A Tribute to Ira

The Passing Away of A Great Pilot and A Great Dad – Capt. Ira Bortles

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 Ira Bortles, 97 year old pioneering aviator, folded his wings Sunday 6th May 2007, to join his loving wife Evelyn, who departed just under two years ago.

Ira grew up as a hard working farm boy in the tough, unforgiving dry-land farming region of NE Colorado. Inspired by Lindberg’s historic cross-Atlantic flight, Ira determined to become a pilot as well. A gifted mechanic, he wired his father’s iron-wheeled Fordson tractor with lights – perhaps the first ever – so he could cultivate and plant 320 acres of wheat at night, the only time that the tractor was available. This was to pay for his $2,000 tuition at the Curtiss Wright Flying School in Denver, Colorado.

The day before harvest, his crop was hailed out and his flying hopes were dashed with it. Believing in his dream, his father borrowed the funds Ira needed, and he soloed in October 1929, in a Challenger Fledgling. His dream, his transformation from farm boy to aviator had been accomplished, and soon was with the Clinesmith Flying Circus, barnstormed in Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas in his OX-5 Robin; and was a contract aviator until he joined Northwest Airlines in 1939.

He was later to be the first to fly a jet airliner into Japan, Korea, and the Philippines for NWA. Later, he established a record that stands today: the fastest Honolulu-Portland time in a 707. His 1969 mandatory retirement at 60 from Northwest allowed him to fulfill another dream, to slooowly sail to Hawaii with his youngest son Lynel.

In 1950 he, Evelyn and two oldest sons Larry and Dan, moved into his new home on West Mercer Way, in which he lived to the last.

He is survived by his three sons, 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
A service celebrating Ira’s earthly arrival and departure to new heights will be held at the Mercer Island Emmanuel Eposcopal Church on Tuesday, 15th May at 2 PM, with a reception following the service. You may contact the family at l.bortles@amphiltech.com or at 206-418-6337. You may also view highlights of Ira’s life – and make your own blog comments – in the comment box at the bottom of this page.