LORI MATERI
Director of the Upton Municipal Airport, backcountry pilot & rural airstrip advocate
Lori Materi is a backcountry pilot, rural airstrip advocate, and director of the Upton Municipal Airport in Upton, Wyoming. Pictured here with 'Papa Charlie,' her American Champion 7GCGC high country plane.
“I don’t care if it’s 10 degrees out. If I’m in my plane, I’m where I need to be.”
Lori Materi pursued her dream to fly later in life. She has been instrumental in keeping the Upton Airport viable within the state-wide aviation system.
Listen to Lori's story.
Lori Materi came from a flying family in Upton, Wyoming. Her father served as a navigator on a B-29 during WWII, and later piloted their family in a PA-11, a Skywagon, and a Piper Navajo as their primary mode of transportation around Wyoming and the country. As the youngest child (with a twin sister) however, Lori was afraid to fly. It wasn't until she moved back to Upton with her family that the urge to fly became so strong she couldn't ignore it. She took a discovery flight and was hooked.
Formerly a teacher and archivist at the University of Wyoming, Lori has been instrumental in keeping the Upton Airport viable within the state-wide aviation system. As the Director of the Upton Municipal Airport and Wyoming State Liaison for the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), Lori leads a statewide task force that works to preserve rural airstrips around Wyoming and open new ones. In this position, Lori opened a dirt landing strip along the famous “Miracle Mile” fishing area of the Platte River. Her twin daughters continue to be one of her biggest motivators to fly and why she continues to pursue her passion for aviation.
In addition to her advocacy work to save small, general aviation strips around the state and in the backcountry, Lori is also an instructor at Gillette Community College in the Adult Education program. Lori is pictured with Papa Charlie, a Citabria, which she loves to fly into remote areas of the state and country.
Lori Materi and Papa Charlie, ready for take-off.
“If there’s something that you want to do, try it! That doesn’t mean you’re going to succeed at everything, but you won’t know until you try.”
Lori Materi with her twin daughters, who were one of her biggest motivators for Lori to pursue her dream to fly.
“At what point do you say, ‘My life is over?’ Hopefully never! Keep going out there and finding things that are fulfilling to you and give you joy. The greatest joy, and flying has done that for me.”
Pursuing her dream to fly has opened up the world for Lori to explore new opportunities and experiences.
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