Red Star Pilots Association
| Abbreviation | RPA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1993 |
| Founder | Bud Harrell |
| Founded at | United States |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Purpose | Aviation safety education, formation flying training, and preservation of former Eastern Bloc aircraft |
Region served | United States |
| Website | flyredstar |
The Red Star Pilots Association (RPA) is a United States nonprofit aviation organization associated with the operation, preservation, and public display of aircraft, particularly aircraft originating in former Eastern Bloc countries. The association provides training and resources for pilots, including formation flying instruction, and is an FAA-sanctioned signatory organization within the Formation and Safety Team (FAST) program.
History
The organization traces its origins to the Yak Pilots Club, founded in 1993 by Bud Harrell. According to the association, the club initially had approximately 18 members, many of whom operated the Nanchang CJ-6A aircraft.[1]
By 1999, the organization had grown to more than 200 members and became the Yak Pilots Association under Mike Filucci. During this period, it was established as a nonprofit organization and became a signatory to the Formation and Safety Team program.[1] In 2002, the organization adopted the name Red Star Pilots Association following a membership referendum, broadening its scope beyond Yak aircraft to include propeller and jet aircraft of various types.[1]
The association later reorganized its bylaws and infrastructure, including its website, magazine, and online store. As of the association’s own history page, membership had grown to more than 500 members.[1]
Activities
The Red Star Pilots Association promotes the safe operation, display, and enjoyment of aircraft, with a particular emphasis on aircraft from former communist bloc countries.[2] The organization also functions as a clearinghouse for maintenance and operational information and develops standards, principles, and techniques for pilot training and formation flying.[2]
The RPA conducts formation flying training through designated check pilots and instructor pilots. Its website describes the association as an FAA-sanctioned signatory to the Formation and Safety Team, allowing it to train, qualify, and manage civilian formation pilots in the United States.[3]
The association has also organized training clinics and aviation gatherings, including the recurring All Red Star event at Porterville Municipal Airport in California.[4]
Formation flying
The association’s activities have been featured in aviation media. In a 2022 episode of the public television program Pilots, Props, and Planes, host Bill Vasilovich visited the Red Star Pilots Association in Porterville, California, during formation flight training involving Russian and Chinese trainer aircraft.[5] The episode described formation flying training and discussed the role of the Formation and Safety Team program in preparing pilots for airshow operations.[5]
Organization
The Red Star Pilots Association is listed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the Internal Revenue Service.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The History of the RPA". Red Star Pilots Association. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Red Star Pilots Association". Cause IQ. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Home". Red Star Pilots Association. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "All Red Star XXIV". Red Star Pilots Association. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Pilots, Props, and Planes: Red Star Flying Association". PBS. July 22, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
External links
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