas boy" at the La Grande, Ore. airport in his early 20's and took advantage of the opportunity to learn to fly. He said he had lots of incentives and was able to fly many different types of planes while there.

He spent several years flying hunters into the back country and flying charters before he began crop dusting in the LaGrande area. In 1985 his employer purchased the site in Waitsburg and hired Kevin to manage it.

Kevin eventually purchased the business and named it Wing-Air in 1988 when his employer was hired by the DEA to spray drug crops in Central America.

"He asked if I wanted to go along and I asked if they ever got shot at. He said 'yes, but they give you an armor plated seat.' I asked if you could take a gun with you and he said 'no.' I told him I'd stay right here!" Winger said, laughing.

Winger says he's been very satisfied working out of the Huntsville airport owned by Dan Bickelhaupt. He said the air strip was originally put in by the Bickelhaupt family after the war to train pilots through the GI Bill. The current Maco office was once the pilot's classroom.

Both Murdock and Winger admit to enjoying the adrenaline rush of flying, with Winger comparing the freedom to riding a motorcycle, except that you're dodging trees and power lines.

"In the older days, crop dusting was pretty wild. The spray planes had open cockpits and the pilots would shoot at each other if they crossed into another pilot's territory," he said laughing.

As the years progressed, rules and regulations increased and things calmed down to what is now, a respectable and professional occupation, he said.

"It's all about safety. Protecting people and protecting crops. It's not like it used to be," Winger said. "The job is about a lot more than having fun. There's a great responsibility with it," he added.

Winger said he will miss flying the hills. "Most places around the world farm flats. This is one of the only places with big, rolling hills. It's challenging, fun, and beautiful. You're up there every few days with the hills, the greens, the browns, the mountains . . . it's a beautiful part of the country. Definitely one-of-a-kind," Winger said.

While he is stepping back, Winger said he will retain the business name Wing-Air under which he will continue to operate his two water trucks during fire season.

As for the aerial application business, Murdock says he intends to keep things running pretty much status quo, with some modest growth down the road.

"We'll have one plane available 100% of the time. If things heat up like they did last spring with the rust outbreak we'll bring in what we need to get the work done," Murdock said.

He said the spraying season typically begins in February, with the application of dry fertilizer, and runs through November, with not much going on in December and January.

"Basically, we work from the last snow to the first snow. Last year we had three planes flying on Dec. 20 because we were trying to get the guys home for Christmas!" Winger said.

Murdock works out of a triangulation of airstrips in Huntsville, Walla Walla, and Clyde.

"It's a lot to manage but the closer he is to the work, the less expensive it is and the better service he can provide," Winger said. "We've had customers for over 25 years. We've watched kids take over operations, and now grandkids are getting involved," he added.

"I'm very appreciative of my time working with Kevin both as a pilot and for the knowledge I've learned from him in the areas of aviation and agriculture. I plan to be here for a very long time. We love the people here, it's a great place to raise kids, and I love flying in the hills," Murdock said.

Murdock invites interested parties to stop by or call the office with questions, comments, or input at (509) 337-6481.