U.S. Space & Rocket Center hosts former Navy SEAL turned aerial firefighting pilot

Friday April 26, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center hosted a free talk given by Tim Sheehy, a Former U.S. Navy Seal, decorated combat veteran, and aerial firefighting pilot. 

Sheehy is also a Space Camp alumnus and current supporter of the program. Sheehy explained why he is a big supporter of Space Camp. 

“It is such an important place to inspire future pilots, engineers, astronauts,” reflected Sheehy.

Sheehy credits childhood experiences like taking his first flight on a floatplane at the age of 8 and attending Space Camp at age 10 with inspiring in him a love of all things aerospace. 

“It really impacted my life,” said Sheehy.

Sheehy was introduced as a key financial contributor to the restoration of the Pathfinder space shuttle test simulator. The Pathfinder, on display at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center since 1988, is currently being U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Sheehy talked about his firsthand experience fighting wildfires and promoted his new book, Mudslingers: A True Story of Aerial Firefighting, An American Origins Story. 

“The book is a tribute to aerial fire fighting,” said Sheehy.

100% of the book’s proceeds are donated to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation and the United Aerial Firefighters Association. 

Sheehy credited Homer Hickam, sitting in the audience, with inspiring him to get his book published. He said he and Hickam met at the 50th anniversary of the moon landing held at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. 

Bridger Aerospace, Sheehy’s aerial wildfire fighting company, donated to help restore the replica of the Saturn 5 mockup on display at the Davidson Center.

The tragic 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona is what prompted Sheehy to found Bridger Aerospace in 2014. Nineteen firefighters perished in that fire.

In trying to shield his team from the fire, the team leader “made the right decision with the wrong information,” Sheehy said. 

Sheehy related that he realized if that team leader had had the technological capabilities Sheehy and his fellow combat veterans did, the Yarnell Hill firefighters would have survived. 

Sheehy wanted to take the capabilities of wartime aerial technology that he and others had relied on and apply it to fighting devastating wildfires. 

Sheehy and his business partner started Bridger Aerospace in order to “Provide that real time data to firefighters on the ground to save lives,” said Sheehy.