#1: Larry Arken Flight Lead/Boss

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Lora Goodman
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Larry, a New York native, has a bachelor s degree in marketing from Queens College as well as a bachelor s degree in business from Thomas Edison State University.

1 #1: Larry Arken Flight Lead/Boss Larry Arken, the team lead, is a pilot for a major commercial airline. He has been flying since he was a child sitting in the co-pilot seat behind his father, Mort, a former Naval Aviator and the founder of the Skytypers. Larry, a New York native, has a bachelor s degree in marketing from Queens College as well as a bachelor s degree in business from Thomas Edison State University. While growing up in New York, Larry began his career flying warbirds and corporate jets. He first flew Falcon 10 s, 20 s and 50 s then transitioned to flying DC-8 s for UPS before beginning his long-term career as a pilot and captain for American Airlines. An accomplished aviator, he presently flies the P-47, F4U and P-51 for the Air Power Museum in Farmingdale, NY. Larry also holds a NATA designation and as a formation check pilot has logged more than 25,000 flight hours and holds more than seven types of ratings. #2: Ken Johansen Right Wing Ken Johansen (Ragnar) first flew with the Skytypers at the age of eight. He caught the aviation bug early in life from his father, Skytyping Instructor Bob Johansen. His inaugural flight with the team sealed his future. Ken graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1989 and earned his Navy Wings in He went on to fly P3 s on both coasts with VP23 and VP46. His career has taken him to the Netherlands, where he flew P3 s with the Royal Netherlands Navy from 1996 to Ken opted to transition from active duty with the Navy and was quickly hired by TWA where he flew MD80 s, B757 s and B767 s. After giving up his active duty status, Ken was also hired by VR52 in Willow Grove, PA, as a Navy Reserve Instruction flying DC9 s around the world. Recently, he was the Commanding Officer of VR58 in Jacksonville, FL, flying C-40 s (B ) throughout the world. Ken is currently a captain for a major airline. Ken enjoys flying Aeronca Champs, Citabrias and Stearmans out of a small grass strip in Northern Pennsylvania with his two sons as well as scuba diving and watching his son Luke play baseball. Ken is also excited about spending time with his new granddaughter, Addelin Rose.

Flying with the GEICO Skytypers has been a special thrill for Rob, and he thoroughly enjoys the military-style camaraderie.

2 #3: Rob Steo Left Wing Rob Steo resides in New York City, and is a captain for a major commercial airline. A graduate of Manhattan College and a former Air Force jet pilot, Rob has seen the world a couple of times over, with more pilot hours logged than he cares to admit. Flying with the GEICO Skytypers has been a special thrill for Rob, and he thoroughly enjoys the military-style camaraderie. He loves to perform with the team, keep his skills sharp, and have more fun than most people dream of. As a Brooklyn native, Rob especially enjoys skytyping over his old stomping grounds, and can still remember the first time he witnessed skytyping over Coney Island more than 40 years ago. #4: Bob Johansen Slot Bob Johansen was born of Norwegian immigrant parents and raised in Lincoln Park, MI, a suburb of Detroit. He showed an early interest in aviation by building and flying balsa and paper airplanes as a boy. He got his private license in 1958, flying a 65hp Aeronca from a grass field. After graduation from Kalamazoo College in 1961, he joined the Navy and reported to Pensacola, FL, for flight training. He was later based at Quonset Point, RI, flying Grumman S2 "Tracker" anti-submarine aircraft from aircraft carriers. After being released from active duty in 1966, he joined a major airline, flying out of New York on international and domestic routes for 33 years before retiring in Throughout his Navy and airline careers, Bob maintained his interest in general aviation, flying, owning, and helping build various light aircraft. In 1977 he joined the Skytypers based at Flushing Airport, next to LaGuardia. It was at this time Bob met a young adolescent by the name of Larry Arken who later became the owner of the Skytypers. With the exception of a 10-year hiatus, Bob has been flying the now famous GEICO Skytypers SNJ-2 aircraft since the late 70 s. In addition to flying "slot" position on the airshow team, Bob instructs formation as well as navigation planning for the airshow cross-country trips.

#5: Steve Salmirs Lead Solo Steve Salmirs was born in Newport News, VA. His father worked for NASA as an aeronautical engineer and his mother taught elementary school.

Steve graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL, in 1980.

