Article and Photos byTed Luebbers
On December 21, the Florida Aviation Network based in Orlando, Florida sent a TV crew to Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg, FL to film a documentary video titled “Jack Hallett, age 94 to 100”.
Jack Hallett is a 100-year-old WWII fighter pilot who has been adopted by the aviation community at the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg Florida. As a result, he has had many opportunities to fly some pretty exotic aircraft. In the last 6 years, he has flown planes such as an L-39 Albatros Jet, twin-engine Arrowstar, Pitts S-2B, Zlin, 1942 Boeing Stearman, P-51, Mooney, and a Swearingen SX-300.
Jack doesn’t just go for a ride; he actually gets to fly these aircraft and does aerobatic maneuvers to the full extent that these planes are certified.
He served in the US Army Air Corps during WWII in the European Theater flying the famous twin-engine P-38 and the P-47 to name a few. He flew these planes in support of ground troops during his tour of duty. He was shot down twice but always found his way back to Allied lines. He earned the rank of Major and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Florida Aviation Network host, Joel Hargis, interviews Jack and the pilots of these planes beside the actual aircraft he flew.
Joel gets Jack to talk about his experience with each plane and talks with the owner /pilots of each one to comment on Jack’s flying skills. They are all agreed that he has never lost the flying skills he learned way back in 1942.
The Florida Aviation Network broadcasts free aviation programs through the efforts of the National Aviation Safety Foundation. Their website is www.nationalaviationsafetyfoundation.org .
The best way to view “Jack Hallett, Age 94 to 100”, is on YouTube by entering the name Jack Hallett in their search engine or Google “Flying with Jack Hallett 94 to 100”.
Sit back and enjoy a great show and meet some skilled pilots.
