James Webb’s aviation journey began at the age of 13 with his first helicopter flight in Southern California, following years of “practicing” on PC flight simulators. By 18, he had earned his Commercial and CFI helicopter certificates and began his career as an instructor at HeliStream at John Wayne Airport. Throughout his career as a helicopter pilot and instructor he flew a wide variety of helicopters and specialized in touchdown autorotation training. He later expanded into fixed-wing flying, obtaining his ATP for single and multi-engine airplanes, rotorcraft, as well as seaplanes. With almost 20 years of professional flying, James has accumulated 14,000 flight hours, having flown 118 different makes and models of aircraft.

James is a CFI/ CFII in single and multi-engine airplanes and helicopters, with over 6,000 hours of dual instruction given. He has a passion for taildraggers and aerobatics and owns a Pitts S2A and Lancair 360.

In 2023, James achieved the Sport Class Rookie of the Year award at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, flying a Lancair Legacy for Team Leading Edge. He plans to continue competing in Sport Class Air Racing, with the air racing family being the thing that keeps everyone coming back year after year.

James has a profound respect for warbird operations and has had the privilege of flying iconic aircraft such as the OV-10 Bronco and Grumman HU-16 Albatross, as well as the Marchetti S211 and many others. He is committed to fostering a culture of safety and mentorship, ensuring that the rich heritage of warbird aviation is upheld and passed on to future generations.

Currently James serves as the Director of Aviation for a large flight department, primarily flying the Gulfstream G650. His journey from a young enthusiast to seasoned pilot and instructor underscores his deep commitment to aviation. James is dedicated to ensuring the future of safe, accessible warbird flying by upholding values that reflect his unwavering commitment to excellence, safety, and community in warbird aviation.