Chief Warrant Officer Calvin Bigby’s Army Aviation Career

At the 2025 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, Chief Warrant Officer Calvin Bigby stood loud and proud at the Army Aviation booth to share the story of how he turned a lifelong love of aviation into a career as an Army helicopter pilot.

Bigby began his Army career working as a mechanic and crew chief on the CH-47 Chinook. But spending years in the back of helicopters only strengthened his desire to fly them. Eventually, he applied to become a Warrant Officer and entered flight training.

Initial training took place in the UH-72 Lakota, where Bigby learned flight basics. Upon completion, he was given the choice to continue training in the CH-47, UH-60M, AH-64, or C-12. His time working alongside Apaches caused him to land on the AH-64 Apache.

The journey wasn’t easy. “It’s like drinking from a fire hose,” he explained. “A lot of information, constant studying, constant flying, getting to know a whole new system.”

Still, Bigby is proud of where he ended up and encourages others to start sooner. He specifically points to the Army’s “Street to Seat” Warrant Officer Flight Training (WOFT) program, which allows civilians to go directly from Basic Training into flight school. 

“I love doing what I’m doing,” Bigby stated. “I get to fly this aircraft.

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