USAF Major William Russell Kavchak, age 58, of Ellerslie, Maryland passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022. William (Bill) was born on 23 September 1963 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and grew up in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania. He had a promising career path in baseball, but his love of Aviation won out and thus his life in the field of Aviation began. At the age of eight, his first flight was on a Lear Jet owned by the CEO of PPG Industries. From that moment on he wanted to be a pilot. Bill told his wife Elisa in their last email correspondence on the day he died, “the magic of flight, the sheer beauty and elegance of flight was why he was so passionate about it.”
Immediately upon graduation from Conneaut Lake High School (1981) he entered the United States Air Force. He was only 17 and had to have both his parents’ permission to enlist. He began his career as a Crew Chief Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic and his first duty station was Langley Air Force Base Virginia. His wife Elisa was also in the Air Force, and they first met at the apartment complex laundry. Both were working on their Bachelors’ degree and Bill was also working on his first rating to fly aircraft. They would often take trips out to Tangier Island and Bill taught Elisa how to fly.
Bill’s career path was set in motion upon his completion of his BS in Professional Aeronautics (1984), which included his FAA Airframe and Powerplant licensure and his acceptance for the Commissioning program in the United States Air Force.
The road to his “ultimate” goal, to become a fighter pilot took many paths that made him the pilot he became. Upon completing Officer Candidates School, and Officer Aircraft Maintenance School, both as a Distinguished Graduate (top of his class), he served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer for three years.
Bill was always recognized as a top performer and leader and his commanding officers supported his decision to go to flight school training. He completed pilot training as the distinguished graduate and thus given his choice of aircraft to fly; he chose the F-16 Flying Falcon and pressed on. He completed F-16 pilot training as distinguished graduate (1989), earned his “call-sign” (nickname for pilots) of “AJ” (AJ Squared Away) and his first duty station, as a F-16 pilot, was Spangdalhem Air Force Base Germany.
Highlights of his Air Force career included F-16C Flight Commander, Wing Supervisor of Flying, Director of Operations, Maintenance Test Pilot and Flight Examiner. He was the State Department Advisor to Bahrain Amiri Air Force at the American Embassy Bahrain, leader of the State Department Advisory Team to Bahrain Amiri Air Force for all F-16 and F-5 flight and training operation, Diplomatic Status reporting to the United States Embassy and key liaison for the first ever deployment of U.S. fighters to the island of Bahrain. He trained the first female fighter pilot. He was the Director of Academic Chief T-34C Instructor Pilot on a joint assignment at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida and trained Navy fighter pilots and he performed carrier landing. He also was the Director of Academics/Chief T-6A Instructor Pilot and formulated the academic and flight training program for thirty NASA astronaut candidates. Throughout his Air Force career, he held coveted positions.
His civilian education includes a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Science (1986), and he taught numerous courses for his alma-mater Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, both Undergraduate and Graduate courses.
He served in Dessert Storm and the Gulf War as a Combat Fighter Pilot and supported the Global War on Terrorism on 9-11.
Bill (AJ) retired from the United States Air Force in 2005 and was picked up by Lockheed Martin Aerospace Corporation as the Flight Simulator Subject Matter Expert/Simulator and Academic Instructor. He also worked for Sikorskey Support Service, Inc. as the Chief Maintenance Test Pilot and was directly responsible for simulator and academic instruction in the T-1, T-2, T-6 and the T-39. He held the distinction as Subject Matter Expert for simulator visual database development in coordination with Flight Safety International. His last civilian position in flying prior to his retirement as a professional aviator was with Federal Aviation Administration as an Airspace Inspection Pilot “Flight Check”.
Bill flew over 10,000 flight hours in 30 different aircraft. He held the following ratings: Commercial Glider and Self Launch Endorsement Rating, FAA Airline Transport Certificate/w King Air 300 Type Rating, FAA Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor ratings, Navy Special Instrument rating, FAA Airframe and Powerplant license, FCC Restricted Radio-telephone Operators Permit. Flight Hours included: 2,000 Jet, 3,000 Instructor, 1000 Multi Engine, 500 Instrument, 200 Night and numerous light civilian aircraft.
Bill took his last flight in his Sundancer Motorglider, on the “first leg” of his “Odyssey Journey” scheduled trip from Boulder City, Nevada to Cumberland, Maryland. On the 24th of February 2022 William took off from Boulder City Airport and flew into the hands of his heavenly father.
Bill was a loving and devoted husband, dedicated and loving father to his children and his family, and a wonderful friend to those in his life.
He leaves behind the love of his life, his wife Elisa (nee Phillips) and her daughter Jordan Christine Seitz (Washington DC); his two children Maia Marie Kavchak (Georgia) and William Phillip Kavchak (Florida) from his marriage to Lisa Marie Foster Kavchak who proceeded him in death.
In addition to his children and his wife, Bill leaves behind his loving and devoted parents Lila Patricia McAllister Stewart, mother (Massachusetts) and William John Kavchak, father and his wife Diane (Pennsylvania), his brother and best friend, Michael Kavchak (Beth), sisters Laura Dickhaut (Bill), Lisa Petkie (Doug), nephews Zachary Kavchak, Mathew Dickhaut, Benjamin, Joshua and Mark Petkie, and nieces Jennifer Dickhaut and Lila Hofius.
Although we are left to grieve Bill’s loss, he is home with God. Bill was a devoted Catholic. He prayed, read the Bible daily and faithfully attended Mass.
William Russell Kavchak will be interned at Arlington National Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in William Russell Kavchak’s name to a Catholic charity of your choice or an organization that provides services to Veterans. If you would like to write sympathy wishes
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmboulderhighway.com for the Kavchak family.
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