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.