Our guest speaker, Ed Wilson, may be known as a thespian at our community theater and a singer/guitarist in venues around Friday Harbor, but a previous life took him to soaring heights as a US Navy helicopter pilot...carrier based squadron: the SeaWolves, air support for Navy Seal teams; air/sea rescue off carriers. In 1976, as a reservist, Ed rejoined his Vietnam squadron, the Blue Wolves.
Invited by Hughes Helicopter to train Taiwan pilots, initial cadre for first Taiwan aviation project, and his first helicopter testing - Hughes 500MDASW. Leading to the Apache program, and eventually heading the Apache Longbow program (pictured), a ten year process which introduced infrared and laser guide technology. Forefront to our GPS, for which Ed is very proud.
