Five Celebrities Who Worked In Aviation

Morgan Freeman

David Sifry

American actor Morgan Freeman enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1955 and served as an automatic tracking radar repairman, rising to the rank of Airman 1st Class.

Bruce Dickinson

Scott Penner

Bruce Dickinson, former lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, took a career as a commercial pilot for Astraeus Airlines. He captained Iron Maiden's converted Boeing 757 (nicknamed Ed Force One) during their world tours. He now is chairman of Cardiff Aviation.

 

Bill Nye the Science Guy

Simon Fraser Univeristy

Bill Nye began his career as a mechanical engineer at Boeing. He created a hydraulic pressure resonance suppressor that is still used on the Boeing 747 today.

Cliff Robertson

Alan Light

American Actor Cliff Robertson, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor in his role in the movie Charly,  cleaned hangars for airplane rides when he was 13 years old. A life-time lover of aviation, Robertson is a certified private pilot and member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. He co-founded the EAA’s Young Eagles program in 1992.

Roald Dahl

U.S. Library of Congress

Author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,James and the Giant Peach and Matilda, Roald Dahl joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 as an aircraftman. He was promoted to leading aircraftman in 1940 and was eventually made an active pilot officer

Here are 5 famous people who worked in the aviation industry before or after their careers as musicians, actors and authors.

 

Sources: “Real Airport Kids Never Grow Up". Air Progress., Morgan Freeman High Beam Research, Maiden's Flight 666 to Take Off BBC, Know Your Scientist: Bill Nye the Science Guy, and Donald Sturrock Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl

Additional Photo Credit: Ed Shipul 

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To find out about obtaining additional data – including the most comprehensive details on organizations, fleets, personnel and programs – click here or call +1.561.279.4661.