It's an honor only a few North Dakotans have recieved.

The Federal Aviation Administration rewards pilots who have flown for more than 50 years without incident or violation.

Pilots who meet these requirements receive the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award.

So far only eight North Dakotans have received the award.

Brad Feldman introduces us to the latest winner.

Raymond Schafer is going through pre-flight inspections

It's a routine he has gone through more than three thousand times

Flying has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember

(Raymond Schafer/ Pilot) "I was going to join the Air Force but I joined the guard while I was in High School and they had some helicopters but no mechanics and they asked me if I wanted to go to school for four months and get a job when I got back and thats how I got into aviation." Since 1956, Schafer has spent more than nine thousand hours in the air

In that time he has sat in the cockpit of more than 60 planes and helicopters

(Raymond Schafer/ Pilot) "You know the versatility of the airplane and the fun of really challanging the weather and all the elements. You just do the best you can. Sometimes you dont go and sometimes you turn around and go back from where you came from." His career has taken him to places all over the country and world. He's flown military missions and to vacation spots

But nothing makes him laugh more than a mission he flew for a friend

(Raymond Schafer/ Pilot) "I delivered pizzas to the reservation. They would call up here and want a pizza and I would deliver it on an airplane for them. One guy had a shop in Mandan and he just did it for fun." Whether it was delivering a pizza by plane or a hay bale by helicopter, Schafer has done it all

However, before he lands for the last time he has a lot more flight time to log

Brad Feldman KX News

Schafer was honored at the annnual North Dakota Aviation Conference in Minot last month for his flying career. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list