Our PILOTS
DR. Howard "CHIP" Chipman
Jim "JB" Brown III, Experimental Test Pilot/Consultant
Jim "JB" Brown III, Experimental Test Pilot/Consultant
Dr. Howard "Chip" Chipman is the owner and chief pilot of Aurora Aerospace. He is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) with over 40 years of flying and flight training, and a passion for military jets. In addition to his traditional training, he has spent time with the Russian Cosmonaut program, and he's flown over 40 different types of ai
Dr. Howard "Chip" Chipman is the owner and chief pilot of Aurora Aerospace. He is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) with over 40 years of flying and flight training, and a passion for military jets. In addition to his traditional training, he has spent time with the Russian Cosmonaut program, and he's flown over 40 different types of aircraft. He specializes in pilot training for private pilots of various levels of experience.
Thanks to his medical expertise as a physician, he can also offer education regarding physiology of flight to the trainees.
Jim "JB" Brown III, Experimental Test Pilot/Consultant
Jim "JB" Brown III, Experimental Test Pilot/Consultant
Jim "JB" Brown III, Experimental Test Pilot/Consultant
JB graduated from the Virginia Military Institute, commissioned into the USAF and served on active duty flying the F-4, F-5, A-7 and F-15. He is a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School and has over 36 years of flight test experience. Following USAF service, he joined the Lockheed Skunk Works as a F-117 Test Pilot and went on to test the
JB graduated from the Virginia Military Institute, commissioned into the USAF and served on active duty flying the F-4, F-5, A-7 and F-15. He is a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School and has over 36 years of flight test experience. Following USAF service, he joined the Lockheed Skunk Works as a F-117 Test Pilot and went on to test the F-22 Raptor. He became the Chief Test Pilot on both the F-117 Nighthawk and F-22. He is currently the President of National Test Pilot School in Mojave, CA. JB has over 10,100 flight hours in 154 different models of aircraft and is certificated to fly the MiG-21, MiG-23, T-38, F-5, MB-326 and L-39.
OUR maintenance TEAM
John Erhardt, Director of Maintenance
Szymon Derkacz, L-39 Albatros Specialist
John Erhardt, Director of Maintenance
John's career started in the USAF, As a crew chief on the T-38A "Talon", F-4D "Phantom" and F-111F "Aardvark" aircraft.
He Entered corporate aviation with Raytheon Aircraft Services, Managing the turbine support center for, Honeywell TFE-731, P&Wc JT15D and PT6A gas turbine engines for 16 years.
Advancing his career with Bombardier aircraft
John's career started in the USAF, As a crew chief on the T-38A "Talon", F-4D "Phantom" and F-111F "Aardvark" aircraft.
He Entered corporate aviation with Raytheon Aircraft Services, Managing the turbine support center for, Honeywell TFE-731, P&Wc JT15D and PT6A gas turbine engines for 16 years.
Advancing his career with Bombardier aircraft systems in Ft. Lauderdale, Maintaining FlexJet Corporate fleet of Learjet, Challenger & Global Express aircraft.
He has held an FAA Inspection authorization for 35 years and has been selected to receive the prestigious FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, for 50 years of aviation excellence in Fall of 2024.
Chad Bloomgren, Lead Technician
Szymon Derkacz, L-39 Albatros Specialist
John Erhardt, Director of Maintenance
Chad received his Airframe & Powerplant Certifications (A&P) from the FAA in 2015. In addition to his role as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT), he began specializing in Avionics in 2020.
Chad was trained at National Aviation Academy in Clearwater, FL. He comes from a long line of aviation enthusiast, including his grandfather, USAF 1st Lt. Rodney D. Bloomgren.
Szymon Derkacz, L-39 Albatros Specialist
Szymon Derkacz, L-39 Albatros Specialist
Szymon Derkacz, L-39 Albatros Specialist
Szymon has 6 years of maintenance experience with the Aero Vodochody L-39 High Performance Jet Trainer.
He has heavy maintenance experience from complete disassembly/Re-Assembly of the aircraft.
Overhaul of onboard components including but not limited to, Landing gear actuations, Low pressure fuel pumps & Engine Replacements.
He is recogniz
Szymon has 6 years of maintenance experience with the Aero Vodochody L-39 High Performance Jet Trainer.
He has heavy maintenance experience from complete disassembly/Re-Assembly of the aircraft.
Overhaul of onboard components including but not limited to, Landing gear actuations, Low pressure fuel pumps & Engine Replacements.
He is recognized in the L-39 Community as one of the best in the field.
OUR SUPPORT TEAM
April Griffin, Office Administrator
April Griffin, Office Administrator
April Griffin, Office Administrator
April's Career started in Naples, FL as a legal assistant for a administrative corporate law firm.
She advanced her career by receiving a bachelors degree in legal studies. She became dual certified in law enforcement & Corrections, As a deputy sheriff in LaBelle FL, and later retired in 2007
April was an office administrator for Execu
April's Career started in Naples, FL as a legal assistant for a administrative corporate law firm.
She advanced her career by receiving a bachelors degree in legal studies. She became dual certified in law enforcement & Corrections, As a deputy sheriff in LaBelle FL, and later retired in 2007
April was an office administrator for Executive Yacht Services LLC in Naples, FL until relocation to St Petersburg, FL in 2018
Dawson Charles, Public Affairs
April Griffin, Office Administrator
April Griffin, Office Administrator
Dawson is a professional aviation and automotive photographer from Clearwater, Florida.
He has 6 years of experience and has worked with numerous military units on projects including the, World Famous 100th Fighter Squadron.
He Currently is at Seminole State College majoring in Meteorology.
Tim Stevenson, Public Affairs
April Griffin, Office Administrator
Tim Stevenson, Public Affairs
Tim is a professional aviation photographer from Clearwater, Florida. He has 5 Years of experience and has worked with numerous airlines & companies on photography projects