By Zinnia Kilkenny, IAC 437244
ZK: Who or what inspired you to pursue aviation?
BD: This may sound funny, but nobody. I feel like I’ve been interested in aviation from birth; in my youth, I set up a table tennis in my bedroom and built giant airports out of Legos. I taught myself to fly RC aircraft as a kid (also how to rebuild them). I grew up in Reno and was taken to air races many times, so aviation was around me, but nobody in my family was actively involved.
That said, my family has an interesting aviation heritage, but I didn’t know the extent until way after the initial hook was set. My grandfather flew F4U Corsairs in the Marine Corps in VMF-216, a sister squadron to VMF-214, the Black Sheep Squadron. He has one confirmed aerial victory against a Zero, but he wasn’t boastful and just said he was just trying to survive. His squadron played host to Charles Lindbergh in the South Pacific, and he flew one mission with him as the flight lead. Lindbergh was very aggressive and would engage the enemy when he wasn’t supposed to as a civilian, as he was there to help the Marines get more from their planes.
(Photo right is with Bret's grandfather in 2004)
My grandfather was mildly famous for refusing to fly with him again because he didn’t want to be known as "The guy who killed Lindbergh." I still have all his photos, air medals, and logbooks, and I cherish them. Other than that, my dad soloed in 1978 but stopped flying shortly after for “life reasons,” and my other grandfather was a GA pilot for fun. None of this, though, shaped my desires; my middle school counselor thought I was an unusual 13-year-old when I responded to the question “what do you want to be when you grow up” with Aeronautical Engineer.
ZK: Chapter 26 recently held the Redlands Aerobatic Cup. You competed in Intermediate; what were your aspirations?
BD: My goals were to win as I’ve come close a couple of times but never sealed the deal. In college, I always flew quite well in Sportsman, but I have struggled to win in Intermediate for many reasons. It’s taken 10 contests and 14 years (on and off) to finally do it.
This is a hobby for me, and I can’t commit to coaching and critique sessions with a full-time job and two kids. Other than a contest, I don’t think I’ve been critiqued in 15 years. Wholeheartedly, just being able to make it to a contest and see all my Acro-minded friends is a huge win. I love supporting Chapter 26 because its members are fantastic at organizing.
(Middle photo in knife edge taken by Roger Cain.)
The contest was super challenging this year; with the 109 degrees Fahrenheit and density altitudes of 5K+, I had to change how I flew during practice day. In the end, it all worked out for me as I flew three clean flights. I’m proud of my nearly 84 percent in my Free and above 80 percent in Unknown. Also, the first time winning the highest scoring biplane was the icing on the cake.
ZK: What impact has the IAC’s Collegiate program had on you?
BD: The Collegiate program is the reason I got into flying aerobatics. I remember my first week at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott holding a fresh private pilot certificate from a month prior. I went to the school club fair to find a table with two guys and a TV with poorly produced handheld VHS camera footage from the back of a Super Decathlon. That club and its members changed my life.
I knew nothing about aerobatics, and within two weeks, I was upside down in a Super D, just awed. A few months later, I was at the 2001 Tequila Cup, supporting my club as a volunteer. Again, I was enamored as I met so many awesome people. I competed in my first contest in the spring of 2002 at the Bill Briski Akrofest in Sportsman. I finished the year strong at The Tequila Cup with first place in Sportsman. I ended up flying 10 contests in the 2002 and 2003 seasons. I even spent my 21st birthday at the LA Gold Cup in 2002.
I think there are few programs that have done more for the IAC than the Collegiate Program. It has introduced so many to aerobatics. It really is a grassroots program as most of them can’t afford to continue to compete past college until they get their feet under them in later life so, it’s a long game feeding the future of IAC 10 to 20 years down the road. None of my collegiate experience could have been possible without the generous support of several private individuals and members of the IAC, who even purchased planes and provided free instruction and discounted rentals for our club students so we could compete.
ZK: What title would you give your next chapter?
BD: I’m a relentless tinkerer. Having built my beloved Pitts that I to continue to modify and improve. At this moment, I don’t have any desire to move on from it. It has been a great aircraft and labor of love. I don’t have team aspirations. I might start dabbling in Advanced, but for me, Intermediate is the last category of gentleman’s aerobatic competition. I don’t want to push it and lose the love of the sport and the fun of the contests and people that are involved.
(Bottom photo is from 2015 EAA Airventure taken by EAA; Darin LaCrone.) .
I love to sit kids in the plane and show them what it’s all about. If there is a kid with his fingers through the fence at the airport, I always stop, shut down and get them in the seat. I plan to continue to nurture anyone interested in aviation and aerobatics as much as possible.
I'm just going to keep on enjoying the ride and spreading the love where I can.
