Chris Avery and Atlantic Southeast Airlines CRJ-700, during test flying and delivery, at Bombardier
©Copyright. Photo: Chris Avery

Chris is a U.S. military combat veteran of both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps when he was 17. Chris returned from a 15 month deployment to Iraq in September, 2007. During this tour of duty he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions in combat.

Formerly a Technical Pilot for Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) flying the Bombardier CRJ-200, and CRJ-700, he was also ASA's Production Engineer Test Pilot. Captain Chris Avery is now a Flight Standards pilot, CRJ-700/CRJ-900, for ASA.

Chris Avery donned authentic WWII flying apparel for the filming of the History Channel documentary 'Battle Stations: Corsair: Pacific Warrior', which took place at Lancaster. A small camera can be seen mounted above the instrument panel.
©Copyright. Photo: Harlan Short

Chris learned to fly at a very young age and was mentored by his father who was also a pilot. Chris joined the CAF in 1996, and is a very experienced demonstration pilot with well over 23,000 hours of flight time including in excess of 4,500 hours in high-performance aerobatic aircraft. He is also considered to be one of the finest Corsair display pilots in the United States and thoroughly enjoys demonstrating the capabilities of the Corsair and believes it to be the finest all-around aircraft of its era.

Chris is endorsed to participate in the U.S. Navy Legacy Flight, flying the FG-1D Corsair in formation with modern day U.S. Navy fighters such as the FA-18 Hornet. Training of crews for these special flights is conducted at either NAS Oceana, VA., or NAS Lemoore, CA.

In addition to the Corsair, Chris is also active on the North American airshow circuit flying a 1964 Polish-built TS-11 Iskra jet (below).

Chris resides in Atlanta, GA., with wife Rhonda, but calls Midlothian, TX. home. He has a son, Christopher Jr. and daughter, Katelyn Camille.

Chris and young Tony Short, trying out each other's sunglasses, CAF Dallas/Fort Worth Wing Open Cockpit Day, August 2004.
©Copyright. Photo: Harlan Short

Chris displaying the TS-11 Iskra, Abbotsford International Airshow, British Columbia, Canada, August 2002.
©Copyright. Photo: Chris Smallenberg