Douglas G. Matthews

Douglas G. Matthews is a 28,000-hour pilot who lived in Georgia for almost 50 years (1972-2020). He started his first two companies in Georgia and attended Emory University Graduate School of Business. He built and owned the largest FBO in Georgia. He has set almost 100 U.S. National Aeronautics Association and FAI World Record. He set and holds the world altitude record for reciprocating-engine powered aircraft at 42,560 feet! Matthews is a lifetime member of the Commemorative Air Force, EAA and Warbirds of America. Matthews is a 40-year member of the Commemorative Air Force at Falcon Field (Peachtree City, GA). In 2015 the FAA presented him with the Wright Brothers Award. 2018-Inducted into American Fighter Aces Association (Honorary) for his commitment to fighter aircraft restorations. 1985-Letter of congratulations from Georgia Lt. Governor (later Senator) Zell Miller. U.S. Navy (Retired Lt. Commander) with two tours in Vietnam and 11 medals and ribbons; He has owned over a dozen warbirds.

Matthews started flying at age 14. In the Navy, he flew 123 combat missions (awarded 10 Air Medals). In 1972 (November), he began his 11-year career in Atlanta as a Delta Airlines pilot, while still performing at air shows and flight instructing. He flew the DC-9, DC-8, B-727 and the L-1011. In 1976, he was selected as Jimmy Carter’s Presidency campaign pilot. He also founded The Flight International Group at Georgia’s PDK airport, a diversified aviation services company providing airline training, a charter airline of Boeing 727’s, an airliner leasing company and Commercial Air Services (CAS) flight services to the world’s militaries. He retired as an air show performer in 2022 after over 400 performances. He was a Reno Air race pilot for nine years in both the Jet and the Unlimited classes. He holds 26 standard and experimental aircraft type ratings.

1984-Founded Georgia’s “second airline”-Flight International Airlines-a charter airline with five Boeing B-727’s. 1987-After a 5-year planning and approval process with DeKalb County, GA., Matthews built one of the U.S.’s premier FBO’s at Peachtree-DeKalb airport (PDK), the largest FBO in Georgia. It is now a Signature Aviation FBO;

Sponsor of the “Matthews Aviation Scholarship” to help further the aviation careers of young pilots and is the sponsor/donor of the “Matthews Scholarship for Leadership” at the Graduate School of Business at Emory University, Atlanta;

Thirty nine articles have been written about/by Matthews, including 1994 main article in Rolling Stones magazine; 2013 Credited in Disney’s movie “Planes”; 2015 Featured in Smithsonian TV Series “Air Warriors” flying P-51; 2017 Featured in book “Once Were Warriors” (L. Caliari); 2017 Featured in book “The Forgotten Flight” (S. Newberger, Oneworld); 2018 Featured second edition of book “Once Were Warriors” (L. Caliari); Featured in two television shows- “Air Warriors” on Smithsonian Channel and “Expedition Unknown” (Bermuda Triangle) on Discovery Channel.

In 1980, he pioneered the concept of Commercial Air Services (CAS) for the world’s militaries. It is estimated that since 1980, CAS contracts have approached $100 billion.