I’ll fly anything that moves.
- Josh Wilson
I saw my first Air Show in the 3rd grade and one of the Holiday Inn pilots asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. “I want to do what you do.” and here I am.
I have been very fortunate in my career thus far with 13 years and over 4000 hours under my belt, I got my start with the late French Connection Airshow working as an Instructor Pilot for competition aerobatics in the Cap 10 and teaching tailwheel training in the Cub. After that I had the great opportunity to barnstorm for North American Top Gun in the mighty T-6 Texan. We travelled across the country giving rides and teaching dogfighting in the “Pilot Maker”, the plane that taught thousands in WWII. Some of my most rewarding moments were flying with 80 year old veterans who had not touched a stick in over 50 years. They approached the Texan very quietly, never saying much more than their name until I gave them the stick. They flew the most graceful coordinated aerobatics I had ever seen and in an instant the life and the memories came back to their faces. They had the most amazing stories of strafing runs in Thunderbolts, chasing down 109’s in the Mustang and harrowing views of the flack clouds surrounding their B-17’s. The odds were terrible that they would ever make it home, the worst odds of the war, yet they went to fight for our freedom. Heros.
Eventually I had to get a real job and flew in the commuters for a few years when eye surgery became legal in the Armed forces. For the last few years I’ve been having the time of my life in the greatest fighter ever built - The F-16. There I learned how little I really know about flying. Having a 50 year old wipe the floor with me in a dogfight only pulling 6g’s, smoking a Lucky while I strain under 9g’s to avoid getting shot on a set where I started on the offensive has been truly humbling and an awesome experience. I still have a lot to learn. I absolutely love my job and I love my country and I would not trade it for the world.
Now for the next chapter, the Mighty ColdWarbird and my chance to pay it forward to the next generation of young pilots.
GreasySideUp Aerosports presents the Yak 50.
