Kenneth F SchankeKen Schanke is an ardent aviator who started flying at 16 and never quit. While still in junior college, he qualified as an aviation cadet and graduated top of his class from navigator training. While flying the B-57D during nuclear testing, he penetated three nuclear clouds during Operation Dominic. On side trips, he also flew the C-54G and WB-50D aircraft, both direct links to WWII and Korean era aircraft. Following a year in combat flying out of Thailand, Schanke returned to George AFB in southern California, where he obtained private pilot certification and went on to receive a commercial pilot license, as well as Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) and ground instructor licenses. While assigned to Ramstein AB, Germany, serving as Chief of Training, Schanke ran and organized the Ramstein Air Show for four years.
Following his Air Force career, he worked as a Senior Systems Support Engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company for 19 years in Tucson, Ariz., working on Maverick missiles, GBU-15 bombs, AMRAAM, AIM-9X and other weapon systems.
Married for 37 years, he and his wife Fernande reside in Tucson, where he enjoys travel, golf and volunteer work in the community.
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