Who we are

Friends of the Flight Academy is committed to supporting aviation-related programs of academic institutions, such as the University 
of Oklahoma Sooner Flight Academy, as well as other charitable organizations devoted to inspiring children and young adults to pursue 
careers in aviation and STEM-related (i.e., Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.

  • Matt Esker

    Matt Esker is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Friends of the Flight Academy. He was the director of the OU Sooner Flight Academy from 2010 to 2018. His two sons, Aidan and Evan, are both alumni of SFA.  His resume includes stints as USAF pilot, airline pilot, secondary mathematics teacher, and simulator flight instructor. He spends his spare time volunteering with the Civil Air Patrol as a Mission Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, and Squadron Commander.

  • Eric Sundby

    Eric Sundby is a member of the Board of Directors of Friends of the Flight Academy. Teaching multiple age level, he served as a Navigator from 2015-2018, during his time as an undergraduate student at the University of Oklahoma. He has cofounded multiple aerospace and defense companies, including TerraSpace and BTX Defense, has worked in research at the RAND Corporation, and is completing his PhD in Aerospace Sciences. Eric's hobbies include snow skiing, piloting, traveling, and studying history. He enjoys living in the Texas Hill Country with his wife and two dogs.

  • Dawn Machalinkski

    Dawn Machalinski is on the board of directors of Friends of the Flight Academy.

    She recently retired from the position of program manager for the OU Sooner Flight Academy after 18 years of working in several positions there. She is currently serving as the children's pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Oklahoma City.

  • Kyle Baxter

    Kyle Baxter is the treasurer for Friends of Sooner Flight Academy. He attended the camp as a child and worked as a Navigator from 2013 to 2017. He currently works as a Propulsion Technician for the Oklahoma Air National Guard and specializes in maintaining Axial Flow Jet Engines. Kyle’s love of all things Aircraft is life long, and much of the knowledge he learned at Sooner Flight Academy has helped him in his current position today. He would love nothing more than for his daughter, Rosabelle, to also attend the camp one day.

  • Isaac Algaze

    Graduate University of Oklahoma 1983

    Former AIr Force Instructor pilot T6 Texan 2 and T-37

    Veteran of Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Kosovo Iraqi Freedom. Global War on Terrorism

    Over 33 years as pilot for Delta Airlines flying multiple aircraft types.