20 Under 40 Class of 2024: Zachary McNeill
Zachary has been involved in aviation since birth. He grew up in an aviation family and has learned from an early age that aviation is his passion and dream. He started flying at the age of 4. He soloed at 17 and has since earned his Private, Instrument, Commercial Single, Commercial Multi-engine, and Commercial Rotorcraft with Instrument Pilot Licenses. He is currently preparing for CFI, Single Engine rating. Zachary has a high-power endorsement and a tail wheel endorsement with over 200 hours just in tail wheel. He has over 925 hours total time, holds an Airframe and Powerplant license with an associate degree and will complete his bachelor’s degree this August, 2 semesters early.
In his free time, he has volunteered with the Experimental Aircraft Association, Boys and Girls Club, American Honor Foundation, Classic Jet Aircraft Association, the former Cold War Air Museum, and former World Heritage Air. He has fulfilled many roles while volunteering from airshow crew, lineman, hangar clean up and support, assistant maintainer, and safety pilot.
Past experiences include working at Continental Services as a lineman and customer service. Currently he is a part time A&P for Warbirds East Inc. and a full-time helicopter pilot hoisting Harbor Captains onto oil and liquid natural gas tankers in the Gulf of Mexico, all while completing his college education.
Zachary has logged hours in multiple types of warbird aircraft including L-39, L-29, P-51, Mi-24, T-34, T-6, UH-1, OH-6, CJ-6 and the Stearman. Zachary is completing his 100 hours in a T-6 so he can get checked out in a larger aircraft. He attends EAA Oshkosh Air Venture and Sun ‘n’ Fun yearly to enjoy the warbird community.
Zachary lives in Fairhope, AL with his parents, Zach and Elena, and brothers Ryan and Jason.