During 1962 to 1965, Donald J. Donohue, Sr., as a US Air Force pilot and an aircraft maintenance officer, served with the CIA Project OXCART at Area 51. Retiring from the US Air Force in 1973, Donohue formed Las Vegas Air Lines as the CEO and sole owner, flying Grand Canyon air tour operations until 1998.

Donohue revolutionized Grand Canyon air tour operations by being the first Grand Canyon tour operator to have a multi-language capability, an air-conditioned fleet, instrument capable fleet with all airline transport rated pilots, and to achieve the commuter standards to meet the regulation change in 1979. With international marketing sales offices in 14 countries, Donohue’s company employed up to 64 personnel and operated as many as 31 aircraft, flying as many as 136 flights in one day. Additionally, Mr. Donohue had the Piper Dealership and Piper Flite Center for Southern Nevada (enabling a generation of new pilots to enjoy aviation) as well as operating a full service maintenance facility, (D & J Aircraft Services).

For his contributions to the national security of the United States while working in obscurity at Area 51 for the CIA and his contributions to air tour operations in the state of Nevada, Donald J. Donohue, Sr. earned his place in the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame class of 2018.