Steven A. Ruffin

Steve Ruffin is an aviation writer and pilot with a lifelong interest in aviation history. He served for four years as Managing Editor of the World War I aviation journal 'Over the Front' and is an eight-time winner of the League of World War I Aviation Historians' Hooper Award for writing and editorial excellence.

His articles have appeared in 'Aviation History,' 'Air Power History,' 'Aviation 100,' 'Over the Front' and Walter Boyne's comprehensive 'Air Warfare: An International Encyclopedia.' In addition, he has written articles and textbook chapters for both NASA and FAA publications. In 2005, Steve published his first book, 'Aviation's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Winged Wonders, Lucky Landings, and Other Aerial Oddities.' It was later translated into French and distributed internationally under the title 'Top Fun.' His second book, 'Flights of No Return: Aviation's Most Infamous One-Way Tickets to Immortality,' came out in 2015 and has received outstanding reviews. Steve recently returned from France with photos for his third book, 'The Lafayette Escadrille: A Photo History of the First American Fighter Squadron.' It is now complete and scheduled for release in 2016. All of his books are available for purchase on Amazon.com.

Steve has been a licensed pilot since 1972, has owned and flown both vintage and experimental aircraft, and he is a longtime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. After serving in the U.S. Military for 24 years, he retired in 2003 as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He currently lives in Irving, Texas.