Don was born on his grandparents farm in Spencer, Iowa and grew up in Terril, Iowa on his par-ents farm. Don grew up with an infatuation for large equipment, often watching powerful trains pass by and felt that was where he developed his desire to fly airplanes. After high school Don attended Iowa State University for two years before being commissioned into the US Air Force Air Cadet Program with the rank of Capt. He returned to Iowa State to obtain a degree in Civil Engineering.

After completion of initial flight training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, flying T-38s he spent many years as a fighter pilot, flying the F-16, F-100, and F-104 to name a few. During the Cold War, Don flew the B-47 and B-52s which were loaded with atomic bombs. His mission being, flying circles around Greenland awaiting the command to bomb Russia. Don also served in the Vietnam war flying C-130s. He later transitioned into the Air Force Reserves where he flew the C-141 on missions all over the world. In December 1983, after 28 years of distinguished service with the US Air Force, Don retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Service with the reserves allowed him to also pursue a civilian career as a pilot. He was a flight engineer with Pan Am for many years before being hired by the Federal Aviation Administration as a flight test pilot, training at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Palmdale, CA. Don’s work with the FAA had him conducting flight worthiness certification tests on various aircraft. He performed spin tests on experimental crop dusters, was the chief pilot for modifications to the Super Guppy and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and completed initial certifi-cation testing for the Lockheed L-1011, and McDonnell Douglas DC-10 passenger jets.

After Don retired from the FAA, he continued as a flight test pilot on large transport category air-craft working for McDonnell Douglas/Boeing, Long Beach, CA where he was the Engineering Test Pilot for the MD-11. He later worked as Test Pilot for both Hawker Beechcraft and Cessna Aircraft, Wichita, KS. Don ended his flying career in 2010, at the age of 77. Don’s life’s work qualified him to be a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. A prestige he shared with such aviation greats as Chuck Yeager and Jimmy Doolittle. .

With Don’s love for all forms of machines and propulsion he developed an interest in boating and rebuilt two Chris-Craft vessels. Then in the 70s he purchased and lived aboard his CT-41 sail-boat. He sailed extensively up and down the coast of California, to include the Channel Islands. To continue “a man and his machine” lifestyle Don was also into motorcycles. This started with his first Indian motorcycle while still on the farm in Iowa and ended with his fourth Harley Da-vidson motorcycle. He rode extensively after retiring in 2010 and his last two motorcycles were purchased after he had obtained 60,000+ miles on the one he was riding.

Don is preceded in death by his parents Vivian Powell Alexander and Lyle Alexander and his daughter Vickie Vines Alexander. He is survived by children Sabrina Alexander Preston (Dave), Kelly Alexander McGinley (Robert), Scott Alexander (Kit), Donald “Matt” Alexander (Chelsy) and his siblings Duane Alexander, Curtis Alexander, Shirley Alexander Olson, and Dianne Alexander Roberts. Also surviving Don are his two stepchildren, Royce Testa and Noelle Testa Lewis and his eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

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