I pulled back on the control stick once again, and this time, the airplane responded. I was flooded with relief as the airplane began to climb up and away from Baghdad.” |
Colonel Kim “KC” Campbell
In the foreword to The Wright Engineers: Inventing the Airplane, Colonel Kim “KC” Campbell relates her experiences as a United States Air Force pilot flying combat missions, and how her journey from student pilot to fighter pilot in many ways mirrored the Wright brothers’ story of setting goals and the dedication required to overcome one challenge after another.
Kim Campbell is a retired Air Force Colonel. She served over 24 years in the Air Force as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. She racked up 1,800 flight hours in the A-10 Warthog, and more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2003, Kim earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism, successfully recovering her battle-damaged airplane after an intense close air support mission in Baghdad. Since retiring from the United States Air Force, Kim Campbell carries her message about leadership, motivation, and teamwork, speaking before large corporate and government audiences throughout the country. You can learn more about Kim by visiting her website, Kim Campbell. And to learn more about Kim’s A-10 Warthog aircraft, including 360° views of the flight controls, visit this page at National Museum of the United States Air Force. |