Senator Stevens honors Carl Brady Sr.

• Author: Pilkington, Steve
• Position: Transportation - Ted Stevens - Brief Article

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, recently honored Carl Brady Sr. and dedicated one of Brady's Bell 47B helicopters at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The Bell 47B is one of Brady's original helicopters and is identical to the first commercial helicopter ever to fly in Alaska.

Aviation enthusiasts have mused for decades that helicopters can't really fly; they're just so unsightly, the earth rejects them. Despite the occasional slight by fixed-wing purists, Brady made the helicopter a beautiful sight in Alaska. After leaving the Army as a captain in 1946, Brady acted on his hunch that helicopters could be of great commercial value.

With two partners in tow, Brady launched Economy Pest Control in 1947-a business that did everything and anything that included a helicopter. Based in Yakima, Wash., Economy Pest Control appeared at...