I began taking flying lessons at Warrenton airport in 1977 and received my Private Pilot's certificate in 1979 while working summers at the Flying Circus as ground crew. In 1982 I graduated from college and entered the Air Force. I spent four years on active duty as a Missile Combat Crew Commander in the Air Force Titan II ICBM system at Little Rock AFB Arkansas. While living in Arkansas, I bought my first plane, a 1946 Aeronca Champ. After two years flying the Champ I bought a little one seat aerobatic biplane called a Jungster I which is a 3/4 scale flying replica of the 1930's German aerobatic plane, the Jungmeister. With this plane I perfected my aerobatic skills and flew as a featured act in several prominent air shows throughout the state of Arkansas.

In 1987 I returned to Virginia and obtained my Commercial Pilot's certificate and began flying with the Flying Circus again. Shortly there after I obtained an instrument rating, multi-engine rating and flight instructor's certificate. As one of the pilots now flying with the Circus, I fly passenger rides, both standard and aerobatic, as well as flying various routines in the air show. I currently own a 1941 Boeing Stearman, PT-17. I have also been fortunate enough to be able to fly several of the other privately owned aircraft regularly seen in the show. This includes the 1929 Fleet biplane, the J-3 Piper Cub, the Piper L-4 and several of the Stearman Biplanes including the Circus 450 Stearman. I have accumulated close to 3000 flying hours during the last 30+ years of flying, most of which are in tail wheel aircraft, and probably at least half of which I have spent upside down in aerobatic flight!

Dave in a rare "right side up" photo