Mike Danford, callsign "Tools," is a career pilot with over 10,000 flight hours, an ATP, and has been flying for 40 years.  Mike's flying started in high school, where he soloed on his 16th birthday.  He graduated from the US Naval Academy (1988), flew S-3B Vikings off the USS Carl Vinson, was instructed in the TA-4J Skyhawk, had 250 carrier landings, and gained the callsign "Tools" because of his love of fixing things.  After active duty, he flew at a major US airline for 18 years as a flight engineer, first officer, and captain both domestically and internationally.  Mike got back into general aviation about ten years ago, accruing 1000 hours, earning his CFI/II, teaching his son to fly, and owning/operating several experimental homebuilt and vintage taildraggers.  

Through all that time, Tools learned he loved flight instructing and leading teams of highly qualified professionals the most, which is why he came to us.