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Instructors / Staff - MQY
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Kellie Russ,
General Manager
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Originally from Florida, I
migrated to Tennessee many years ago and now consider it my home.
I've actively worked in the aviation business since 2002 alongside my
family. I received my Bachelor of Science in Communications with a
specialty in public relations from Middle Tennessee State University in
1995. I have an extensive marketing and business background which
includes more than eight years with the nation's largest healthcare
provider HCA, with four years as Director of Marketing for the
corporation's 176-bed acute care medical facility in Dickson, TN.
With a passion for helping others, I have enjoyed numerous years as an
active community member formerly serving on the boards of The American
Heart Association, Education Edge and the Women's Club, The Community
Foundation and the Humane Society of Dickson County, TN in addition to
being a Leadership Dickson alumni and a Rotary Club member. I
thoroughly enjoy reading, the arts, travelling and am an avid animal
lover!
Though my family has been involved in the aviation business for many
years, I always thought I would be the one that marched to a different
drummer doing something a little different. However, lo and
behold, I am now steeped in the world of aviation and am loving every
minute of it! In the course of my oversight of the daily
operations of Wings including the
aircraft fleet and flight instruction staff, I look forward to the
opportunity to meet you and share our team's love of aviation with you!
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Paul Lamb, Chief Instructor
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I received my Private
Pilot license in Hawaii in 1970 as well as an
Airframe & Power Plant mechanic license. In 1995 I obtained an
instrument rating and a Commercial license. The following year I
obtained ratings for Airplane and Instrument Flight Instructor.
In
1998 I qualified as a Master Flight Instructor and am a Gold Seal
Flight Instructor. Since 1998, I have added Single Engine Sea,
Commercial Multi-Engine Land and Multi-Engine Instructor ratings.
Upon my retirement as Postmaster of Smyrna in 2003, I am now devoted
full-time to flight instructing at Wings. In February 2004, I
qualified as a Cirrus Standardized Instructor and provide transition,
recurrent and refresher training in Cirrus aircraft.
I reside in Smyrna with my wife
Cathy and step-son Jason. I enjoy helping other pilots progress in their flying endeavors.
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Allen Sefranek,
Assistant Chief Instructor
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Watching my older brother (who
is now an airline pilot himself) put together model airplanes in his
bedroom, I became captivated by the idea of flying well before I had even
stepped foot in an airplane. It wasn't until the age of 8 that I actually
took my first plane ride, with my grandfather and two of my brothers. I
still remember how everything looked like a miniature train set from the
air, and I couldn't wait to go again. As my brother progressed through
college and earned his various flight ratings, he would take me flying on
his breaks from school.
In
May of '98 I started taking my own flight lessons in New Bedford, MA. I had
been working and saving money for a year prior, so I could get my Private
license as soon as possible. I had hoped to have my license by the end of
that summer, but saw a few delays along the way. Around Thanksgiving of '98
I earned my Private Pilot Certificate. Almost a year later I arrived at MTSU.
During my time at MTSU, I earned my Instrument, Commercial and Multi-Engine
certificates, as well as completing a Bachelor's Degree in
Aerospace/Pro-Pilot. After graduation, I went on to Wings of Eagles to earn
my Flight Instructor Certification. Even though I live in Murfreesboro, I
continue to fly at Wings because I enjoy the people that work there and
prefer the aircraft they operate.
I am
excited to now call myself a Wings of Eagles flight instructor. I enjoy
teaching and love to fly - what better way to earn a living?
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Tim
Barbutes,
Instructor
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My first ambition was to be an
astronaut, who hasn't, so it's safe to say I was bitten by the flying bug at
an early age. After six years in the Air Force I went to college where I
graduated with a computer programming degree in 1981 but was always being
called to fly. So after raising three kids and reaching 40 something, I
decided it was time to make a change. I enrolled in flight training in June
2000 and got my private in January 2001. I then went on to earn my
Instrument rating in 2002, Commercial in 2003 and CFI rating in 2004. If I
may be permitted to paraphrase from one of the instructors here at Wings, "I
came to the realization that the only way to have more fun than flying was
to teach others to fly." I have recently jumped the Grand Canyon in that I
quit my Computer programming career and now fly full time with a
construction company. I fly their project people around the southeast in a
Cirrus SR22. I still have to pinch myself when I realize I'm actually
getting paid to do something that I love, how cool is that?
