Our Pilots

Are Top Rated in the Industry

The only way to experience a true-to-life aviation adventure of the caliber offered by Fighter Combat International is under the guidance of the very best pilots the world has to offer flying the very best planes. We only select pilots that are committed to providing the very best customer service in a safe, fun-filled atmosphere of adventure. Ensuring you and your guests have an experience that will last a lifetime is second only to your safety. Our entire team at Fighter Combat International is devoted to ensuring your event is both exciting and memorable. Book an adventure at our Mesa AZ  location today!

Pilot Paul "BJ" Ransbury

Paul “BJ” Ransbury

President

Aerobatic / Air Combat Instructor

See Qualifications →
Instructor Qualifications:
  • 4-Time Master CFI – Aerobatic
  • Former Part 141 Chief Instructor at APS (5 Years)
  • Certified Flight Instructor, Multi-Engine Instructor
  • Instrument Instructor Airplane / Advanced Ground Instructor
  • Class 1 Aerobatic Flight Instructor (Canada)
  • Bombardier Flying Instruction Techniques Course Graduate
  • CAF Fighter Weapons Instructor Course Graduate
  • Memberships: EAA, IAC, NAFI, ICAS
Pilot Qualifications:
  • Airline Transport Pilots License, Single/Multi-Engine IFR
  • Airlines: A320 Airbus
  • Tailwheel / Complex / High-Performance Certified
  • 4000+ Hours Aerobatic Experience (2500+ hours: Extra 300L)
Military Fighter Pilot Experience:
  • 12 Yrs: F/A-18 Hornet Fighter Pilot
  • Fighter Electronic Warfare and Advanced Radar Graduate
  • 416 Tactical Fighter Squadron
  • 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron
Air Show Qualifications:
  • ICAS Certified Air Show Performer – Solo & Formation Aerobatics
  • Air Show Team Lead: Team Extreme Aerobatics
Education:
  • BSc Honors Mathematics & Physics Degree
  • Royal Military College of Canada
  • Pursuing MBA – University of Phoenix
Pilot Randall “RANDOM” Brooks

Randall “RANDOM” Brooks

Aerobatic / Air Combat Instructor
VP Training and Business Development

See Qualifications →
Instructor Qualifications:
  • Certified Flight Instructor – CFI, MEI, CFII and Glider
  • Over 2,500 hours of Dual Instruction Given
  • Over 20 years of Aerobatic Instructional Experience
Flight Experience:
  • Airline Transport Pilot rating, over 12,000 hours of total flight time
  • 5,500 hours of aerobatic operations / 4,500 hours formation
  • 6,000 hours in tailwheel aircraft
  • Four jet and turboprop type ratings, and
  • Flight experience in over 100 aircraft types
Experience & Certifications:
  • President of the Upset Prevention & Recovery Training Association (UPRTA)
  • Leader of Training Analysis for the International Committee for
  • Aviation Training in Extended Envelopes (ICATEE)
  • Former Sr. Director of Flight Training for Opinicus Corporation
  • Former Director of Customer Training and Manager of Emergency
  • Situation Training for Eclipse Aircraft
  • Former Director of Operations for the Red Baron Squadron
Air Show Qualifications:
  • Over 500 surface level formation aerobatic demonstrations with three formation aerobatic demonstration teams
  • Former ICAS Aerobatic Competency Evaluator (ACE)
Education:
  • B.S. Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado
Pilot Philip “O.P.” Oppenheimer

Philip “O.P.” Oppenheimer

Aerobatic / Air Combat Instructor

See Qualifications →
Instructor Qualifications:
  • FAA Certified Flight Instructor / Instrument Airplane Instructor
  • USAF Formal Course, Simulator and Platform Ground Instructor (A-10, A-37, F-16)
  • USDA / USDI Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) (Aerial Firefighting) Safety Liasion, Flight and Ground Operations Risk Management Instructor
  • FAA-Authorized Night Vision Goggle Instructor
  • F-16 Subject Matter Expert, Simulator Instructor, USAF Research Laboratory (AFRL)
  • A-37, F-16 Flight Examiner
Professional Pilot Experience & Certifications:
  • 10,300 hours flight time in 40+ different aircraft
  • Airline Transport Pilots License, Single/Multi-Engine IFR
  • USDA/USDI SEAT Pilot (Level I) 2001-2015 (AT-802, AT-602, M18, Ayers Turbine Thrush (G10, T45, T660)
  • Tailwheel / Complex / High-Performance Certified
  • Corporate: BE400 / MU300 (Type Rated) + Citation XL, Citation X, TBM-750, Kingair 200 contract time
  • Authorized Experimental: CE-T37, DC-A4, DO-AJet, NH-T38
  • Extra-300L Owner (1500 hours)
  • Chief Pilot/Director of Flight Operations, Top Aces Corp (A-4, A-Jet)
Military Experience:
  • 20 Years USAF (A-10, A-37, F-16)
  • F-16 Squadron Commander. Operations Officer, Flight Commander,
  • A-37 Wing Chief of Stan/Eval, Flight Commander
  • Flight Commander / Large Force Mission Commander during Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM (F-16). 28 combat missions / 136 combat hours.
  • Tactical Air Command (TAC) Flight Commander of the Year (1991)
  • 12 th Air Force Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award (1991)
  • US Senate-selected Joint Staff Officer (JSO) (US Central Command J3 Current OPs Staff Officer)
  • BTZ promotion to Lt Col
  • Selected for Rand Fellowship Senior Service School (2001)
  • Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College (in residence) (1994)
  • Distinguished Graduate, F-16 Training, MacDill AFB, FL / Air Force Association Professional Pilot Award (1987)
  • TAC and 9 th Air Force Aircrew of Distinction Award (Safety) (1986, 1984)
Education:
  • MA-, Military Studies (Air Warfare), American Military University
    BS, Education, Curriculum and Instruction (Math, Physics), Texas A&M University
Pilot Clarke ‘Otter’ McNeace

Clarke ‘Otter’ McNeace

Aerobatic / Air Combat Instructor 
VP Flight Operations & Standards

See Qualifications →
Instructor Qualifications:
  • Part 141 Chief Flight Instructor/Gold Seal Flight Instructor
  • Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)/Advanced Ground Instructor
  • (AGI)/Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI)/Instrument Instructor Airplane (CFII)
  • 5-Time Master Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)-Aerobatic
  • 5-Time MCFI-A: View the Press Release
Memberships:
  • International Committee for Aviation Training in Extended Envelopes (ICATEE)
  • Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Association (UPRTA)
  • The International Association of Coaching (IAC)
  • National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI)
  • Council on Unusual Attitude Training Education (CUATE)
Military Experience:
  • U.S. Navy: 12 yrs (8 Years Active Duty)
  • F/A-18 Hornet Instructor | Fighter Weapons Instructor
  • Strike Phase Instructor | Landing Signal Officer (LSO) with Training Qual
  • 36 Combat Missions: Desert Storm/ Southern Watch
  • 300 Carrier-Arrested landings:
    USS Midway, USS Independence, USS Nimitz, USS America and USS Lexington
Flight Experience:
  • 15,000+ Flight Hours
  • Airline Pilot – 10 Years | Airline Captain, B-737 – 5 Years
  • Tailwheel, Complex, Sailplane Endorsements, FAASTeam Lead Representative
Education:
  • B.S. Computer Science, University of Kansas