• US AIR FORCE MAJOR (SEP) •
RICHARD "TEX" COE
Veteran F-16 Fighter Pilot | SCA Founder
1,000+ Hours
flying the legendary F-16 Fighting Falcon
300+ Combat Hours
in the world’s most hostile airspaces
Promotion to USAF Major
earning his reputation as a tactical expert
Top-Secret Missions
piloting the MQ-1 Predator & MQ-9 Reaper UAVs over Iraq + Afghanistan
More heart-pounding stories
than he’ll ever admit to his mom...
Richard “Tex” Coe, started flying when he was 16 years old. His passion for aviation eventually led him to join the Air Force after graduating college to pursue a career as fighter pilot. The training was rigorous, challenging and unrelenting, but most of all it was a ton of fun! While stationed overseas at Aviano Air Base in Italy, one of his favorite missions was to take people up for “incentive rides” which basically meant he got to take up non-pilots and showcase what the mighty F-16 Viper could do… The ultimate joy ride! He always thought it was a shame he couldn’t take his friends and family up to give them a taste of what extreme flying was all about and that became the genesis of Sky Combat Ace! He figured there were a lot of people that would love to experience what high performance flying is all about if only they had the opportunity.
After “Tex” left the Air Force, he was determined to make this dream a reality and in early 2011, he finally assembled the team that could make it happen. SCA started in Las Vegas with just two Extra 330LC aircraft, the world’s most advanced FAA certified aerobatic airplane. Certified to +/-10 G’s, it can pull more G’s than an F-16! With the help of some of his fighter pilot buddies, “Tex” started offering rides and aerial dogfighting experiences, eventually adding more Extra 330s. As word started to spread, SCA added more advanced tactical missions such as the Top Gun ultimate air combat experience.
From opening day, safety has always been the #1 priority at SCA. By hiring and training the best in the business, we strive to make sure that every part of your experience is the safest it can be, as well as unforgettable.