"Safe on Deck" - Episode 46: Paul Entrekin (Airboss) 

EPISODE FORTY-SIX
Welcome to “Safe on Deck”. My name is Antonio Gemma More. In the fleet I flew the MH-53E “Sea Dragon” helicopter, and these days I instruct the next generation of Naval Flight Officers in the T-6A “Texan II”. Throughout my incredibly short time in aviation, I have been fortunate to meet a wide cross-section of aviators. Along the way I have done my best to document each and every flying memory, but eventually I came to realize that even the sharpest photo or the highest-quality video can only really capture so much. Everyone I have met has a unique story to tell, and “Safe on Deck” is my humble attempt to capture as many of those exciting and inspiring aviation stories as possible.
For episode forty-six I sat down with Paul “Bandit” Entrekin at his home in Walnut Hill, Florida. For episode thirty-three, Paul detailed his time as a Naval Aviator flying the Marine Corps UH-1N “Huey” as well as his time on the airshow circuit as the first civilian MiG-15bis “Fagot” demonstration pilot in the free world, but for episode forty-six we took a deep dive into his responsibilities as air boss for the annual Pensacola Beach Airshow. In 2023, Paul marked thirty years of service as air boss for the Pensacola Beach Airshow, and during this episode we discussed many behind-the-scenes operational, logistics, and scheduling considerations that he and the team at the Santa Rosa Island Authority skillfully manage each July in order to pull off an exciting, memorable, and most importantly safe “Red, White, and Blues Week”.
Thank you for taking the time to listen. In the future, I plan to continue to share similar interviews with both current and retired military aviators. If you have a question or a suggestion for a future interview please reach out directly at safeondeck@gmail.com. “Safe on Deck” episode forty-six, with Paul “Bandit” Entrekin. Enjoy!
Entrekin Aviation
paulentrekin.com
** The views and opinions presented on “Safe on Deck” are my own and those of my guests and do not represent the official policy or position of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or its components. **