Back in 1997 I was a 1Lt in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Defense Contract Management Command in Denver. As a 1993 graduate of the USAF Academy it had always been my dream to fly but due to severe pilot training cutbacks following Desert Storm I was unable to attain a pilot training slot.

While stationed in Denver my dream was revived and I joined Aspen Flying Club to pursue my private pilot certification. I was checking out your web site and noticed that N96299 is still in your inventory. I soloed that airplane for the first time in your club. In March of 1997 under one of your former instructors, Jeff Nohava, I got my private license.

Shortly thereafter I was selected to attend USAF Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, MS. After primary training in the Cessna T-37B “Tweet” I had done well enough to be chosen for the advanced fighter track. After about 120 hours in the Northrop T-38A “Talon” I earned my USAF pilot wings and was selected to fly the Fairchild Republic A-10A “Thunderbolt II” also known as the “Warthog”. Following SUPT I graduated from the USAF Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals course at Columbus AFB, MS, gaining about 22 hours in the Northrop AT-38B. 6 months after arriving at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ, a full 2 years after starting my USAF training journey, I was finally a combat ready “Hawg” pilot.

I served 3 years flying Hawgs at Eielson AFB, AK, just 120 miles south of the Arctic Circle near Fairbanks, AK. While there I upgraded from Wingman to Flight Lead as well as Forward Air Controller. Following that assignment I was assigned to Vance AFB, OK, where I currently serve as an instructor in the Northrop T-38C Talon, teaching young Air Force pilots to be fighter pilots. Since my time at Aspen I have amassed 1500 hours in the T-37B, T-38A, AT-38B, A-10A, OA-10A, F-16, and T-38C aircraft including about 600 hours of Instructor Pilot time in the T-38A and T-38C. I’ve had the opportunity to fly single ship Forward Air Controller missions armed to the teeth controlling A-10, F-16, F-15E, UV-8B, F-18, and many other aircraft. I’ve flown within a quarter mile of the peak of Mt McKinley (Denali) only to drop into a crevasse and float past ancient glaciers at 300 ft and 350 knots. I’ve been blessed to fly Mach 1.2 in a T-38A and travel at 700 knots ground speed in the jet stream. I’ve been able to fly multiple missions at Red Flag and Cope Thunder exercises, drop 2000 lb bombs and shoot 30MM HEI under NVG’s.

This is not with the intent of arrogance, rather to inspire others who may be where I was 8 years ago. I owe a lot to Aspen Flying Club, for helping me chase my dream and giving me the basic desire and skills to succeed in aviation. I have very fond memories of my year and a half at Aspen.

Major Rich Benda