Michael Kennedy, Pilot

Valiant Echoes, Inc.

Michael has been actively performing in air shows since 1978. He most recently was the team captain and founder of the Swift Magic Aerobatic Team, and upon the retirement of his great friend and team mate, Lowell Sterchi, decided to pursue his dream of performing in a WWII aircraft. Determined to offer an act that would be unique and entertaining, he settled on the Vultee Valiant. The BT-13, nicknamed Vibrator, has all but disappeared from the aviation landscape even though it was a major part of the WWII cadet pilot training efforts of both the Army Air Force and Naval programs.

A series of events surprisingly lead him back to his home town area in Wisconsin to find his rare BT-13. Although born on an army base during WWII, Michael spent his youth in a small Wisconsin town and, as with many pilots, dreamed of flying for as long as he can remember. He had his first flight as a CAP cadet and went on to be the first in his home town to graduate from the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

His goal was always to fly fighters and after pilot training in GA he was assigned to fly the F-4 Phantom II. He flew 400 combat missions in Southeast Asia during three combat tours from 1968-1972 in the F-4 and was awarded more than 30 decorations. He flew other Air Force jets and his last fighter was the A-10 Warthog. He retired as a Lt Col and by then had started his air show career.

During his 16 years with the Magic Team, they performed from coast to coast and from Halifax, NS to San Salvador, El Salvador.

Michael has been married to his soul mate, Mary for over 40 years and could not be living his flying dream without her prayerful support. They have a son and daughter and two grandkids. Oh yes, and a dog named Molly Blue – she doesn’t like to fly!

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