Wanda Jackson is a Raleigh native and two-time graduate of NC State University. She graduated with a BA in English, worked for American Airlines for 9 years, and then returned to NCSU to earn a Masters in Accounting. Those years spent in airports with American left their mark, though. After many years indoors as a licensed CPA, she decided that she wanted to fly. Wanda is an instrument rated pilot and owns a Cessna 182. After spending the majority of her life not flying, she is absorbing as much aviation as possible and loves being part of the Bandit Flight Team. She and her husband Frank have been happily married for over 30 years.
Jamison “Flash” Baysden
Jamison “Flash” Baysden loves flying as a Bandit Flight Team Wingman. Flash is a retired USAF F-15E Weapons Systems Officer, Instructor, and Evaluator. He is a graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School and served in multiple combat operations throughout his career and has a BS in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle.
Flash flies the RV-8A (N900PP) and currently resides in Eastern NC with his wife and two daughters. He currently holds a Multi-Engine Commercial Instrument rating with over 2500 hours flight experience.
David “Ferdinand” Schlabach
David is a Principle Software Engineer and flies as a hobby. He inherited the love for flying from his father Ross, a US Air Force F-106 fighter pilot. As a young boy his dad took him flying in the local trainer, even when sitting on phone books, he still couldn’t see over the dash. The father-son pair later enjoyed building and flying RC planes and helicopters where David was the youngest nationally ranked Fun-Fly competitor. In 2007, David earned his own private pilot’s license and currently has over 500 flight hours in various aircraft ranging from J-3 cubs to a B-25. His current certificates are Commercial, Single-engine, Instrument, and Remote Pilot (Drone). David lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife, Laura, and their two sons, Henry and Porter. The family enjoys flying to Georgia’s coast and visiting family.
Tom “Jethro” Stevens
Tom is a former US Navy pilot with a wide variety of flight experience. After graduating from NC State University with a Civil Engineering degree, he joined the Navy and attended Navy flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Tom spent 20 years in the Navy and was qualified in five different Navy aircraft accumulating over 3900 flight hours. Tom is currently a First Officer with Southwest Airlines flying the Boeing 737, and is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of North Carolina. Tom and his wife, Ann, have been married 25 years and have four children, Brock, Hannah, Sarah Beth, and Austin. They live in Cary, NC.
Stephen “Skipper” Graham
Stephen is a native of Sanford, NC and private pilot since 2019. He is a 2004 graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Textile Technology. After graduation, he entered into the pharmaceutical industry and currently is employed by PPD, a leading global pharmaceutical contract research company, as an Electronic Publisher. He developed a love of aviation early on with models and books which lead to his position as Lead Ground Coordinator with the Bandit Flight Team. He loves coordinating the flyover timing for all NC State football games and then cheering for the Pack. He still lives in Sanford, NC with his wife Cara and two young daughters Chloe and Emma. Along with spending a time with his family and flying, he also enjoys pulling for the NC State Wolfpack, NASCAR, various church activities, and being a dance dad.
