Frank Strickler
Frank Strickler (EAA 26649): Strickler’s love of aviation began at an early age, when his pediatrician bound a couple of tongue depressors together and told him it was an airplane. In the U.S. Air Force beginning in 1959, he flew C-130s, F-101s, and B-26s, before serving as an instructor in jets. From there, Strickler began flying for American Airlines and for the Air National Guard as an F-84 pilot. He bought a P-51 project, which led to the formation of his restoration and maintenance business, Fox 51, in 1974. Fox 51 has worked on everything from Bückers and Stearmans to T-6s, and, of course, P-51s. Strickler is rated on more than a dozen warbirds and has logged more than 28,000 flying hours. His advisory work with the FAA has helped countless warbird operators obtain airworthiness certificates smoothly and easily.