Our History

When World War II ended, William L. Perry returned to Augusta (from instructing military and airline pilots) to establish the full service flight operation now called Maine Instrument Flight (MIF). The year was 1946, a time when the aviation industry was just starting its post-war boom.

Bill, one of the few instructors in the northeast qualified to teach the new electronic navigation technology, soon found a great demand for the services of his flight school, for basic as well as advanced flight training. In fact, many of the pilots you’ve flown with on airlines such as Delta, American and United are MIF graduates.

The need for “on demand” air charter (go where you want, when you want) soon became obvious, so Bill began offering short and long range flights to about anywhere the business or private traveler wanted to go. The quality and convenience of MIF charter was soon recognized, resulting in a following that has continued as a mainstay of our business to this day.

Bill passed away in 1993. His son William H. Perry (also Bill) and daughter Shirley Whitney operate MIF today. With 64 years in the business, Maine Instrument Flight is one of the oldest flight schools/charter operations in the country.

We are dedicated to maintaining Bill’s high standards in all aspects of our business and strive to do so in the friendly and casual manner that was his trademark.

William L. Perry

Shirley Whitney and William H. Perry