Skip “Scooter” Aldous
Lake City, FL
Skip is the retired president of five “Metric” motorcycle dealerships in northern Florida and southern Georgia. He began flying with the Air Force in 1965 and retired in 1994, as the squadron commander of the 159th Fighter Squadron, FANG. after flying the T-33, T-37, T-38, F-102, F-106, and the F-16. He has accumulated more than 10,000 hours of flying time and began flying the T-34 in 1998. He has been flying on the team since 2000 and transitioned to team lead in 2013. Skip, along with his wife Patti, live at Cannon Creek Airpark in Lake City, FL.
Mark “Enigma” Miller
Paragon, IN
Mark is a third generation general aviation pilot, who got an early introduction to flying in his Grandfather’s Cessna 170B. Arabian show horses replaced aircraft in Mark’s parent’s home, which took him all over the Mid-West during his youth. Mark’s passion for aviation returned in the late eighties, when he moved to the Naperville area, near LL10. He dedicated over 5 years to accumulate the piloting hours necessary to buy a share of his first T-34 in 2003. Mark qualified for the team in 2007 and now is part owner of two T-34s. Mark works as a manager for an international earthmoving equipment manufacturer. He resides in Paragon, IN.
Roger “Fritz” Fritzler
San Diego, CA
Roger has been flying with American Airlines for over 34 years, currently piloting the 787 out of Chicago to points in Europe, South America and Asia. He has had the opportunity to fly almost all models of the Boeing family as well as the MD DC-10 and MD-80 aircraft. As a US Navy pilot, he flew the F-14A Tomcat off the decks of the USS Kitty Hawk with the VF-111 Sundowners in multiple WESTPACs during the 70s and 80s. Later, he flew the A-4 Skyhawk with the adversary squadron VFC-13 out of Miramar, San Diego, and commanded the reserve training squadron at NAS Corpus Christi. With his first American paycheck, he purchased the T-34A Mentor that he flies today as the Lima Lima slot pilot, after having joined the team in 2014.
Jimmy “Cool Hand Luke” Burke
Suwanee, GA
Jimmy began his aviation career after graduating from Georgia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and entering the United States Air Force. After completing pilot training in T-37 and T-38 aircraft, he was assigned to Combat Crew Training in the supersonic, single seat, F-100. Jimmy then flew 325 combat missions in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 as a fighter pilot in the F-100 and as a forward air controller in the O-1 Bird Dog. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, fifteen Air Medals, and the Purple Heart.
After a six year tour of duty, Jimmy left active service in the USAF and joined Eastern Air Lines. While at Eastern, he continued his military flying in the Air National Guard amassing over 2000 hours in the F-100. During his career with Eastern, Jimmy flew Boeing 727 and 757, Lockheed Electra, and Douglas DC-8 and DC-9 aircraft, and retired in 1991 as a B757 captain. Jimmy retired from the United States Air Force Reserve in 2004. Now retired from his third career as a forensic engineer, Jimmy flies a Russian Yak-52 and enjoys formation and airshow flying.
Mark “Stones” Banovetz
Naperville, IL
Mark is an aviation attorney and a Managing Partner of Tressler LLP, a national law firm based in Chicago. Mark has dedicated his career to aviation related legal work, representing pilots, FBO’s, maintenance facilities, airlines, aviation insurers, and other aviation related enterprises. Mark resides at Naper Aero (LL10), the Illinois airpark where the Lima Lima Flight Team was founded. Mark served as the Airport Board President at Naper Aero from 2007 to 2012, having previously served as President of the Naperville Flying Club – a longstanding flying club based at the field. In addition to performing with the Lima Lima Flight Team, Mark flies his T-34 for charity rides to benefit veterans and the disabled. Mark has lived at Naper Aero since 2003 with his wife Lisa, where they raised their three adult children – Mark Jr, Alexis and Benjamin. Mark’s T-34 (LL34 – N244RF) is regularly spotted in the skies over the greater Naperville area and is well known and enjoyed by the local community.
Jim “Sweep” Stoffregen
Naperville, IL
Born and raised in Chicago. Earned pilot license in 1978, flying out of Midway Airport. Graduated from University of Illinois/Chicago in 1981. Commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy in 1982 and began flight training. Earned Navy Wings of Gold in 1983 flying the TA-4J Skyhawk, then instructed in the Skyhawk for 18 months. Transitioned to A-7E Corsair II then F/A-18C Hornet. Deployments aboard USS Nimitz and USS America. 16 years of service, active and reserve. Retired from Northwest and Delta Air Lines after 34 years. 5 years with T-34 Association.
John “Ripper” Rippinger
Scottsdale, AZ
John is president and CVO of Rippinger Financial Group, Inc. a Scottsdale-based insurance and employee benefit firm. He has been flying for over 50 years in both fixed wing and balloons. He was co-pilot on the gas balloon “Chicago” which won the 1981 U.S. National Championship. John manages the 20+ product sponsors for the team as well as the website. John and his wife Susan live in Scottsdale, AZ. He started flying T-34’s in 1989 and has been a member of the team since 1992. He recently retired from the aerobatic flying part of the team to concentrate on the business portion.
The Lima Lima Flight Team 