RICHARD HARRIS
Aviation Writer/Educator
Credentials & History

www.harris1.net

    CREDENTIALS:

      Academic:
        Business & Communications degree, 1997
        with additional coursework in Aerospace Science, Engineering,
        Computer Science, Economics, Politics, Government & Law.
        (Communications minor: Journalism & Broadcasting)

        Certified in top 2% of U.S. in English Composition
        by the College Board / CLEP Test

        Certified in top 1% of U.S. in Verbal Aptitude
        by Educational Testing Service / SAT & PSAT Tests

      Aviation:
        FAA Aeronautical Instructor's License (BGI)

        Pilot flight time in several different aircraft,
        including complex, high-performance, and "glass cockpit" aircraft,
        plus military and business jet simulators.

        Civil Air Patrol (U.S. Air Force Auxiliary)
        Several awards and training certificates,
        including military aerospace training by USAF.

      Business:
        Business training certifications from:
        • Small Business Administration
        • Better Business Bureau   (Certified Arbitrator)
        • Rockhurst College / Skillpath Seminars Group

      Communications:
        Shortlist Finalist*   (Systems & Technology Category),
        Aerospace Journalist of the Year Awards, London (2004)
        * (1 of only 3 U.S. general aviation writers shortlisted that year, in all categories, combined. Subsequently appointed as a judge for the awards.)

        State Teaching Certificate in Adult Education
           (Specialty Certification: Computers)

        Teacher / Trainer / Instructor experience:
        • Aviation/Aeronautics/Aerospace Technology
          (Civil Air Patrol, Wichita Free Univ., BHS Flying Club, tutoring, lectures at Wichita State Univ. & Friends Univ.)
        • Aviation Technical Writing
          (Wichita Area Technical College, ADR Bookprint, Inc.)
        • Computers
          (Wichita Public Schools Adult Ed., Ark. State Univ.,
          Computer Consulting & Training Co., tutoring etc.)
        • Automotive
          (Wichita Free Univ. program, tutoring)
        • Business
          (Wichita State Univ. staff, Urban League, tutoring, etc.)
        • Curriculum Development &/or Admin.
          (Wichita State Univ., Ark. State Univ., Wichita Area Tech. Coll., Wichita Public Schools Adult Ed., etc.)

    CIVIC BACKGROUND:

      Aviation civic activity, since 2000:
      • Editorial Board, American Aviation Historical Society, 2019-present
      • Chair, Wichita Aviation Centennial Committee, 2016-2017
      • Chair, Kansas Aviation Centennial Committee, 2011-2012
      • Kansas Aviation History Speaker, Kansas Humanities Council,
        2010-2012
      • Advisor/Announcer, Kansas Flight Festival Committee, 2006
      • Judge, Aerospace Journalist of the Year Awards (London),
        2005-2009
      • Advisor, Bleckley Airport Memorial Foundation, 2022-present

      City of Wichita, former minor official,
      in several appointed or elected posts,
      1970s-1980s -- including:
      • Commissioner:  Wichita Traffic Commission
      • Commissioner:  Wichita Civil Rights/EEO Commission
      • Chair:  Eastside Community Action Council
      • Chair:  Area K Council, Citizens Participation Org.
      • Vice Chair:  Central CPO Council
      • Secretary:  Housing, Development & Employment Committee,
        City of Wichita Four-Year Planning Task Force
      • ...and others


    AVIATION INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE:

    Aircraft Manufacturers (as contract worker)
      Cessna:
      • Strategic Planning - SCM
      • Engineering Change Coordination
      • Marketing - Single Engine
      Beechcraft (Raytheon):
      • Supply Chain Management (SCM - A/P Review)
      • Technical Publications
      • Technical Support
      • Human Resources (Hiring)
      • Marketing - Business Aircraft, Fractional (Travel Air)
      Learjet (Bombardier):
      • Production Planning (Learjet 40-series)
      • Marketing - Maintenance Services
      • Marketing - Spares Sales
      • Customer Support
      • Accounting

    Other aviation work experience:
      Consulting:
      • Business Consultant - Richard Harris & Assoc.  (current)
      Operations:
      • Airport Night Manager - Piper Airpark (now Jabara Airport)
      • Operations Coordination - Civil Air Patrol
      Support:
      • Parts Coordinator: Air Midwest Airlines
      • Instrument Technician: A.I.M. & Bel Aire Instruments
      Writing:
      • Aviation Writer  (reporter/analyst/historian)
        (see list of magazines & journals below).
      • Course Developer & Instructor: Aviation Technical Writing:
        Wichita Area Technical College
      • Senior Technical Writer: ADR Bookprint  (contractor for
        Cessna Aircraft & FlightSafety Int'l;  see list of manuals below).


