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William Babis

William Babis grew up as an airport bum at sunken Lunken in Cincinnati, Ohio, working for his father who owned an avionics business. He earned his ratings through ATP and flew every type of GA aircraft imaginable. As a Civil Air Patrol cadet he received the Spaatz Award and made many lasting friendships. William enjoys the personal contact and challenges of corporate flying and has stayed in it for over 40 years. Along the way, he graduated from Embry Riddle University and acquired a dozen type ratings along with commercial glider and rotorcraft ratings. Currently, he flies for a great company in east Tennessee and often takes his beautiful bride of 40 years along as his co-pilot as he continues to live the dream.

Ray Baca

Joe Baginski

Joe Baginski is an author, highly decorated Vietnam War veteran, U.S. Army helicopter pilot, airline pilot, psychotherapist, and Fortune 500 business consultant. He holds an ATP (Airplane and Rotorcraft ), CFI/CFII ratings, and floatplane with more than 16,000 hours. Currently, Joe serves as the Chief Instructor at Terry’s Flight Club, a flight training company located at the Hagerstown Airport (KHGR) where he specializes in Instrument flight instruction. All of this experience describes what Joe has accomplished, but doesn't tell you who he is. Only his wife of 55 years, Jennifer, knows who he really is; but she’s not talking.

Emad Bahumaidan

I have been involved in aviation since 2004. I started as an A&P mechanic purely because I want to be around the aircraft fixing and cleaning them. I then moved to the flight deck and eventually earned my flight Instructor certificate to contribute to encouraging newcomers to be involved in this magic world of flying. I currently fly as a corporate pilot and also do some ferry flights between Europe and the Middle East. I enjoy flying the Skywagon C180 and am currently taking some Aerobatic lessons to expand my envelope and skills.

Gary Bakewell

Gary J. Bakewell (aka CloudDancer) is today retired from a major U.S. airline. Logging his first flying hours at age 13 in 1967, his 29,000+ hour logbooks include over 12,000 hours flown in arctic Alaska. Those hours provided both the drama and the laughter contained in his stories. Since running away at age 19 to Alaska, Gary remains devoted to "The Great Land." He has written a series of books, available at his website: www.clouddancer.org

Peg Ballou

John Banas

John F. Banas earned his Private Pilot certificate in 1979 while attending college. He had hoped to fly for the airlines but life intervened and he was launched on a successful technology career. Yet he’s never been far from aviation and is now the Safety Officer for the Fox Valley Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol in Illinois and is working his way up to becoming a mission pilot. In his spare time, he pretends to be a novelist and is currently completing a book in the thriller genre.

Kathleen Bangs

Kathleen is an aerospace journalist and former commercial airline pilot. She has written flying stories for Aviation Week, Business & Commercial Aviation, Plane & Pilot, FOX News, and is an overall International Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award recipient, and on-air aviation analyst.

Gal Bar-or

Gal Bar-or was born in Israel and raised in New York City, and although he wanted to be a pilot from childhood, he did not get to realize that dream until his 33rd birthday. From that point on, he has been flying non-stop, logging over 3000 hours in many different aircraft from a low and slow Carbon Cub that he built to a turboprop he flies today. He lives in the western Wyoming area and has many hours of flying experience in the mountains in hard IFR as well as in the Idaho backcountry in bush planes. He holds a commercial single engine land, sea and glider, as well as a multi-engine instrument ratings.

Don Barich

Don learned to fly when he moved to Hawaii right out of college in 1975. It was quite an experience learning to fly in Hawaii and as 22-year old, he did flights back then he probably wouldn't do today. Other than taxiing to the active runway amongst 747s at Honolulu International, the most memorable part of his training was when his instructor had him land at historic Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. The instructor got out and that’s where he did his solo. Returning to the Mainland after a few years, he continued to fly renting at the local flying clubs. Eventually, he bought a 1973 Cherokee 180 with a partner living in the San Jose, CA, area, then traded up for a 1971 Bonanza V35B. He eventually started his own company and was able to buy a 1975 Cessna 310R. He has a little over 1000 hrs with MEI ratings.

Jim Barnes

Mark Barron

Tom Barth

Tom is a 900 hour, instrument rated, Private pilot. Sandy is the fuel timer and the chief photographer on flights. They both enjoy travel by private plane to see family and friends around the Midwest and beyond. Tom is a retired pediatric dentist and they are looking forward to more adventures and flights in the coming years. Tom and Sandy are blessed to own a 1974 Piper Arrow II in which 13 of their 14 grandchildren have been introduced to flight.

