William A. Wilkerson, Jr.

()Bill Wilkerson took his first flying lesson at Knoxville’s Powell Field. He enlisted in the Air Force where he completed his ratings and became Chief Flight Instructor at the Davis-Monthan Aero Club. He returned to Knoxville to become Chief Flight Instructor back at Powell Airport. Piedmont Airlines hired Bill to his dream job where he became only the second African-American to earn the rank of Captain. After an accomplished 32-year career he retired and is devoted to teaching general aviation pilots how to deal with Spatial Disorientation.