I began flying at the tender age of 12, taking my first lesson in 1968 in a Beech Sport. A short tine later I was introduced to Milton Hatfield (photo lower right) who was a local legend in our flying community. Milt learned to fly in the 20's, flew mail and passengers in a Curtis Robin, ran several airports in the Midwest, taught flying and did airshows in a Monocoupe 90A. During W.W.II he served a a flight commander in the Army Air Corps and taught hundreds of cadets in both primary and advanced. He was also authorized to teach aerobatics and spent many hours in Stearmans and AT6's .

When I started flying with Milt in 1968 he had logged over 18,000 hours in singles and twins. Most of that time was spent giving instruction. I learned stick and rudder flying in a newly restored 1946 J-3 C65 Piper Cub.

During the time I knew him he was an avid inventor. He designed several low aspect wing aircraft (flying wings) based on the ARUP design that he test flew long with another pilot, Jimmy Dolittle, in the early 30's. He took me under his wing and taught me not only to fly and fix airplanes (and anything else that broke), but the reasons (aeronautical theory) why airplanes act the way the do.

I learned my first aerobatics at the age of 15 and developed the skills necessary to compete in IAC local contests. I soloed at 16 (before I could legally drive) and earned my license shortly after.

We rebuilt many aircraft together including a Piper PA12, Aeronca Defender (pictured left and above), Piper J3 Cub, PA16, PA22, a Cessna C140, a 1946 Taylorcraft, a Stinson 108, and quite a few Spam cans (Cessna 150's, 172's etc.).

King Aero Inc. was formed in 1991.