Team

Admiral Bill “Shortney” Gortney (USN Retired)  Director of Safety

See interview from Sun ‘n Fun 2024

During Bill’s 39-year career in the US Navy, he held commands at every level. Prior to retirement in 2016, his Four Star commands included U.S. Fleet Forces Command, NS Norfolk, VA, and his final assignment as Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), U.S. Northern Command.

In 2019, after flying demos in the SeaRey aircraft, Bill made a visit to Super Petrel USA (SPUSA) in Ormond Beach Florida. Following the demonstration flight, he purchased a new Super Petrel LS, N925WG, one of the first Garmin G3X equipped aircraft to arrive in the USA. Shortly thereafter, he partnered with his longtime USN friend Mark Ziegler to form Wings of Gold Aviation, LLC (WOGA) in Virginia. WOGA became one of the first Authorized Sales Agents (ASA) representing Super Petrel USA. Over the past 5 years, WOGA has performed numerous demonstration flights selling new aircraft as well as many previously owned Super Petrels LS’s. In the year 2020, the Super Petrel Flight Instructor Association (SPFIA) was formed, and Bill became secretary of the group.

Each year Super Petrel USA host the Tri-Fecta pilot and mechanic training event. The event begins with Bill presenting a pilot flight safety briefing and mishap review. Learning from the mistakes of others is a key factor in the continuing safety training of our pilot owners.

Bill often hosts new owners at his lake home on Lake Anna in Virginia near Louisa County Airport (KLKU), when receiving flight transition training to the Super Petrel aircraft. In 2024, WOGA will receive one of the first two new Super Petrel XP aircraft (N683WG). WOGA will then begin providing XP demonstration flights in Virginia. Over the past 5 years, Bill has provided invaluable insight with improvements to the LS version of the Super Petrel and planning for the new XP aircraft from the “pilot owner prospective”.

Today, the team at Super Petrel USA consists of Roger Helton (president), Dan Pedersen (chief pilot), Mark Ziegler (director of maintenance and customer support) and Bill Gortney (director of safety). As a group, Team SPUSA provides our customers with aircraft parts, service, expert advice, and training. The leadership and experience Bill has brought to the group is invaluable and greatly appreciated, from the Scoda Aeronautica factory in Brazil to the home of Super Petrel USA in Florida.