Robert ‘Wip’ Wiplinger in the cockpit of a floatplane [Credit: Wipaire LinkedIn]
Key Takeaways:
Robert “Wip” Wiplinger, a second-generation Wipaire employee and aeronautical engineer, passed away at 80, leaving a significant legacy in the aviation industry.
He was instrumental in designing numerous aircraft modifications, including the development of composite floats and over 100 supplemental type certificates, greatly enhancing the capability of float-equipped airplanes.
Wiplinger's leadership led to the creation of the Fire Boss Air Tractor AT-802, a globally recognized aerial firefighting aircraft, and his contributions earned him induction into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2023.
Robert “Wip” Wiplinger, a second-generation Wipaire employee and the mind behind several aircraft modifications designed to improve the capability of float-equipped airplanes, died on August 4 in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. He was 80.
Since his death, more than 100 people have taken to social media to pay their respects.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
![Robert ‘Wip’ Wiplinger in the cockpit of a floatplane [Credit: Wipaire LinkedIn]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1786481267146.jpeg)
