Long-time Alum Inducted into Aviation Hall of Fame

November 25, 2019

John Carrodi

John Corradi ’62, who earned a degree in Aerospace Technology when FSC was still a two-year school, has been inducted into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame.

Corradi, who lives in Rixeyville, VA, was honored by the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society for outstanding aviation contributions made in Virginia or by Virginians, and advancing aviation and aerospace in the state.

Corradi, a Vietnam War veteran who just retired from a career in commercial aviation, flew for United Airlines for 35 years. He served in the Navy for five years, flying Lockheed P-3’s from the Philippines to Vietnamese coastal locations and the Tonkin Gulf.

“John found he enjoyed learning to fly the huge Lockheed P-3 almost as much as he loved flying the T-28 in flight training,” Aviation Hall of Fame member Jim Bland said of Corradi’s military service. “That was the first airplane he’d fallen in love with, the one he learned to fly formation in, and carrier-qualified in, which was an unbelievable thrill and adrenaline rush for this 20-year-old kid.”

Three years later, Corradi became the youngest plane commander in the Navy, getting his own crew and P-3, with his name painted on the side.

More recently, among other things Corradi flew in a flying circus, and operated his own aviation tourism business, Blue Ridge Biplane Rides.

See Corradi in the second half of this video– at about 3.00.