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    Naval Aviation



    Museum Pilots



    Snort

    Dale "Snort" Snodgrass

    Photo by Dan Sheehan www.gearupsix.com




    Museum Planes Flown:
    Mustang, Corsair

    Bio:
    Growing up in Long Island, NY, Dale's Dad was a test pilot, and this gave Dale his introduction to aviation. After high school, Dale chose the University of Minnesota where he studied Biology, and was enrolled in a Navy ROTC program to become a pilot.

    After making the achievement of a B.S. in Biology, and successful ROTC training, Dale then set a new standard within the naval aviation program, by becoming the first flight school graduate to be selected for F-14 "Tomcat" training, and the first non-fleet experienced pilot to carrier qualify (both night and day). In 1985, the U.S. Navy selected Dale as "Fighter Pilot of the Year." As the best F-14 pilot in 1986, Grumman Aerospace named Snodgrass "Topcat of the Year."

    During "Operation Desert Storm," Snodgrass was Commander of all U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcats for Fighter Wing Atlantic. Leading 34 missions as overall Strike or Fighter Lead in 12 operational Fighter Squadron/Wing tours, he was awarded honors including a Bronze Star for Leadership and Valor.

    In the Navy, Dale accumulated more hours in an F-14 than any other pilot, and is termed the "high-time pilot" in the F-14, with over 4800 hours and over 1200 carrier take-offs and landings.

    Retiring with 26 years as a Navy pilot, Dale "Snort" Snodgrass continues his career as a warbird pilot, having flown F-14 demos and airshows for 14 years now, and is additionally checked out in the F-86 Sabre, P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, T-6/SNJ Texan, Mig 15, and 8KCAB Super Decathlon. Having flown over 500 low-level performances, he is surface-solo and formation-aerobatics qualified. Airshow patrons love to see Dale fly, because, as they term it, "he keeps the grass mowed between the runways." In addition to serving as a museum pilot, Dale also flies warbirds for AT&T.

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