I have been to a variety of flight schools over the years and can honestly
say that Wings of Eagles is the best flight school in the area, and I'm
proud of my affiliation with this organization. I currently reside in
Hendersonville with my wife and children.
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Drew Bonham,
Instructor
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I was born in Memphis,
Tennessee where it didn’t take long to realize my dreams and love of
flight. As many of you know Memphis is a home to Fed Ex and a major hub for
Northwest Airlines. I considered myself lucky as a child, when aircraft
departed Memphis to the north they came right over my house enabling me to
lay outside for hours on end watching, wishing I could be up there with
them. I am a first generation pilot in my family so I wasn’t sure how to
achieve my dream until a friend of mine took me up after she got her private
license. It was a dream come true. Soon after in the summer of 2005 I
received my private pilot’s license in Olive Branch before coming to school,
and now have a commercial instrument and a flight instructor’s certificate.
Now that I am a
flight instructor I am able to help others achieve that same dream I have
had since I was a small child. It’s a privilege I take seriously and have a
passion for. My love for helping others has carried over into aviation so
if you have ever thought about flight or have dreamt about it as I did, come
to Wings and we will make your dreams come true.
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Chris Carnett,
Instructor |
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I am ecstatic to be
back in the Middle Tennessee area teaching what I love—aviation. For
the past year, I have flown the Embraer 145 for a regional airline based
in Saint Louis, MO. Before transitioning to the jet, I served at Wings
of Eagles as a flight instructor. I received both my Bachelor’s of
Science in Aerospace and my Master’s in Aerospace Education from Middle
Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN.
I am very excited to
share my passion for aviation with others as continue to learn as much
from my students as I teach them. The joy and freedom of flight in a
general aviation airplane cannot be matched!
In my free time, I
enjoy spending time my home in Murfreesboro, spending times with friends
and family, my pet beagle Abigail, and working with a Murfreesboro
theatrical performance company.
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Allen
Crossley,
Instructor
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When I was a child I always dreamed big. I
wanted to be anything from a race car driver to an athlete and anything
in between. One dream that frequently crossed my mind was the dream of
flying. As I grew up, dreams faded into reality and I soon saw that I
was not going to be a race car driver and certainly not an athlete, but
I never could get rid of this dream to fly. For years when people asked
me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I would say "I don't know" or
something like that because I thought becoming a pilot was not at all
practical. I thought people who flew were somehow born into the industry
or more likely bought into the industry so it still seemed like a silly
childhood dream to be a pilot. Then, around the age of 15, I discovered
that a family member that I had never met before was actually a pilot
who flew in the airlines and had once flown fighters in the military.
Flying didn't seem so silly now knowing that someone in my family was a
pilot. I
was now determined to make it to my goals so I focused on school. I
graduated from Page High School in Franklin, Tennessee and enrolled at
MTSU. I majored in Aerospace with a professional pilot focus. I trained
at MTSU as hard as I could and by graduation I was a commercial pilot
with an instrument rating and a multi-engine rating. After graduation,
however, I went through a period of time where I didn't know really what
I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be involved in aviation, but I was
afraid that being a professional pilot was not going to happen. Finally,
I decided to just go for it. I began training for my CFI at Wings of
Eagles and now look forward to helping others pursue their dream of
flying.
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Quincy Davis,
Instructor
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I am originally from a
small town in southern Georgia called Baxley. I moved to Nashville when I
was 12 and now call Murfreesboro home. I took the long road to aviation with
stops in Alaska, Korea, Italy and many other countries as a member of the
United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, I was a full-time
firefighter and got to work hands-on with many fighter and cargo aircraft.
I was always interested in flying but never really got the chance to
experience flight for various reasons. While in Alaska, a friend took me up
for a flight over glaciers and through valleys. I was hooked. Various trips
and deployments kept me from starting training but in 2005 I decided to
leave the active duty military and pursue a college degree full-time.
While searching for a school online, I stumbled across Middle Tennessee
State University’s Aerospace program. The choice was made. I packed my bags
and headed back home to Nashville and school, and I am relieved to say that
it was a decision I don’t regret for a minute. I am hours away from
completing all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree as a professional
pilot and in that time I have earned Private, Instrument, Commercial and
Multi-Engine ratings.
