Paul T. Entrekin

Entrekin was born in Detroit, Michigan, but considers Decatur, Alabama, to be his hometown. He graduated from Decatur High School, Decatur, Alabama in 1972 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Auburn University in 1976.

Entering active duty with the United States Marine Corps following graduation from Officer Candidate School in 1977, he completed The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, and then received flight training at Pensacola, Florida, where he was designated a Naval Aviator in 1980.

He was assigned to the Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 267 (HML-267) “Stingers” and later the Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 (HMA-369) [1][2] “Gunfighters” at Camp Pendleton, California, which deployed to the Far East flying the UH-1N Huey both at sea and ashore. He is a graduate of multiple Marine Aviation and Weapons Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1) Instructor courses (WTI) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona, Forward Air Controller (Tactical Air Control Party) School, Landing Force Training Center, Pacific, at NAB Coronado, San Diego, California, and the Aviation Safety Officer Course at the United States Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Selected as a Naval Aviation Training Command flight instructor,[1][2] in 1984, he was assigned to the Navy Training Squadron 3 (VT-3) “Red Knights” where he was recognized as an Instructor of the Year [1][2] flying the T-34C.
He also received the squadron's prestigious Order of the Red Max.

He later served as a reservist with the Defense Intelligence Agency [1][2] retiring with the rank of major after Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991. He is a member of the Order of Daedalians, the Marine Corps Aviation Association, the Association of Naval Aviation and the National Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.

In 1986 he began Entrekin Aviation, initially with his Pitts S-2B and later with his MiG-15 as a full-time airshow performer that flew aerobatic flight demonstrations across North America entertaining millions of spectators.[3]

Known as “The Bandit”, Entrekin was the first pilot in the world to own and fly a Russian MiG aircraft.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

He also utilized the jet for motion picture and television productions; among them – Steal the Sky (HBO, 1988) and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (1987).
Entrekin is also one of the very few pilots rated to fly the world's smallest jet, the experimental BD-5J microjet.[16][17] He flew classified government contract flights simulating the characteristics of cruise missile profiles.

He was the second jet representative of the International Council of Airshows (ICAS) Performer Safety Committee (later the ACE, Aerobatic Competency Evaluator, Committee) and held a level 1 (unlimited/ground level) aerobatic waiver.[1][18][19]

In 1989 he accepted a position with Delta Air Lines. He has flown more than 18,000 hours in over 40 different types of aircraft including the Boeing 777.

He is author of two books, Mighty Hands [19] and Mr. MiG [1]

• United States and World Record Holder (National Aeronautic Association & Federation Aéronautique Internationale) Speed Over A Recognized Course, Atlanta to Pensacola – 505.51 mph, MiG-15bis, 6 July 1993.[20][21][22]
• United States and World Record Holder (National Aeronautic Association & Federation Aéronautique Internationale) Speed Over A Commercial Air Route, Atlanta to Greensboro – 486.60 mph, Boeing 727-200, 6 April 2003.[20][22][23]
• Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor [24]

• O'Leary, Michael (1990). Jet Warbirds. Motorbooks International Publisher & Wholesalers. ISBN 0-87938-476-X.
• Maloney, Edward T. (1995). Russian MiG-15. Planes of Fame Publications. ISBN 978-0915464029. OCLC 41033643.
• Wilkinson, Stephan; Gilbert, James (March 1989). "Letter from America – The American who flies a MiG-15". Pilot. ISSN 0300-1695.
• Jernigan, Mike (2002). "When MiGs Fly". Auburn Magazine. Auburn Alumni Association. 9 (3). ISSN 1077-8640.
• Gary, Debbie (April–May 2002). "Russian Revolution". Air & Space Smithsonian. Smithsonian Institution. 17 (1). ISSN 0886-2257.
• Weiman, David (May–June 1988). "There's a MiG in our Midst!". World Airshow News. Flyer Publications. 3 (3). ISSN 0888-5265.
• Wilkinson, Stephan (June–July 1992). "Happiness is a Hot Jet". Air & Space Smithsonian. Smithsonian Institution. 7 (2). ISSN 0886-2257.
• Levy, Howard (February 1989). "A Bad Old MiG". Private Pilot. Fancy Publications. 24 (2). ISSN 0032-8901.
• Wilkinson, Stephan (May 1993). "Civilian Jet Jockeys". Plane & Pilot. Werner Publishing Corp. 29 (5). ISSN 0032-0617.
• O'Leary, Michael (1989). "MiG!". Airshow International. Challenge Publications, Inc. (Special Edition).
• Entrekin, Paul (January 1989). "If I Just Had a NATOPS Manual". Approach. The Naval Aviation Safety Review, Naval Safety Center. 34 (7). ISSN 0570-4979.
• Parnall, Chuck (April 2000). "What About These Jet Warbirds?". Warbirds. Warbirds of America, Inc. 11 (4).
• Szurovy, Geza (June 1988). "Whistling Warbirds". Warbirds. Warbirds of America, Inc. 11 (4). ISSN 0744-6624.
• Scott, Phil (September 1996). "Red Fighters in the Sky". Cigar Aficionado. M. Shanken Communications, Inc. 5 (1). ISSN 1063-7885.
• Mormillo, Frank (January 1987). "First MiG-15 Takes to Skies Over California". Pacific Flyer. Aviation News, Wayman Dunlap. 37 (1).
• Mormillo, Frank (1988). "MiG Over the America". Koku-Fan. BUNRIN-DO Company, Ltd., Japan. 37 (1).
• Fialka, John J. (August 3, 1992). "Russian MiGs Now Are All the Rage In Friendly Skies". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. ISSN 0099-9660.
• Mormillo, Frank (January 1988). "Frisch aus China importiert: Private MiGs uber Kalifornien". Aerokurier. Germany.
• Unknown (September 28, 1987). "California Firm Restoring MiG-15s, Selling Them for Civil Use". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill Publishing. ISSN 0005-2175.
• Mormillo, Frank B (January 1988). "MiG in the Circuit". Aircraft Illustrated. 21 (1).
• Shafer, Jan (1988). "A MiG-15 in U.S. Airspace?". ICAS News. International Council of Airshows (First Quarter). ISSN 1097-3133.
• O’Leary, Michael (November 1987). "Airborne MiG, The first civil registered MiG-15 has successfully flown". Air Classics. Challenge Publications, Inc. 23 (11). ISSN 0002-2241.
• Lawrence, James (March 1988). "The Ghost From MiG Alley". Plane & Pilot. Werner Publishing Corp. ISSN 0032-0617.
• Mormillo, Frank (May 1988). "MiG Dynasty". Flying. Hachette Magazines. ISSN 0015-4806.
• Levy, Howard (January 1988). "Migrant MiG". Aeroplane Monthly. Kelsey Publishing, Ltd., England.

• Personal website
• Paul T. Entrekin at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum