From flying fighter jets for the U.S. Air Force to performing for millions at airshows, Ed Hamill\u2019s aviation journey has come full circle. At the heart of it all is his passion for honoring the sacrifice of our nation\u2019s heroes and supporting their families.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Hartzell Propeller, Col Ed \u201cHamster\u201d Hamill, USAF (ret) said his interest in aviation was sparked from an early age. His grandfather was a military and corporate pilot, and his grandmother was one of the original 99s<\/a>. He was inspired to pursue a career in aviation when he heard the roar of a fighter jet at the Chicago Air and Water Show. \u201cFrom that point forward, the fire was lit,\u201d said Ed. \u201cI knew I wanted to become a fighter pilot.\u201d<\/p>\n Ed earned his PPL and logged a few hundred hours of general aviation flight time before joining the Air Force ROTC in college. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, where he immediately went into pilot training and was tracked to fly F-16 fighter jets, which he flew for the majority of his 30-year military career.<\/p>\n After two operational tours flying the F-16 in Korea and Germany, Ed returned to the States to instruct pilots in the F-16. During that time, Ed revisited a dream he had put on the back burner: flying in airshows.<\/p>\n \u201cI always knew in the back of my mind that after being a fighter pilot, I wanted to be an air show pilot \u2014 and I wanted to fly in a biplane,\u201d Ed said.<\/p>\n So, Ed connected with airshow legend Sean D. Tucker, who became his friend and mentor.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember when I first told Sean I wanted to become an air show pilot,\u201d said Ed. \u201cHe told me, \u2018No, you don\u2019t. This life is too tough.\u2019 It took about three months of convincing him I was serious, but then he took me under his wing.\u201d<\/p>\n With Sean\u2019s guidance, Ed learned how to skydance and fly competition aerobatics. In the meantime, Ed joined the Air Force Reserve and got back into flying F-16s part-time. This led to a sponsorship opportunity with the Air Force Reserve recruiting service, and soon, Ed was inspiring millions flying his Pitts S-2C biplane at airshows coast-to-coast \u2014 including Hartzell\u2019s friends and family airshow.<\/p>\n\n\t\tJourney to the F-16<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Airshow Dreams Take Flight<\/strong><\/h3>\n