Photo By Tech. Sgt. Kurt Briner | Lt. Col. Brady Glick, an A-10C pilot assigned to the 163rd Fighter Squadron, Fort...... read more read more
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Acquiring 5,935 flight hours on a single type of aircraft is no small feat for a pilot. Patience, practice, and most importantly passion are all demanded to reach milestones that set military aviators apart from their peers. For Lt. Col. Brady ‘Bozz’ Glick, an A-10C pilot assigned to the 163rd Fighter Squadron, Fort Wayne, Indiana, his final flight in the beloved Warthog was the capstone to a record-setting career.
Glick’s total flight hours bestow upon him the record for most A-10 hours flown in history of the aircraft. His career started at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and after graduation he started down the path of becoming a fighter pilot. He completed his first A-10 flight in January 1989, and he has been racking up the hours ever since. After seven years on active duty, he transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard at Battle Creek, Michigan. After several years there, he transitioned to the U.S. Air Force Reserves at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. When that unit closed, he headed north and joined the Indiana Air National Guard, completing his service to all three U.S. Air Force components.
Getting to this level of experience doesn’t come without challenges. “It’s a long road, becoming a fighter pilot,” said Glick. “And just as tough staying with it. But eras end, and I’m excited about the future generation coming up.”
Reflecting on his career, Glick described the personal attributes of his job that mattered most to him. “Being in the squadron, with the guys, that will be the hardest thing to walk away from,” said Glick. “The camaraderie here is tangible … it’s just a great place to make a career.”
As an instructor pilot, Glick was able to mentor up-and-coming pilots and try and pass on wisdom he had learned through challenges in the past. “I love teaching,” he said. “Helping a student avoid a mistake I made in the past is a great feeling.”
Lt. Col. William Leahy, 163rd Fighter Squadron commander, believes that Glick is the type of fighter pilot others strive to be. “Bozz had the good fortune of being so highly respected, he quickly became an informal leader and mentor,” said Leahy. “He simply cares about being the very best he can be, and he works hard to bring people around him up as well.”
In the end, just being a pilot might be the most rewarding thing. “It’s hard to find something as gratifying as flying the A-10,” said Glick. “I am really fortunate to have spent my time doing something I truly enjoyed.”
After engine shutdown, hugs from family and a ceremonial spraying from the base fire department, Glick was able to walk off the flight line with a smile knowing that beyond the achievements, every hour in the cockpit was time he cherished, spent doing something he loved.
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2015 07:12 |
| Story ID: | 165328 |
| Location: | FORT WAYNE, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 6,468 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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