    PUBLICATION HISTORY:

    Aviation media articles (over 100):
      Aviation magazine & journal articles published in:
      • AAHS Journal
      • AAHS Flightline
      • Skyways
      • In Flight USA
      • Private Pilot
      • Aviation News
      • General Aviation News
      • World AirNews
      Aviation articles online published in:
      • Aero News Network online news
      • Air Capital Report online news
      • Wings Over Kansas website
      • Kansas Aviation Centennial website
      • Kansas Sampler website

    Pilot Training Manuals written (for FlightSafety International):
      • Cessna Citation Mustang  (whole)
      • Cessna Citation CJ1+  (whole)
      • Cessna Citation CJ2+  (half)

    Aircraft Operating Manuals written (for Cessna Aircraft Co. / Textron)
      • Cessna Citation Mustang  (whole)
      • Cessna Citation CJ1+  (whole)
      • Cessna Citation CJ2+  (half)
      • Cessna Citation Excel/XLS  (part)
      • Cessna Citation Bravo  (part)
      • Cessna 425 Corsair/Conquest I  (part)
      • Cessna 208 Caravan  (part)

    Aviation Documentary Films & Programs: General media:
      Television: appeared/consulted in:
      • Aviation Documentaries on public television
        in Kansas, Georgia, Florida & California
        (as noted above)
      • New York, CBS Evening News, in-depth segment:
        Boeing Leaves Wichita  (consulted on Wichita & Boeing history)
      • Wichita, KSN-W Ch.3, evening news, in-depth report:
        Amelia Earhart
      • Wichita, KSN (cable) Ch.22, news magazine, special segment:
        Amelia Earhart
      • Wichita, KWCH Ch.12, evening news, in-depth report:
        Boeing/Spirit layoffs & 737 MAX program
      • Wichita, KMUW-FM, "The Range," in-depth report:
        Learjet history and end.
      Newspaper & Magazine Articles:
      Cited in:
      • Wichita Eagle & Beacon
        (numerous interviews/citations: politics, aviation & local history)
      • Wichita Business Journal
        (multiple interviews/citations: Boeing jetliner developments)
      • The Sunflower
        (early Kansas aviation history)
      • Kansas! Magazine
        (Kansas aviation history)
      • Florida Today
        (Wichita aviation history & Cape Canveral aerospace future)
      • The Independent (Britain's largest online-only newspaper; U.S. edition)
        (Wichita aviation history & Boeing / Spirit AeroSystems crisis, 2024)
      News/feature writing published in:
      • Wichita Business Journal  
      • Wichita Small Business Report
      • Haysville Sun
      • Mulvane Old Settler
      • WSU Sunflower
      • Jonesboro (Ark.) Sun
      • Bloomington (Ind.) Courier-Tribune
      • ...and others.
      Op-Eds & Essays (politics) published in:
      • Wichita Eagle & Beacon
      • Topeka Capital-Journal
      • Kansas City Star
      • Houston Chronicle
      • Chicago Tribune
      • ...and abroad.

    Clippings available upon request.


    AVIATION HISTORY PRESENTATIONS to / at:

      Events:
      • National Biplane Fly-In / Biplane Assn. of America
        (Junction City, KS)
      • Kansas Aviation Centennial Kick-Off (Wichita, KS)
      • Wichita Aviation Centennial Kick-Off (Wichita, KS)
      • Wichita Flight Festival (Wichita, KS)
      • Benton Days Fly-In (Benton, KS)
      • ConAir2011 Model Show & Contest
          (at Kansas Aviation Museum; Wichita, KS)
      Museums & Libraries:
      • EAA AirVenture Museum (Oshkosh, WI)
          (during AirVenture 2014)
      • Kansas Aviation Museum (Wichita, KS)
          (multiple presentations)
      • Wichita/Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum (Wichita, KS)
          (multiple presentations)
      • Parsons Historical Museum (Parsons, KS)
      • Park City Public Library / Park City Alive! (Park City, KS)
      • Winfield Public Library (KS)
          (coordinated with NASA exhibit)
      Colleges & Universities:
      • Wichita State University (Wichita, KS)
          (annually, 2009-2021)
      • Friends University (Wichita, KS)
      • Butler Community College, (El Dorado, KS)
      • Johnson Co. Community College, (Overland Park, KS)
      Other Organizations:
      • Experimental Aircraft Assn. (Wichita Chapter)
      • OX-5 Club (Pioneer Aviators: Wichita Chapter)
      • Wichita Genealogical Society (Wichita, KS)
      • ...and others.


    MEMBERSHIPS
      Current:
      • American Aviation Historical Society
      Prior, since 2000:
      • Experimental Aircraft Association
      • Professional Aviation Maintenance Assn.
      • Wichita Manufacturers Association
      • World Trade Council of Wichita
      • Community Advisory Board, KPTS-TV
      Prior, before 2000:
      • Curriculum Committee, Wichita State University
      • Civil Air Patrol, Aux.USAF.
      • BHS Flying Club


    SAMPLES of AVIATION ARTICLES by R.H.
    online references:

      Kansas Aviation Centennial article developed for
      AAHS Flightline, Fall 2011 issue, #177
      "The Newsletter of the American Aviation Historical Society"
       (developed on short notice, recounting start of Kansas aviation industry,
        and providing quick overview of subsquent history)

        http://www.aahs-online.org/pubs/flightline/fl_177.pdf

      Demonstration website developed for
      In Flight USA, Sept. 2003 issue
      "The News Magazine for U.S. General Aviation Pilots & Professionals"
       (developed solely using RH's articles which were
        published in the magazine's Sept. 2003 print edition)

        http://harris1.net/hold/av/ifusa/inflight.htm

      Aviation History & Industry articles
       (wide range of RH's articles -- most published in print magazines --
        with histories of Cessna, Beechcraft, Piper, other manufacturers):

        http://harris1.net/hold/av/avhist/av_hist1.htm

      ...includes this in-depth commercial aviation industry article:

      Articles from Aero-News Network (ANN)
       (listing of articles from RH's final 6 months as part-time reporter
        for an online aviation industry news service)
        sorted by themes:

        http://harris1.net/hold/av/ann_list.htm


    AVIATION PHOTOGRAPHY SAMPLES:

Rev.2023-12-07