Crystal Lake, IL

Bill recently retired from United Airlines with over 38 years of service and over 29,600 hours of flying time. His last commercial mount was a B-747-400. He is an accomplished aerobatics pilot and the choreographer of many of the Lima Lima maneuvers, where he combines his knowledge of physics and aerodynamics. He is the only member of the team who is qualified in all six positions and he is a charter member of the team. Bill's son Tim is currently qualifying for the team. Bill and his wife Jean split their time between Crystal Lake, IL and Grand Marais, MN. fingers@limalima.com

Ed "Outlaw" Hicks

St. Charles, IL.

Ed soloed on his 16th birthday. Since that time, he has logged over 22,000 hours in USAF trainers, jet fighters and a variety of airliners. He recently retired as a Captain for Delta Airlines on the MD-11. Ed’s son Bob is a Hollywood film maker who wrote and produced the Lima Lima missing man  narrative and who currently is an F16 pilot based at Andrews AFB. Ed and wife Leslie reside in St.Charles. He is also a charter member of the team.
outlaw@limalima.com

John "Ripper" Rippinger

Schaumburg, IL.

John is president and CVO of the  Rippinger Financial Group of companies, a group of Schaumburg-based insurance and employee benefit firms. He has been flying for over 40 years in both fixed wing and balloons. He was co-pilot on the gas balloon "Chicago" which won the 1981 U.S. National Championship. In addition to his flight duties, John also manages the 20+ product sponsors for the team. John, his wife Susan and their dog Aileron live  in Schaumburg IL. He started flying T-34’s in 1989 and has been a member of the team since 1992. ripper@limalima.com                       

Naperville, IL

Jim is the youngest member of the Lima Lima Flight Team. He soloed on his sixteenth birthday, got his private license on his 17th birthday and graduated from Embry Riddle University in 1995. He currently flies for United Airlines as a First Officer on the B777 and is based at O'Hare. Jim is the son of the teams founder, Gene Martin. He lives with his wife Nicole in Naperville. He joined the team in 1994. bullet@limalima.com

Glen Ellyn, IL

Stan began his flying career in 1963, as a Civil Air Patrol Cadet in Columbus, Ohio. He continued at Ohio University as a Flight Instructor and then as an Army Helicopter Pilot, serving in Vietnam 1971-72. He flew a variety of corporate jets and turboprops before signing on with United Airlines in 1979. He is currently flying Captain on the B-747. Stan and his wife Anne reside in Glen Ellyn, IL. He joined the team in 1994. theman@limalima.com

Lake City, FL

Gary soloed at age 16 and enlisted in the Air Force at age 19. He served 4 years as an air traffic controller while earning his degree in business management. He served 6 more years as a WSO in the F-4D Phantom. He currently is flying Captain on the B-737 for Delta Airlines. Gary recently retired as a Major in the Air Force Reserve. Gary and his wife Cathy live in Lake City, FL at Cannon Creek Air Park. Gary has been flying the T-34 since 1987 and has been on the team since 1997. twentywondon@limalima.com

Skip "Scooter" Aldous

Brian "Digger" McCann

Downers Grove , IL

Brian has been flying since High School and began his flying career as a flight instructor at the University of North Dakota in 1975.  He worked as a corporate pilot for 8 years before joining United Airlines in 1986.  He has over 20,000 hours of flying time and is currently a B747 First Officer. He has been a member of the team since 2001. digger@limalima.com

Cincinnati, OH

Scott began flying at the age of 14 and received his pilot license in high school.  Scott went to the University of Cincinnati for undergraduate studies and dental school at Ohio State University and graduated in 1977.  He also has an MBA from Xavier University and an MAS from Embry Riddle University .  Scott started flying the T-34 in 1996.  He has been involved in the restoration of several T-34s and started a small airshow team of aerobatic pilots in Cincinnati Ohio in 1998.  They performed at airshows, and also gave unusual attitude training in the T-34 to other pilots and flight instructors.    Scott has a general dental practice and specializes in cosmetic dentistry including sedation dentistry with implants and related restorations in Cincinnati .  He is married to Janet and has two children. Scott recently joined the Air Force Reserve as a Lt Colonel.  He joined the team in 2003.

Rick “Knuckles” Nichols

Daytona Beach , FL

Rick joined the Navy in 1974 as an Aviation Electronics Technician before going to flight school in 1981.  He flew the T-28B Trojan as a student, then went on to instruct in the T-34C Turbo Mentor after earning his Navy “wings of gold.”. After a tour as a Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer on the USS Midway, he Carrier Qualified in the T-2C Buckeye on the USS Lexington. He then qualified in the E-2C Hawkeye and the C-2A Greyhound.  He retired after 22 years active service in 1997and now flies the Boeing 737 as a  captain for a major airline. He did some team support work in 2003 and qualified for the team in 2004. Rick and his wife Theresa live at the Spruce Creek Fly-in, Daytona Beach , FL. knuckles@limalima.com

Mark "Enigma" Miller

Montgomery, IL

Mark is a third generation general aviation pilot, who got an early introduction to flying in his Grandfather's Cessna 170B.  Arabian show horses replaced aircraft in Mark's parent’s home, which took him all over the Mid-West during his youth.  Mark's passion for aviation returned in the late eighties, when he moved to the Naperville area, near LL10.  He dedicated over 5 years to accumulate the piloting hours necessary to buy a share of his first T-34 in 2003.  Mark qualified for the team in 2007 and now is part owner of two T-34s. Mark works as a design engineer for an international earthmoving equipment manufacturer. 
He currently resides in Montgomery IL. enigma@limalima.com