Harry Ettinger Obituary

Harry Donald "Pete" Ettinger

Harry Donald "Pete" Ettinger made his final flight to heaven on March 19, 2026. He is survived by his loving wife Sue and his cherished son Peter Karl. Survivors also include his dear sister, Kaye Howell Rassam, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Carl D. and Lois Faye Ettinger.

Pete made his first full-stop landing at St. Peter's Hospital, Helena, Montana on June 27, 1939.

In 1945, he moved with his parents from Helena to Santa Fe, NM, where his father and mother started Southwestern Skyways, a flying school and small cafe at Ragle Airport. After that, their company moved to the Santa Fe Airport. Pete soloed in a Cessna 170 at age 16. He graduated from Santa Fe High in 1957 and from West Texas State College (University) in 1962.

After graduating, he worked for his father at his company, Southwestern Skyways, Inc., which had moved to Coronado Airport in Albuquerque, and eventually became the airport manager. After three years of dating and courting Sue in his 1929 open-cockpit Fleet biplane, they married May 22, 1971.

In 2006 he was presented the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award by the FAA and was an FAA designated Proficiency Pilot Examiner (PPE) for the CV 240/340/440 and Lockheed L-18 aircraft. He held an airline transport rating and 13 type ratings in various piston powered and jet aircraft. He accumulated almost ten thousand hours flight time in more than 50 aircraft. One of his most memorable experiences was flying a North American P-51D Mustang, "Miss Albuquerque" in the 1971 Reno Air Races. From 1969 to the present, he made his living in aircraft sales with his company, Aircraft Marketing, Inc. He travelled extensively for business in Europe, Mexico and Canada, and had great experiences flying several small jets and turbo prop aircraft across the North Atlantic.

He loved traveling various world destinations with beloved wife Sue, and also other times with son Peter. They enjoyed going to car shows in "Ol' Flame", his 1939 Chevy street rod, along with close friends. One of his greatest joys was hiking the Bavarian forest with Sue and Peter, seemingly always ending at Andechs Monastery and Biergarten, and one trip there with niece, Sharon.

He enjoyed running, participating in the Duke City Marathon, and La Luz Trail Run. Several years he ran with son Peter in the challenging "Mud Run" at Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton.

He had many cherished friends, and we are grateful for all of them. We all enjoyed his great sense of humor and amazing recall of song lyrics from all genres.

He always said "Every day is a gift from God. Enjoy each one and hold loved ones close. And DON'T LET THE OLD MAN IN!"

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. If you care to make a donation in his memory, please consider the Experimental Aircraft Association, EAA Chapter 530, 3884 Tammy Ct. SE, Los Lunas NM 87031 or Canon Christian Academy, 19381 NM 314, Belen, NM 87002