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Flying through the generations

Father and son A-10 fighter pilots use their love of the skies to serve the country

Planes in the sky capture the interest of many young boys, and for some flying becomes a passion. For Jimmy and Dylan Mackey, their passion for flying has contributed to a unique father-son bond and provided an unforgettable opportunity to serve the country.

Jimmy grew up in New Hampshire and then attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. After graduating and becoming an officer, he initially came to the Kansas City area for an assignment at Richards-Gebauer and subsequently settled at Lake Winnebago. During his 38 years in the military, he was deployed 10 times, including various assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

“The camaraderie in a fighter squadron – you can’t compare it to anything else,” Jimmy says. “It’s a different bond than probably any other job.” 

As an A-10 fighter pilot, his mission was always to provide support for those on the ground, and he will never forget an incident that occurred in Afghanistan on June 5, 2008. Some ground troops had hit IEDs and were injured. Jimmy was there providing air support and engaged in significant fire with the enemy that was made complicated due to the close proximity of the friendly troops. Ultimately, he helped ensure the safety of his comrades in need. 

By chance, one of these men came to Whiteman Air Force Base several years later, and Jimmy began talking to him. After sharing stories, they discovered each other’s role on that day in Afghanistan, and they still contact each other every year on June 5th.

Jimmy still graces the skies today as an airplane pilot.

As Jimmy’s son, Dylan grew up learning about planes and the Air Force. He says it was always his goal to be a pilot, but he did not necessarily think of himself as a military pilot at first. Once Dylan began understanding the mission of fighter pilots, he began pursuing a similar career path as his father. 

“If my office view can be from 20,000 feet, then I would prefer that for sure,” Dylan says.

He completed Air Force Junior ROTC at Lee’s Summit North High School and continued in ROTC in college at Purdue. He completed his training to become an A-10 pilot earlier this summer and is now returning home to assignment at Whiteman Air Force Base.

Dylan says he is motivated to do what he does because helping those on the ground is fulfilling. After all, they do not always have the same protection he has in the plane.

“It’s about the guy on the ground and being able to protect him,” Dylan says.

Dylan says he will continue in full-time status with the military for the next three years with the possibility of going to the reserves at that time. If he transitions into a civilian job eventually, he says he would consider staying in the skies and becoming an airline pilot.   

Dylan says he talks with his dad about his experiences frequently.

“He says he’s reliving his life through me,” Dylan says. “It’s cool to share the successes I have had as well as the failures I have had. It gives me confidence that he’s been that before or someone else has been there before.”

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