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David Randall "Randy" Hensley is a highly distinguished Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel based in DeLand, Florida. His aviation career spans over five decades, beginning with his first solo at the USAF Academy in 1974. During his military service, Hensley operated in some of the most demanding environments imaginable, serving as a WC-130 "Typhoon Chaser" weather reconnaissance pilot and later as a mission pilot, instructor, and evaluator for the U-2/TR-1 "Dragon Lady" high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. This background in precision flying and jet training operations laid the groundwork for his transition into elite civilian flight education.
In the civilian sector, Hensley has amassed over 10,000 flight hours, including more than 5,000 hours of dual instruction given. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and is a seven-time NAFI Master Flight Instructor and FAA Gold Seal Instructor. Having served as a Training Center Manager and Chief Instructor for Part 141 and 142 operations, he is widely regarded as an expert in multi-engine training and pilot certification. Currently operating out of the Central Florida region, Hensley is known for a rigorous yet professional examination style that emphasizes the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and a proactive safety-first mindset, earning him a reputation as a "Yoda-like" mentor within the pilot community.