3 #5: Steve Salmirs Lead Solo Steve Salmirs was born in Newport News, VA. His father worked for NASA as an aeronautical engineer and his mother taught elementary school. Steve first became involved with airplanes in 1973 when he joined the Aviation Explorer Scouts at Patrick Henry Field, VA. Steve graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL, in With an engineering degree and advanced pilot certificates, Steve began his career at the Kennedy Space Center, calibrating ground and flight equipment used on Space Shuttles from During this time, he also became a flight instructor and charter pilot. In 1982, Steve was accepted into the Air Force, earning his wings and selected to fly F-16 fighters. Steve s initial assignment was at MacDill AFB, FL. He later served at Nellis AFB, NV, and Kunsan AB, South Korea. Steve finished his Air Force career as a T-37 instructor at Laughlin AFB, TX. Currently the Lead Solo of the GEICO Skytypers, Steve has flown with the group since He is a qualified NATA flight lead pilot. Steve s duties with the Skytypers include developing the team s operations manual, managing training and evaluation programs, developing the air show routines and narration, and running the airshow operations. An advocate of general aviation, Steve has flown many different kinds of aircraft, enjoying the different characteristics each has to offer. #6: Tom Daly Opposing Solo Tom Daly was raised in Queens and now resides in Garden City, NY. His interest in aviation began at eight years old, while listening to his father s stories as a turret gunner and the A-20 Havoc during WWII. Tom followed his dream and entered the Aviation Program at Dowling College. After earning his bachelor s degree, he later earned a master s degree in Criminal Justice at C. W. Post College. Before retiring in 2006, Tom spent 33 years as a patrol and rescue helicopter pilot for the Nassau County Police Department on Long Island. He was a first responder during 9/11 and his career efforts earned him two Congressional Awards, an FAA Award for Heroism, the Aviation and Space Writers Award for Heroism, and numerous other awards for police-related activities. He continues to fly helicopters, gliders, and various types of vintage aircraft including the WWI Nieuport XXIV, Fokker D.VII, 1914 Cauldron G3, and the vintage Great Lakes 2T and Fleet 16 biplanes. Tom is currently the Associate Dean of Aviation at his alma mater, Dowling College.

#7: Jim Record Jim Record hails from Long Island, NY, the Cradle of Aviation. His father served in WWII on a bomber crew, which nurtured Jim s early interest in aviation.

Recruited into the Navy at Floyd Bennett Field, LCDR, Record served as an IP in Formation, Gunnery, Carrier Landings and frequent long cross-country flights.

4 #7: Jim Record Jim Record hails from Long Island, NY, the Cradle of Aviation. His father served in WWII on a bomber crew, which nurtured Jim s early interest in aviation. Jim first flew with the Civil Air Patrol, later earning both his pilot s license and a bachelor s degree in Aeronautics from Dowling College in Oakdale, NY. Recruited into the Navy at Floyd Bennett Field, LCDR, Record served as an IP in Formation, Gunnery, Carrier Landings and frequent long cross-country flights. He flew T-2 s, F-9 s, T-28 s, T-34 s, S-2 s, and A-4 s during his tour of duty. After leaving the Navy, Jim flew corporate jets before becoming a commercial airlines pilot. He flew the Douglas DC-9, Boeing 757, and Airbus A-330 worldwide for 30 years before retiring from a major airline. Jim joined the Skytypers in 1992, and was one of the original members of the team. Jim has flown a majority of the positions on the team including; Lead Solo, Wing Solo and Backup Lead. Recently, he returned to Dowling College to earn his master s degree and is now part of the College of Aviation Faculty. #8: Steve Kapur /Marketing Officer Steve Kapur was born in New York and currently resides in Sparta, NJ. He has been flying with the GEICO Skytypers for more than a decade. He also has a commercial pilot's license and serves as a flight instructor. Steve is one of the few members of the team to develop his aviation credentials as a civilian. He earned his private ticket later adding an instrument rating and subsequently earning his commercial and instructor s licenses. Steve has also studied aerobatics. Steve has a bachelor's degree in marketing from St. Norbert College and a master's degree in marketing from Marquette University. Steve is an accomplished marketing professional with more than 25 years of managing successful brands and programs. In addition to his marketing and sales work for the GEICO Skytypers Team, Steve is also recognized for his exemplary work in packaged goods airshow marketing for Kraft Foods and GlaxoSmithKline. His aviation credentials include Com, CFI, NATA formation card, and airshow performer. Steve has association affiliations with AOPA, EAA, NATA and Tailhook. In Steve s role as Marketing Officer for the team, he combines his talent for developing high impact marketing programs with his passion for flying. Often serving as the team spokesperson, Steve also created and developed the team s webisode series, In-Formation, a behind-the-scenes look at life as an air show performer.

