Vellinga Ray

Ray was born and raised in the Midwest. He is an experienced motorcycle racer, bicycle rider, skier, and one-time Interfraternal Wrestling Champion. After Graduating from Bradley University he entered pilot training with the US Navy where he was at the top of his class in Preflight training which included Aerodynamics. He left the Navy as a Lieutenant and later received his commercial and instrument rating as a civilian pilot.

He and his wife, Patricia, are avid travelers and sailors and have cruised all of the America's Great Loop, most of Puget Sound, and the best parts of Europe. Patricia's book, Sailing There: Cruising Across Europe and the Mediterranean is available at Amazon.com

Since his first flying boat in 1969, he continues to design and build person hydrofoils, including the SabreFoil, and HIFYBE (High Flying Banana). Ray is now active with 5 other pilots and engineers in an ongoing project to design, build and fly human and engine powered small hydrofoils in San Diego, California. As he has created 20 videos on the subject of hydrofoils. These have been viewed about 4 million times. To see them, go to Youtube.com and search for "rvell7829" He is a Core member of the International Hydrofoil Society. He lives in Washington State.