Sam Huffstetler grew up as the proverbial airport kid, washing airplanes for flight time. After graduating from North Carolina State University in 1981 he entered the Air Force, ultimately flying as an instructor pilot in both the F-15C and the AT-38B. Stationed in Japan, Germany and the US, Sam flew numerous combat missions over Iraq and Bosnia. After retiring from the USAF, he flew the A320/321 for JetBlue Airways as a Captain and Line Evaluator. He remains an active flight instructor and has logged over 19,000 flight hours. He lives in Yorktown, Virginia with his patient wife Susan.

Vince is a Civil Engineering Graduate from NC State and is a licensed General Contractor in multiple states. He has been flying since the late 80’s and logged over 2600 flight hours. Vince loves flying National Anthems as he believes it is a way to salute his late father, a retired Navy Veteran, his son a Captain in the U.S. Army and his son-in-law a Colonel (Dual winged Aviator) in the U.S. Air Force. His daughter recently graduated from NC State where he had the unique experience of flying every National Anthem Flyover from her first Freshman year game until her last game as a senior. Vince lives in Wilmington, NC with his wife of 35 years.

Lead Pilot Bob “Spock” Ingle has an extensive flight background. After graduating from NC State he joined the Air Force and retired in 2009 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 22 years of service. He flew over 125 Combat Missions in both the A-10 Warthog during Operation Desert Storm and the F-15E during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Among his many medals, he holds the Defense and the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, nine Air Medals, five Aerial Achievement Medals, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Kuwait Liberation Medal. Bob is currently an F-15 academics and simulator instructor at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. He flies an RV-8A with the Bandit Flight Team, which he and his family built in their garage. He and his wife Missy have lived in Goldsboro, N.C. for over 20 years with their two daughters, Abigail and Mei Wen.

Andy is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and served as a fighter pilot flying the F-15. Andy was part of the initial test group converting the F-15 from strictly an air superiority mission and adding a ground attack role. The F-15 proved to be very capable for ground attack, and later the Air Force developed the "E" model Strike Eagle as a dedicated bomber. After his Air Force career, Andy attended N.C. State University and earned a PHD in engineering. Today he lives in Cary N.C. with his wife Macrela and works as an engineer.  He flies the RV 8 with the Bandit Flight Team.

Jim Kilpatrick has an extensive flight background flying with the U.S. Air Force and American Airlines.  After graduating from Western Carolina University he joined the Air Force and attended Air Force flight school. He flew 257 missions in the F-100 Super Saber in Viet Nam and among his medals he holds two Distinguished Flying Cross Medals, thirteen Air Medals, and the Viet Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.  Jim flew for American Airlines for 34 years in various aircraft across the United States, South American, Europe, and the Far East.  He was a Check Airmen on the Boeing 757 & Boeing 767 and retired in 2006 after flying the Boeing 777.  He and his wife Beverly have lived in Cary, N.C. for over 30 years where they raised their four daughters. He flies an RV-14 “Miss Bev” with the Bandit Team.