STEVE SALMIRS, PILOT LEAD SOLO

Steve Salmirs was born in Newport News, Virginia. His father worked for NASA as an aeronautical engineer, and introduced Steve to the Aviation Explorer Scouts where he became involved with airplanes in 1973.

Steve went to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida to continue flying, and graduated in 1980. He got a job as a Calibration Engineer at Kennedy Space Center, calibrating ground and flight equipment used on the space shuttles from 1980-1982. During this time, he began flight instructing and flying charters.

In 1982, Steve was accepted into the United States Air Force, earning his wings and being selected to fly F-16 fighters, first at MacDill AFB, FL, followed by tours at Nellis AFB, NV and Kunsan AB, ROK. He finished his Air Force career with a T-37 Instructor tour at Laughlin AFB, TX.

Currently the Lead Solo and Executive Officer (XO) of the GEICO Skytypers, Steve has flown with the group since 1996. He is a qualified NATA flight lead pilot and backup to the team’s flight lead. His duties include writing the team’s operations manual, developing the air show routine and narration, training, instruction, and running operations at air shows. Steve also flies commercially.