New Mexico Tourism | Western

Father Fred Stadtmuller, the flying priest

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Father Fred Stadtmuller, the Flying Priest

A Catholic priest in rural New Mexico, Father Fred Stadtmuller used a Piper Cub airplane (named the "Spirit of St. Joseph") to travel from one isolated settlement to another because his 400-square mile parish was so large. In addition to flying to give his services throughout his parish, he also served as an impromptu air ambulance by flying a sick child and his mother to hospital.

Flying Padre, a 1951 short subject (8-minute) black-and-white documentary on Father Fred Stadtmuller, is notable as the second picture directed by Stanley Kubrick.