A civilian solo act flying a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star — America’s first jet trainer — under the call sign “Ace Maker.” Colyer spent 27 years as an FAA air traffic controller while flying as a hobby on the side, then bought his T-33 in 2008 and started flying it on the airshow circuit that same season.
He’s since added two more T-33s to the fleet and founded the nonprofit T-33 Heritage Foundation to help keep the type flying. Beyond air shows, he and his aircraft are contracted to support test-pilot training at Edwards Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Patuxent River.