Meet the People Behind Vector Warbirds USA

Gary 'Bunndini' Bunn

Vector Warbirds Founder & Squadron Commander
Nanchang Haiyan C Photo Reconnaissance Pilot

My first twenty years of life was spent in the US Air Force as the son of a career Air Force Officer. My brother in-law was an Air Force fighter pilot who flew in Korea and Vietnam. I was weaned on aviation and spent more time in cockpits than most kids spend in school.

After many years in aviation I grabbed the dragon by the tail and traveled to the Peoples Republic of China and returned with several PLAAF Nanchang CJ-6A aircraft, which I restored. After much determination and several trips back I was lucky enough to acquire a Nanchang Haiyan C photo reconnaissance aircraft, which is the only Haiyan C in private hands in the world. This is the aircraft I fly today.

I credit this aircraft with opening up a new world not only to me, but to thousands of others that have seen it at air shows all across the USA and have listened to my many stories of China and her people. I enjoy being able to share my love of aviation and aircraft with others and to converse with them on the different design philosophies of American aircraft versus Warsaw Pact aircraft. I firmly believe the more we learn about other people and their cultures the better chance we have for a peaceful world. I have been flying for over thirty years and have flown over twenty two aircraft types.

Major John Schultz

Vector Warbirds Military Advisor
BS Electrical Engineering 2002
MBA 2008

I was born in Rogers City, Michigan and was raised in neighboring Posen where, at 17, I enlisted in the USAF as an Air Launched Missile Systems Specialist. In 1995 I was accepted into the Airman’s Enlisted Commissioning Program and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ where I earned a degree in Electrical Engineering in June of 2000 and was commissioned in the USAF as a Second Lieutenant. I then spent three years as an instructor pilot at Laughlin AFB training new Air Force pilots. Following my tour as an IP, I attended C-5 Aircraft Commander Initial Qualification at Altus AFB, OK and flew the C-5 ‘Galaxy’ out of Dover AFB, DE.

Awards & Decorations:

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal

Trevor 'T-Bone' Strand

Vector Warbirds advisor on Civilian/Military Relations
BS Aeronautical Engineering

‘Stripper’ Strand joined Vector Warbirds in 1998 while attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. His superhero like aircraft paint stripping abilities soon garnered him worldwide acclaim as the ‘Fastest Stripper Alive’. No other single human being has stripped an aircraft of its paint faster than Mr. Strand. He was soon awarded the coveted ‘Gold Pole’ award and, seeing the handwriting on the wall, quickly finished his aeronautical engineering degree at ERAU. He was quickly hired in 2002 by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as an Aeromechanics and Flight Controls Engineer to work on the advanced V-22 Osprey Return to Flight Program.

At NAVAIR he has used the skills and knowledge he attained from Vector Warbirds to lead test plans such as V-22 Low Speed Maneuverability, V-22 Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) Evaluation, V-22 Emergency Landing Profile and All Engines Inoperative (AEO) Evaluation, V-22 Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) Evaluation (Sea Level and High Altitude), V-22 High Density Altitude Conversion Mode Evaluation, V-22 Natural Icing System Evaluation, and recently was lead engineer for V-22 Unprepared Field STOL Evaluation.

We here at Vector Warbirds are proud to announce that in 2006 Mr. Strand was awarded the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Test Engineer of the Year for his outstanding work on the V-22 Osprey Project. Well done ‘T-Bone’!