He began flying at both Zahns Airport in Long Island, where he obtained his private pilot s license, as well as from Flushing Airport in Queens where he also worked as a line boy on the very same

5 #9: Dino Peros Dino Peros grew up in Queens, New York where he developed a great interest in aviation at an early age. Dino worked at his local church, as well as anywhere else he could, to save enough money to begin flying lessons at age 16. He began flying at both Zahns Airport in Long Island, where he obtained his private pilot s license, as well as from Flushing Airport in Queens where he also worked as a line boy on the very same SNJs he enjoys flying so much today. A graduate of Aviation High School in New York, Dino also attended the University of South Florida where in 1980 he graduated with a degree in Psychology. Immediately following college, he entered the US Marine Corps and became a commissioned officer. In 1983, Dino reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL, and was commissioned a Naval Aviator. Dino went on to fly the A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft and earned many qualifications, including Special Weapons delivery pilot. In 1988, he transferred into the Marine Corps newest aircraft, the AV-8B Harrier attack jet, and in 1991 flew in the very first U.S. combat mission in the Persian Gulf War for the Harrier aircraft. Dino is now a captain with a major airline and enjoys many hobbies including aerobatic flying and skydiving. #10: Mike Eberhardt Mike Eberhardt had his first flight lesson at the age of 15 in an SGS-2-32 sailplane and never looked back. In 1985, he graduated from Daniel Webster College in New Hampshire with a bachelor s degree in Aviation Management & Flight Training. He had his first experience with the GEICO Skytypers in 2005, and then joined the team in After college, Mike joined the US Navy and completed primary flight training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas flying the T-34C, T-2C and TA-4J. He received his wings in 1987 and was assigned to the F-14B based at NAS Oceana, Virginia. Assigned to the USS Saratoga, Mike flew over 100 combat hours during missions in support of Operation Desert Storm, including one mission in January 1991 where he nearly shot down and chased away two Iraqi Mirage F-1s trying to fire on an EA-6B, thus saving the EA-6B. Mike s Naval career continued with two Instructor tours at NAS Kingsville and NAS Meridian, followed by a tour based in NAF Atsugi, Japan. Mike left active duty in 1999 to fly s with Atlas Air, but returned just prior to 09/11. His last assignment was aboard CVN-71, USS Theodore Roosevelt based at Naval Station Norfolk working in Air Operations. After 22 years of active duty, Mike retired from Naval service and returned to Atlas Air as a First Officer on the Boeing , where he flies cargo around the world, covering every continent. Mike has flown more than 9,000 hours including 542 carrier landings. During his military service, Mike was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals and two Navy Achievement Medals as well as various campaign awards. Mike currentlyresides in Virginia Beach, VA

6 #11: Chris Orr Chris Orr has been flying for 22 years and developed a love for aviation attending air shows as a boy. He dreamed of flying for the military and followed a unique pathway to attain that dream. His desire to serve in the military led him to enlist in the Army Reserves as an infantryman at age 17. He was awarded a Naval ROTC scholarship and left the Army three years later. Upon graduation from the University of Colorado he was accepted to Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. After earning his wings, Chris was selected to fly the F-14 Tomcat. He completed two tours aboard the USS Constellation. Some of Chris s accomplishments during that time included; 35 combat missions over Iraq, 300 carrier arrested landings, and two Top Ten Hook awards for achieving some of the highest landing grades in his carrier airwing. His next assignment in the Navy was to fly the A-4 Skyhawk as an aggressor pilot. He simulated enemy tactics and instructed other Navy pilots on how to dog fight in fighter planes. After his service in the Navy, Chris flew the C-130 Hercules for the New York Air National Guard. He completed two more combat tours and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the military with 25 years of service. Today, Chris is a captain at a major airline and lives on Long Island with his beautiful wife and two children. While living on Long Island, Chris has enjoyed watching the GEICO Skytypers fly at air shows and skytype over the skies along the northeast coast. Fate eventually brought Chris and the Skytypers together..

#1: Larry Arken #2: Ken Johansen

#1: Larry Arken #2: Ken Johansen #1: Larry Arken Flight Lead/Boss Larry Arken, the team lead, is a pilot for a major commercial airline. He has been flying since he was a child sitting in the co-pilot seat behind his father, Mort, a former