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.
Cecil “Lucky” Boyd
Cecil Boyd is a retired business executive with over 30 years in the field of telecommunications. He is currently retired and works as a flight instructor specializing in tailwheel training. Cecil is a Viet Nam veteran and a recipient of the Bronze Star, having served in the US Army prior to his business career.
Cecil is a commercial pilot with over 46 years and 3200 hours of flight time including over 500 hours of aerobatic and over 300 hours of formation time. He has owned and flown over 15 different aircraft including several high-performance aerobatic machines. One of his favorites is the Russian Yak 52 that he currently owns and flies as wingman for the Bandit Flight Team.
Vince “Sonic” Tryer
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.
Hal “Smokey” Bowman
Hal Bowman is a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel with military time in the F-86F, F-84F fighters, and the B-47E bomber. He currently flies an ASW-20 sailplane and a Yak 52 for The Bandit Flight Team, and also tows gliders in a Callair crop duster for the North Carolina Soaring Association. During his fifty-year flying career, he has earned the following flying certificates: Commercial, Single-engine, Multi-engine, glider, helicopter, instrument and flight instructor. Hal served as majority owner and President of Zema Corporation, a manufacturer of veterinary products until his retirement in 2000.
Hal and his wife Mercedes Auger spend most of their winter weekends in the northern US at DN iceboat regattas (he competes and she officiates). They are residents of Cary, NC.
Paul “Auzzy” Franzon
Paul started flying gliders while a student in Australia. After a winch launch, he would use his glider to chase the kangaroos on a nearby ridge that often produced lift. He has since gained a power license as well as Instrument and Commercial ratings. He now has over 2000 hours of flight experience, including several West Coast trips, and trips around Australia.
Paul is the Cirrus Logic Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University and Director of Graduate Programs. He also served for 13 years with the Australian Army Reserve as an Infantry soldier and officer. He has been flying RVs since 2001 and currently flies an RV-8.
