BOB JOHANSEN, PILOT SLOT

Bob Johansen was born of Norwegian immigrant parents and raised in Lincoln Park, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. He showed an early interest in aviation by building and flying balsa and paper airplanes as a boy. He got his private license in 1958, flying a 65 hp Aeronca out of a grass field.

After graduation from Kalamazoo College in 1961, he joined the US Navy and reported to Pensacola, Florida for flight training. He was later based at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, flying Grumman S2 "Tracker" antisubmarine aircraft from aircraft carriers. After being released from active duty in 1966, he joined TWA, flying out of New York on international and domestic routes for 33 years before retiring in 1999. Throughout his Navy and airline careers, Bob maintained his interest in general aviation, flying, owning, and helping build various light aircraft.

In 1977 he joined the Skytypers based at Flushing Airport, next to LaGuardia. It was at this time Bob met a young adolescent by the name of Larry Arken who later became the owner of the Skytypers. With the exception of a 10-year hiatus, Bob has been flying the now famous GEICO Skytyper SNJ-2 aircraft since the late 70’s.

In addition to flying "slot" position on the airshow team, Bob, along with his son Ken, instructs formation as well as navigation planning for the airshow cross-country trips.