CRESTVIEW — Of about 500 nationwide Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Fire Control sub-contractors, a Crestview aviator is one of fewer than 10 chosen for recognition for “outstanding performance in 2015,” a company announcement states.
Lockheed-Martin will recognize Sunshine Aero Industries Flight Test owner and chief pilot Bob Keller at an April 27 luncheon and ceremony in Orlando.
“It’s a sizeable contract Sunshine did for them and they’ve done very, very well on it,” Crestview Technology Air Park project executive Dennis Mitchell said. “Lockheed has a big facility in Orlando but Bob has a very big flight test program up here at Bob Sikes Airport.”
Keller, a retired Air Force test pilot and engineer Dr. Paul Hsu’s C-TAP partner, said for some of the testing, SAI leased a helicopter and Sabreliner jets.
While Keller couldn’t discuss the project in detail because of security concerns, “It has to do with developing military weapons systems,” he said.
“It’s some seriously high-tech stuff, and Bob Keller has done really fine work on it,” Mitchell said. “We’re real proud of him.”
Keller, in turn, said he was honored by the defense giant’s recognition.
“I’m really proud of it, coming from Lockheed-Martin,” he said. “They’re a good customer.”
Keller turned in his Air Force uniform in 1980 and, clad in his trademark red-and-white striped shirt with suspenders, started Sunshine Aero, which was Bob Sikes Airport’s fixed-base operator for 25 years.
“And that was probably 20 years too long,” Keller said, chuckling. With Hsu’s purchase of land at the runway’s northern tip, Keller designed C-TAP’s first building—his own hangar and offices—and moved in.
There he’s content to be doing what he’s always been passionate about: testing new aircraft systems.
“The trouble with flight testing is you can’t do it if you haven’t already done it,” Keller said.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lockheed-Martin honors Crestview aviator (VIDEO)