Ron's Aviation Resume

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Aviation Credits

Ron David is a first rate aviation writer and story teller who is also a commercially rated pilot, glider pilot, and airshow pilot who has held low level aerobatic waivers from the FAA and flown aerial exhibitions in more than 100 air shows.
Ron has also provided technical expertise for the producers of the Discovery Channel’s original Wings programs and narrated 52 episodes. Ron has also written, produced and/or narrated video productions for the National Air and Space Museum, NASA, the Airline Pilots Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the Air Force Association, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Science Foundation. Recent FAA credits include, Mission Safe Flight: A Report on the Aviation Safety Program, and an overview of the Air Traffic Control System Command Center. GAMA credits include the writing and narrating of more than 20 film scripts on various technical and safety subjects ranging from flying skills, to avionics, to navigation procedures. Ron has also narrated training modules for Cirrus Aircraft and the University of North Dakota's Internationally recognized Aerospace School.

Principal Aviation Writing and Producing Credits

The Flight Technology Hall for the
National Air and Space Museum

   This project was written and produced between 1974 and 1975 and presented to the public concurrently with the opening of the National Air and Space Museum on July 4th, 1976. The Museum and its 26 original halls, quickly became the world's most visited museum - a record it holds to this day.
   Ron's role in the production of the vanguard Flight Technology Hall included the writing of all its wall panels, dialogue scripts for the World's first computer-animated talking puppets in The Design Conference Theater, voice over scripts for The Dancing Engine display narrative, and practical explanations of aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, super sonic and hyper-sonic flight, etc.
   The Flight Technology Hall was a huge success, outlasting several of its compatriot halls by several years.

On Landings

Written and narrated for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. A two hour (multi-part) safety program for pilots and air crews detailing, dissecting, and examining the most critical part of every flight - the landing.

Last Flight Over the Wall

An 85 minute video about HMM-262, the Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron that suffered the highest number of casualties* in Vietnam and the efforts of its veterans to locate and invite next-of-kin of their fallen brothers to a special reunion at the Vietnam Wall. There a flyover was staged by two U.S. Marine Corps helicopters identical to those the squadron had flown in Vietnam. The event occurred only two months prior to the 911 attack on America.

There are many other writing credits in Ron's ruck sack. He is a fine wordsmith who can “tweak” an existing script, or write a brand new one for you.

*60 killed in action

Aviation Exhibition Credits

Transpo '72

America's first and only international transportation exposition and airshow. Ron was invited to participate as one of ten hand-picked pilot-announcers for the ten day event - the largest in U.S. history - which took place at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, DC.

"A Living History of Army Aviation's First 70 Years."

Presented before a huge public audience and the Army General Staff at Davidson Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia in 1978.
Utilizing ground and aerial assets from Davidson AAF, the Flying Circus Aerdrome in Bealeton, VA and others, Ron wrote, choreographed and narrated a program which included a World One Dogfight, a World War Two fighter attack, a Vietnam-era helicopter assault complete with ground forces and ordnance, and the re-enactment of the rescue of a downed fighter pilot.

"The Flying Circus Barnstorming Airshow"

Ron wrote, choreographed and directed the historic commemorative airshow about the wild and wonderful era of barnstorming which originated in the 1920s and flourished across the American heartland until it was regulated out of existence by the Civil Aeronautics Administration in the 1930's. Aerial performances for this "living history" included stunt flying, mock air racing, parachute jumping, formation flying and wing walking. Ron is credited with bringing back real, un-tethered wing walking for the first time since it was banished by the FAA in the early 1930s. (ref.: Wikipedia, wing walking, after World War Two). Ron piloted the act for three year at the Flying Circus near Washington, DC. He lost his biplane in a mid-air collision when he was struck by a pursuit trainer. Both he and his wing walker (who is now his wife) walked away from the crash unscathed.

Barnstormers Airshows, Inc.

   This Richmond, VA. based company was contracted by Taft Broadcasting, the original owner of the King's Dominion Amusement Park, to provide twilight airshows over the Park which included aerobatic demonstrations by vintage biplanes, hot air balloon ascensions and sky diving.
   Ron assisted Barnstormers owner Steve Hoffmann in securing his official FAA waiver, wrote the script for the pre-show and ground show which was built around sky-diving and a hot air balloon ascension and served as Barnstormers lead pilot for its first 70 shows.

   Collectively, Ron has performed in well over 150 aerial demonstrations and narrated at dozens of major aviation venues in the U.S. including Navy Relief Fund Airshows at Quonset Point NAS, Rhode Island and the Norfolk Naval Air Show in Virginia.

Air Displays International - UK

In 2001 Ron became part of an elite team of professional "air display commentators" and was given a standing invitation to participate in the historic aerial displays presented annually at the Biggin Hill Royal Air Force Fighter Station ( Air Base) South of London. Biggin Hill, which has now become South London's Executive Aircraft Port of Entry, is revered for its critical role in Britain's victory over the Luftwaffe during its long, hard fight to prevent a German invasion force of more than 300,000 troops from occupying Britain. Had Germany succeeded with its occupation plan, the outcome of the World War would have been very different.
Ron's quiet and entertaining manner in Biggin's "Commentary Box" has made him a favorite among the 250-thousand plus spectators who attend the famous show each year. No other American has ever been accorded this honor.

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rondavid@gmail.com