Bandit Flight Team

Wanda Jackson
GROUND COORDINATOR
Wanda Jackson is a Raleigh native and two-time graduate of NCSU. She graduated with a BA in English and then worked for American Airlines for 9 years. She returned to NC State to earn a Master’s in Accounting. Those years spent in airports with American left their mark, though. After many years indoors as a licensed CPA, she decided that she wanted to fly. Wanda earned her private pilot license in 2014 and progressed into aerobatics with world aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff in a Super Decathlon and Extra 300. Wanda is an instrument-rated pilot, owns a Cessna 182 and is working on her commercial pilot license, and eventually plans to become a certified flight instructor. After spending the majority of her life not flying, she is cramming in as much aviation as possible and loves being part of the Bandit Flight Team. She and her husband Frank have been happily married for over 25 years.
GROUND COORDINATOR
  • David Schlabch GROUND COORDINATOR
    David is a Senior Software Developer and flies as a hobby. He inherited the love for flying from his father Ross, a US Air Force F-106 fighter pilot. As a young boy his dad took him flying in the local trainer, even when sitting on phone books, he still couldn’t see over the dash. The father-son pair later enjoyed building and flying RC planes and helicopters where David was the youngest nationally ranked Fun-Fly competitor. In 2007, David earned his own private pilot’s license and currently has over 500 flight hours in various aircraft ranging from J-3 cubs to a B-25. His current certificates are Commercial, Single-engine, Instrument, and Remote Pilot (Drone). David lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife, Laura and their two sons, Henry and Porter. The family enjoys flying to Georgia’s coast and visiting family.
  • Tom Stevens GROUND COORDINATOR
    Tom is a former US Navy pilot with a wide variety of flight experience. After graduating from NC State University with a Civil Engineering degree, he joined the Navy and attended Navy flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Tom spent 20 years in the Navy and was qualified in five different Navy aircraft accumulating over 3900 flight hours. Tom is currently a First Officer with Southwest Airlines flying the Boeing 737, and is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of North Carolina. Tom and his wife, Ann, have been married 25 years and have four children, Brock, Hannah, Sarah Beth, and Austin. They live in Cary, NC.