Ed Shipley began his business life, as a founding partner of the world’s largest privately owned direct television marketing company. He retired at the age of 40 to pursue his first love in life, FLYING.

After purchasing a T-6, Ed checked out as a member of the “Six of Diamonds” – the worlds only 6 ship T-6 aerobatic team. He flew the number two spot for the first year and then became the team lead.

From there, Ed became the owner of a P-51 and started a Mustang formation team called “The Horsemen”. Ed also flew this formation routine with a FG-1D Corsair that he also owned. Ed used this Corsair to become the first person to fly a WWII Corsair off a nuclear aircraft carrier, the Carl Vinson, at Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

Soon after, Ed was invited to become one of the 10 founding members of the United States Air Force Heritage Flight program. He has served as the civilian spokesperson for the program since it’s inception.

In 1999 Ed made the leap from tail dragger pilot to 747 pilot, when he joined Atlas Air, the largest operator of 747’s in the world. Ed took this jet experience and applied it to a F-86, which he purchased from fellow Heritage Pilot, astronaut Frank Borman.

Ed averages 2-300 hours a year flying Mustang’s and F-86’s at air shows around the world. Is life great or what?