About

Raised in Minnesota where I learned to love winter and hate mosquitos.

Joined the Minnesota Army National Guard at seventeen and spent twelve years as a crew chief on the venerable UH-1H Huey. Along the way I earned a second set of wings at the Army’s Air Assault school became a winter operations and survival instructor.

In 1986 made my first skydive and never looked back, or down.

Crossed the Atlantic ocean on my first Ferry Flight in 1990 starting my second or third dangerous career.

Bought Skydive Twin Cities in 1999 and suddenly became both a small business owner and adult babysitter

Married to the best girl I ever met, who also delivered up two wonderful children. Don’t really know how I could be happier, or more blessed.

Now starring in the new hit reality series DANGEROUS FLIGHTS, flying around the world in small aircraft again and loving every minute of it.

2 Replies to “About”

  1. Just ran across your book on Kindle–great stories very well told (says a former aviation magazine editor and longtime ferry pilot, although mostly before your time). If the folks at BGBW ever told you about the Marchetti SF-260 that threw a rod shortly after takeoff and ended up on Leif Eriksson’s farm across the fjord in 1988, that was me. A pisser, since I’d come all the way from New Zealand (long way around, Russia was still the Evil Empire in those days) and was only a couple of days away from delivering the airplane in Alabama.

    Great choice of propeller name, too–“Kerry Hartzell” just wouldn’t have the same ring, would it?

    Keep flying, jumping (I go back to “are you man enough for the 7-TU canopy?”) and, especially, writing!

  2. Your book was recommended by a friend of ours Matt Moore. We family read with our 14 year old son who is extremely dyslexic. I think he read more of your book than any before. He loved it and so did my husband and I.
    What amazing adventures! Thank you for sharing your stories. Also for writing a book that our boy really enjoyed.
    Our Boy goes on fly outs with the young eagles. He has missed it a lot since covid.
    I am wondering how we could possibly get a signed copy of you book Ferry Pilot to surprise our boy? Thank you again!

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