With my newest certificate, Certified Flight Instructor, I have the
opportunity to teach others to fly and conquer the sky. Flying has always
had a place in my heart and I continue to ask myself if it is real. If you
have ever found yourself wondering “what if?” as you look towards the sky
searching for the plane zooming across the sky…..stop wondering and make it
happen. I’m here to help. |
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Charles
Dayhuff,
Instructor
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Growing up, I never had the
desire to fly an airplane. I liked airplanes but preferred to view
them from the ground. My only experience had been as a passenger on a
commercial airliner, which made me quite nervous. Then one night, I
was at a friend's house and he introduced me to a computer game called
Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator. The game was a lot of fun, and I
bought my own copy the next day. Within a month, Microsoft enticed me
to buy another game called Flight Simulator 2000 by promising me the
experience of flying the 747 Jumbo Jet. This, of course, led to the
2002 and 2004 editions as they were released. A close friend, who is
an airline pilot, saw my enthusiasm for PC flying and suggested that I
really try it. The opportunity presented itself, and I jumped in
head-first, acquiring my Private Pilot License immediately followed by an
Instrument Rating. Next came my Commercial License, Multi-Engine and
then finally my Flight Instructor Ratings. I'd be happy to share my
passion for flying with you. Come visit us in Smyrna and let us help
you realize your dreams of flying. Earn your license and experience a
joy and freedom you have never tasted before.
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Phil Hardin,
Instructor
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Born
in Greeneville, Tennessee, I was introduced to aviation at age nine when a
pilot friend of my father's took me for a short flight that sparked a lifelong
love of flying and a dream to become a pilot.
Despite family responsibilities and a 30-year career as a
State
Trooper, I earned my pilot license in 1983. I feel privileged for the
opportunity to fly and greatly value every minute of my training and
experience. As a flight instructor, I take immense pleasure in training
aspiring student pilots who share my enthusiasm for aviation.
I currently reside in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with my wife. We have four adult
children and a granddaughter.
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Mark Robey,
Instructor |
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I took my first flight
with American Airlines as a senior in high school on a trip from Orlando to
Nashville…seeing the world from that viewpoint was unlike anything I had
ever experienced before. As many pilots say, I wanted to fly since I was a
child. I remember as young as 6 years old staring into the sky, looking at
cloud formations and watching planes race through them. That’s when the
dream began.
But as you know, life happens. It wasn’t until age 32 that I started my
Private Certificate (all thanks to my wife pushing me to chase the dream).
The experience of taking control of an actual aircraft, making it fly and
then making it land? It’s a thrill unlike any accomplishment I had made
thus far in my life. Now that I have become a Commercial Flight Instructor,
I get to experience that all over again through up and coming pilots I work
with!!
I earned my Private certificate with ExcelAvia, LLC at Nashville
International Airport (BNA) and my Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII, MEI
certificates with ATP Inc. at Bowling Green Regional (BWG). My training
continues…daily.
If you find yourself looking into
the sky wondering what it would be like to fly, you have got to try it
today! If you have ever dreamt of piloting an aircraft…today is the day to
make your dream come true!!
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Justin Slatton,
Instructor |
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It was not
until I was attending college that aviation sparked my interest. While
attending college, I obtained all my licenses and ratings. Once I received
my instructor certificate, I began working with Wings Of Eagles. I then
went on to pursue my airline career. I am currently a First Officer on a
jet for a regional carrier and have chosen to come back to Wings and return
to “my roots” to instruct on my days off. In my free time, I enjoy spending
time with friends and home improvement projects.
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Donnie
Underwood, Instructor
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David Williams, Instructor
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Ever since I was 11 years old
I knew that I wanted to be a professional pilot. I started flying when
I was 14 and spent every opportunity I had at the airport near my home in
east Tennessee. By 16 I was flying gliders and with the support of my
wonderful parents and all the part-time jobs you can possibly think of, I
received my Private Pilot License in 1990. During college, I completed
my Commercial License and CFI rating here at MQY. I am currently a
Captain for Flight Options flying a Citation Jet nationwide. I
instruct here at Wings because I LOVE to teach and enjoy seeing others
fulfill their dreams of flying. Fly safe, and I look foward to meeting
you on the ramp!
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