EAA Chapter 75 Gathering - Decorated Pilot Steve Kirik

Name: EAA Chapter 75 Gathering - Decorated Pilot Steve Kirik
Start: 2025-09-27T08:30:00-05:00
End: 2025-09-27T11:30:00-05:00
Location: Davenport Municipal Airport

Schedule

Sat Sep 27 2025 at 08:30 am to 11:30 am

UTC-05:00

Location

Davenport Municipal Airport | Davenport, IA

Since most of us are members of EAA and EAA Chapter 75, and are pilots, we are used to being around Experimental Amateur Built Aircraft. However, there are three other categories of Experimental Aircraft, and I have had the pleasure of participating in the Experimental Exhibition and Air Racing category as a pilot, flight instructor, and FAA Specialty Aircraft Examiner. My presentation will focus on the FAA rules applicable to Experimental Exhibition Aircraft and what it takes to license them, to receive a Pilot Authorization to fly them, and the operating rules that apply to Experimental Exhibition Aircraft.
Steve is an Airline Transport Pilot with over 24,000 hours of flight time. Steve is also former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot that flew the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle, while stationed at Langley AFB, VA. He has logged 1100 hours in the F-15C, which includes 240 hours of combat time flown during 43 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. He has flown approximately hundred combat support missions in Operations Desert Shield and Southern Watch. He then went on to be an Instructor Pilot and Pilot Examiner in the Northrop T- 38 Talon as part of Euro-NATO Pilot training program at Sheppard AFB, TX. In 1996, he separated from the military and is currently employed by United Airlines and has flown the Boeing 737, 757, 767,747-400 as an International Qualified First Officer and is currently a Captain flying the Boeing B-737NG and MAX. He has flying experience in North America, Canada, Alaska, Hawaiian Islands, Lantin America, South America, Europe, Southwest Asia and Asia.
Steve is a Certified Flight Instructor with CFI/CFII/MEI ratings and is a Certified Ground Instructor with Advanced and Instrument ratings. Steve holds a FAA Certified Mechanics Certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings. He enjoys training pilots in the L-39 and has over 1800 hours in the L-39. He serves the FAA as a FAA Designated Specialty Pilot Examiner in the Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros, Aero Vodochody L-159, Cessna T-37 Tweet, Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, Northrop T-38 Talon, Northrop F-5, North American T-2 Buckeye, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, Aermacchi MB-339, TUCANO, Dassault Mirage F-1 and North American F-86 Sabre aircraft. In 2010, Steve was selected and test flew the first two civilian owned Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers in the US and is the first and only US FAA Pilot certified to fly the Su-27.
His love for the Experimental Aircraft Association and homebuilt aircraft began when his father Paul took him to his first EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 1976. He and his father built a Thorp T-18, and Steve bucked all the rivets in it. They won Best T-18 at Oshkosh and the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, at Dayton International Airshow.
He has been happily married to his wife Christina for 36 years and they enjoy spending time with their three daughters and two grandsons. They reside in Bettendorf, Iowa.
The presentation will begin at 9:30 AM during the chapter gathering event, located at Revv Aviation, 9230 North Harrison Street, Davenport, IA 52806. You can arrive early from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM to socialize, have coffee, and a donut. This program is one that you do not want to miss!