TERRY PAPPAS
Terry Pappas’s aviation experience spans 33 years in 35 military and civil aircrafts. Five years as a NASA pilot, twenty years as operational pilot, instructor, and flight examiner for USAF, and eight years corporate aviation experience that includes director of flight operations and chief pilot.

Pappas received his Master of Science, Management, University of Arkansas, 1983, and his Electrical Engineering-3 years, Education-2 years, University of Florida, BS, 1971.

Pappas spent four years as an operational SR-71 pilot flying day and night all-weather reconnaissance missions, worldwide. The SR-71 is considered one of the toughest aircraft to fly.

Pappas has held many titles during his 33 years of aviation experience: project manager for DOD-FAA airspace tracking system, executive officer to the 412th Test Wing Commander, executive officer to the Air Force Flight Test Center Commander and Chief of aircrew training and instructor pilot for B-52 operations. The aircrews he trained achieved the highest Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) score in SAC history.

As a corporate pilot for executive transport, Pappas spent eighteen months as sole company pilot, flying PA31-350s, determining fleet requirements and maintenance oversight. He also spent twelve months with 15 pilot staff of former Air Force One personnel, flying BE-200Cs.

Pappas has spent twenty-one years performing aerial photo and safety chase operations for military and civil aircraft. One year as a Demonstration Pilot for the Astra Jet Corporation.

Demonstrating the capabilities of the Astra SP and SPX models to company presidents and their chief pilots, worldwide. One year as captain of a new Astra SPX for a family in Las Vegas. Finally as President of Pappas Aviation, Pappas provides aviation services to the aviation and film industries, including management, marketing, aerial coordination and piloting.

As an inspiring author, Pappas has authored a chapter titled “Flying the Blackbird” for a book about the SR-71 by Eric Schulzinger and Michael O’Leary. The book was titled “SR-71, Inside Lockheed’s Blackbird,” which was published in 1991. Pappas also wrote the cover story for the June 1991, issue of Popular Mechanics magazine on NASA’s use of the SR-71. He also won the 1992 Aviation/Space Writers Association Journalism Award.