Maurie Baston

Maurie Baston spent 18 years in the Royal Australian Air Force with a strong focus on pilot training, membership of six separate aerobatic teams, solo aerobatic display flying, and numerous overseas liaison appointments. He flew Convair 880’s with Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong before returning to Australia, eventually setting up his own company: Air Transport Management. His 11 years with the (then) Australian Civil Aviation Authority involved him at senior executive level in project management and restructuring roles including the introduction of the District Offices concepts, as well as industry oversight of airline B747/767 operations. In his 15 years involvement in airline operations with Cathay Pacific, Qantas, United Airlines and Air Nauru, he has worked as an airline operations manager/chief pilot, on route and fleet development all over the Pacific. He still flies his own Piper Twin Comanche, and operates an aviation consultancy business based in Australia and the USA.

David Bauer

Larry Baum

Larry has been flying since 1973 when he purchased 1/3 of a 1952 Piper Tri-Pacer. 4600+ flying hours later, he’s still in a partnership, co-owning a 1979 Aerostar 601P/700P. After the Tri-Pacer, he has owned or partnered in five airplanes including a Piper Arrow, Piper Seneca, Navajo, Cessna 340 and now the Aerostar. Larry learned to fly from a bunch of charter pilots in Ithaca, NY. Back in the early to mid-70s, whenever there was a freight run or some kind of dead-head requiring only one pilot, Larry and other students got to ride along as well as fly left seat on the empty legs. Flying different airplanes in all kinds of weather into small and large airports throughout the northeast was just part of the training. It was a great way to learn. Everything was done with a purpose and all aspects of flight were constantly evaluated. Larry holds a private pilot’s certificate, with an instrument and a multi-engine rating. Professionally, Larry was a newspaper photographer and reporter before beginning a computer technology company in 1978. He is also a board member of the East Hill Flying Club and an avid Young Eagles pilot.

Dan Baxter

Dan Baxter, regrettably, is not closely related to former FLYING contributor Gordon Baxter–although each of them spent years in broadcasting and both loved old airplanes and the people who keep them flying. He is mostly an Oklahoman who has used up more lives than an unlucky cat. Dan owned several almost-new and classic airplanes, including two Stinson Voyagers, before he retired from obstetrics and gynecology. Carolyn, his wife of nearly fifty years, tries to keep him out of trouble. They now live in northwest Arkansas where he lists his current profession as “curmudgeon” on his business cards.

Matt Beattie

Matt Beattie is attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University for a degree in Aerospace Engineering, and he lives in Port Orange, Florida. He is 20 years old, and he has been flying for seven years. He has earned his Private Pilot Glider, SEL, and Instrument ratings. Matt says, “If you’re not having fun with your flying, you are doing it wrong.”

Bill Beck

Bill's fascination with airplanes dates to early childhood, age two, and a small balsa wood glider. Later he grew up under the base-leg flight path of the Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. His favorite aircraft of the 1950s was the mighty "Peacemaker" of all times, the B-36. His personal involvement in the aviation world began when he was forty years of age. Since then, he has earned his Private Pilot License, single engine land with tail wheel endorsement, and the FAA Airframe Mechanics License. He was also employed at the Gulfstream Aerospace facility, Bethany, OK. Since 2008 he has been the Commander, Squadron 3, Youth Aviation Adventure’s annual event held at the Gordon Cooper Aviation Technology Training Center, Shawnee, OK. He served as a Shawnee Airport Advisory Board Member, too. In 2014 Bill founded a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Heartland Aeronautical Experience, Inc., with the mission of "Inspiring Individuals to Choose an Aerospace Career."

Pete Bedell

Jake Bell

Mark Bellis

Mark flies with OnCore Aviation, the local flight school in Buffalo and Rochester, New York. He started flying in 2010, and is ASEL, AMEL, and instrument rated. He is now working on additional ratings and using GA to fly for fun.

John Belnap

Emiliano Beltramone

I wanted to be a pilot since I was a child and at the age of 18, I was able to obtain my PPL. My first job in aviation was airport ground crew, followed by getting my CPL and my first flying job as a pilot in a Piper Seneca II for a Part 91 private operator. I later worked in fire aviation as a fire detection pilot and also provided ground and aerial support. In 2019, I went to work for an Indonesian company flying the mighty C208B. Since returning to Argentina during the pandemic, I have been working back in GA, flying singles and piston twins, and also working as a pilot and instructor for a Part 135 seaplane operator, flying a brand new C208B EX amphibian all over the Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia. In my free time, I provide freelance flying lessons as a CFI. So far, I've flown 25 different airplane models. My licenses and ratings, Airplane CPL, ME, IR,CFI, CFII, MEI, SES, AG and Aerial Firefighting ratings with tailwheel and Turboprop endorsement.

Barry Benator

Barry was introduced to general aviation in 1977 by one of his clients, who was a retired B-29 pilot. He flew them both to various job sites in Pipers and let Barry fly the plane. That did it—Barry got the bug, and went on to earn his private, instrument, commercial, multi, and CFII. What is unusual about Barry’s path to aviation is that his military service was not in aviation, but rather submarines. He is a retired nuclear submarine officer. His current flying activities include business trips, flying family and friends, and Angel Fights.