The Team
Pilots
Hack
Dan Sullivan
"Hack"
"Hack" is an entrepreneur in the medical device industry and has been the founder, board member or key person at a dozen companies including SCIMED Life Systems which is now a major part of Boston Scientific. He has been flying for 33 years, 15 years in jets, and holds a commercial pilots license and instrument rating. Dan has 3000 hours flying including 1000 hours in jets. He is rated in the MiG-17, MiG-15, L-39, L-29, multi-engine land, single engine land, and tail wheel aircraft. He is a qualified lead formation pilot. Dan and Christa, his wife of 31 years, live in Medina (Minneapolis), Minnesota. Hack currently flies a MiG-17, L-39, L-29, Piper Seneca and a Super Cub that has been modified for Alaskan bush flying. He is passionate about using the jets to make young kids think ahead. His message to kids is "Do well in school, think BIG and then work really hard. You can do anything!" He describes the watershed events in his flying career as getting comfortable flying on instruments, getting comfortable with a tail wheel and becoming comfortable upside down and in the vertical during aerobatics and formation.
When it comes to flying highlights, Hack is hard to keep quiet:
  • FA-18 Hornet flight - A few years ago he had the opportunity to land his L-39 on a U.S. Navy base and give two days of familiarization flights to Navy instructor pilots so they could learn the enemy trainer. Hack was also fortunate to receive training from naval experts in ejection, water survival and high altitude which were followed by a flight in our country's premier fighter, the FA-18 Hornet, where they allowed him to take over and put the airplane through its paces! "The flight of a lifetime."
  • He recently flew the bush plane from Alaska through the wilderness, across Canada, through the United States and deep into Mexico. "Down low at 90 knots, you really get to see the country!"
  • Last, but not least, the Hoppers, "The Hoppers are my second family, I have a contract with these guys. I trust my life to them, they trust their life to me. It's a bond so deep, you can't break it, and you can't describe it."
Skids
Glenn Smith
"Skids"
"Skids" is a technology entrepreneur who founded a company in 1981 that provides IT services to local governments. Away from his computer, Skids started flying 24 years ago and now holds holds a commercial pilot's license with instrument rating. With over 2000 hours flying including 600 hours in jets, he is currently flying his PT-17 Stearman, T-37 Tweet ( one of two currently flying), MiG-17, L-39, and Super Cub. Skids is the newest member of the Hoppers and is currently working on his Lead qualifications.

"The Hoppers quickly became close and trusted friends. They are a special group of aviators dedicated to aviation safety and proficiency; and we use the excitement of aviation as a message to motivate kids to succeed."

In addition to his passion for flying, Glenn is a certified scuba diver, licensed sailor, snow ski enthusiast, and struggling golfer.
Grasshopper
Paul Wood
"Grasshopper"

"Grasshopper" is a retired co-founder and managing director of Madison Dearborn Partners, one of the largest leveraged buyout firms in the country. He has been flying for 16 years, 9 of those in jets, and holds an airline transport pilot license (ATP) and instrument rating. Paul has 4000 hours flying including 1500 hours in jets. He is rated in the L-39, T-28, T-2, F-86, AD-1, multi-engine land, single engine land and tail wheel. He is a qualified formation lead . Paul and Corrine, his wife of 31 years live in Lake Forest (Chicago), Illinois with their three children. Their family is no stranger to achievement as Corrine is the former Lt. Governor of Illinois. "GH" is in the deepest airplane pit of all the Hoppers! He is currently flying a Stearman N25-7, L-19 Birddog, T-6, T-28B, L-39, F-86, A-1 Skyraider, A-4 Skyhawk, P-51, Aviat Husky, Citation CJ-1, and T-2 Buckeye (one of only a few Navy trainers flying). Grasshopper started flying in high school and then put it on hold while he developed his business. Now that he is retired, he is able to fly on a regular basis.

He is an accomplished pilot and is a regular on the vintage warbird airshow circuit. Among his many flying highlights he lists the Navy Legacy Flight program, flying with the Hoppers, and a 2004 flight around the United States in his Husky Tailwheel, where he spent over a month flying the perimeter of the United States accumulating 110 hours and 13 minutes. This flight was sponsored for the purpose of raising money for underprivileged children. Paul's dad, a non-flyer, was able to accompany him for the majority of the trip where they camped, stayed at small airports and met a variety of interesting people. His dad Bob commented, "You never know what that kid's going to do next!"

Grasshopper is quoted as saying, "It's great to fly with a group of men who are great pilots, but also great friends."

High Speed Jet Formation Flight

"We don't do this with just anyone. Training, discipline, critique and striving for perfection allow one brief moment of time in the zone," said Hack.

The seeds were sown for FighterTour many years ago. Hack purchased his first military jet in 1995 and the L-39 in 1997. Grasshopper was in the T-28 and other warbirds in the 90s. Skids was in a twin engine prop.

In 1999 Mildred, the Dawg and Hack all showed up at a formation clinic and the catalyst was in motion. They flew together in formation and combat maneuvering. Mildred followed up connecting the three pilots. Mildred's association with Puck connected Paul Wood to the group. During a fly in to Moline, Paul met Hoppy, happily assumed the new handle of Grasshopper and the team was born! Skids appeared during the summer of 2005.

Puck comments, "I met Mildred in 1997 when he was looking for an L-39 and Tim Brutsche in 1998 at Oshkosh where we flew formation for the first time. I checked Paul Wood out in the L-39 in 1999 and taught him initial formation in the L-39. I met Dan Sullivan in 2001 at a formation flying event and Glenn Smith in 2003, and began formation flight training with them in the L-39." The Hoppers were born!

Mildred sums it up when he says, "I consider my Hopper flight team pilots among my closest and trusted friends. We not only enjoy our friendship, but we trust each other with our lives. It is a great group of pilots and we have fun everywhere we go."

Hack bought a MiG-17 in the early 2000's followed quickly by Grasshopper in the F-86. Skids purchased a MiG-17 in 2008 and Grasshopper had his A-4 Skyhawk up and running in late 2009.