Your pilot, Dave Trucksess, has over 35 years of professional and recreational flight experience. His interest in aviation sparked early when as a boy he daily watched the new helicopters being test flown at the Piasecki Aircraft plant in Philadelphia. In 1971 he entered Naval Flight Training, and he was designated a Naval Aviator in early 1973. 

After 3 years serving with the fleet he was hired by a major airline, and spent 28 years flying its domestic and international routes. During this period he checked out as captain on the Douglas DC-9 and the Boeing 727, 737,757, 767, and 777. Toward the end of his airline career there was a desire to get back to basics, so he purchased his first biplane, a WACO Taperwing, that had been built by Roy Redman and his artists at Rare Aircraft in Minnesota, www.rareaircraft.com. Several years later, he purchased the WACO UBF-2 he flies today. He tells folks the F-2 seems to have a spirit of its own, and it enjoys taking earthlings along on its flights.

In 2008 Dave founded Atlas Aero so that others could have the opportunity to fly in one of these magnificent biplanes, while viewing the spectacular scenery of the southern Maine coastline and countryside. Dave has called Maine his home since 1973 and he lives on 10 peaceful, wooded acres in the town of York.  Blue side up.