OUR STORY &
MEET THE
TEAM
OUR STORY
CHI Aerospace was founded on Chris Hosford's lifelong passion for aviation. Inspired by his uncle, a World War II fighter pilot, Chris developed an early love for flying through model aircraft, the Civil Air Patrol, and the mentorship of experienced aviators who helped him earn his Private Pilot Certificate.
After building a successful career as a fuels engineer, Chris combined his professional experience with his passion for aviation to create new opportunities for aspiring pilots. What began as a small flight school with a single RV-12 eventually grew into CHI Aerospace as we know it today.
As CHI grew, we solidified our mission: Developing professionals for the aviation industry, while also providing the opportunity for recreational aviators to experience the majesty of New England from the air.
This mission led to CHI Aerospace's transition into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Today, our mission extends beyond traditional flight training. As a nonprofit, we are committed to removing barriers to aviation, creating educational opportunities, and developing the next generation of aviation professionals.
Fun Fact! "CHI" stands for "Chris Hosford Industries"!
CHRIS HOSFORD
CHI Aerospace Founder
SAFETY - EDUCATION - COMMUNITY - OPPORTUNITY
INCLUSION - PROFESSIONALISM
FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS
MICHAEL ROBERTS
General Manager &
Chief Flight Instructor
CFI | CFII
"Deciding to move back home after 40 years away, I visited CHI and found my aviation home..."
ZACHARY SCHMOLKA
Full-Time Flight Instructor
CFI | CFII | MEI
"Ever since I was very little, I’ve loved aviation. Growing up just outside of NYC, I was able to spend hours on end riding the air train around JFK watching planes taxi, takeoff, and land..."
Samuel "Sam" Taub
Full Time Dispatcher & Flight Instructor| B19 | CFI | CFII
Sitting behind the controls of N922CA on that amazing summer afternoon, I caught the aviation bug and became obsessed with flying. Going from student pilot to CFI has been the most rewarding and exciting career path...
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Matt Heidt
Part Time Flight Instructor
CFI
"As a first-generation pilot in my family, I was never involved in aviation growing up. Even so, I was always fascinated by airplanes and flying. Whenever I heard a plane overhead, I would stop and look up....
BEN NADEAU
Part-Time Flight Instructor
"I took an intro flight at CHI back
in March of 2023 and haven't looked back since. In hindsight I think flying (and instructing) fits in
very well with my personality and interest, but never saw it until that intro flight."
Read more about Ben here
LIAM MCINNIS
Assistant Chief Flight Instructor
CFI | CFII | SES
"As a first generation Pilot, my path into the industry was a little different. My aviation journey was purely bred from my burning curiosity for any type of machinery that requires thorough engineering..."
HUNTER SAXTON
Full-Time Flight Instructor
CFI | CFII | MEI
"Growing up as the son of a pilot and flight attendant, my love for and interest in aviation has always been strong..."
ROBERT CARTY
Part-Time Flight Instructor
CFI | CFII
"I received my Commercial license and flew with the New Hampshire Wing of Civil Air Patrol for over 12 years..."
BRIANNA WEST
Part-Time Flight Instructor
CFI | CFII
"Growing up, aviation wasn’t even on my radar. At five years old, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon and I started pursuing that in college until I realized I was tired of sitting in classrooms..."
BRIAN ELBERT
Part-Time Flight Instructor
CFI | CFII | MEI | ATP
"My passion for aviation began as a kid growing up on Air Force bases across the country. I lived under the traffic pattern and next to the flightline fueling my interest in aviation..."
DISPATCHERS
REED LARSON-DENNEN
Full Time Dispatcher and Maintenance Coordinator
HONORAH MCGLONE
Full Time Dispatcher | B19 & PSM
I never thought I wanted to be a pilot, but I always liked cars growing up. I went to a CTE program at Dover High School to learn more about cars and get my ASE certification....I started flight training when I was still at Planesense and fell in love with it.
I took an introductory flight with CHI on a picturesque summer evening. I was able to see the place I’d grown up in from a bird’s perspective, a moment that I had spent my entire life pining for...
KALEN WILLITS
Full Time Dispatcher | PSM
I’m a passionate aviator, flight club member, and flight deck simulator builder. My first intro flight was in 2018 out of Kahului Maui, and I was hooked!...
OUR VALUES
PROFESSIONALISM - EXCELLENCE
SAFETY - INTEGRITY
FAMILY
CHI MISSION
“Developing professionals for the aviation industry, while also providing the opportunity for recreational aviators to experience the majesty of New England from the air.”
