Johnny Blankenship has had a love for aviation for a lifetime. He completed his electrical engineering degree at the University of Kentucky and worked for Motorola before starting flying lessons at DuPage Airport in 1989. By 1990 he had earned his Private Pilot license. His flying education continued with the Instrument Rating in 1995, Commercial Pilot’s license in 1997, and Flight Instructor Certificate in 2000. He then started part-time flight instruction at Blue Skies Flying Services, and continued working full time at Motorola until he retired in 2004. While teaching others to fly at Blue Skies, he earned his Instrument Instructor rating in 2009. In 2012, he earned his Commercial Seaplane Pilot Certificate. Johnny has accumulated over 3,400 hours of flight time, with 2,500 flight instruction hours.