Britt’s father joined the Navy and went to fight in WWII when Britt was two-years-old. He returned when Britt was four-years-old. One day, when Britt was four, he and his mother were out for a walk and an airplane flew overhead. Britt looked up at his mother and told her that one day he would fly one of those.

When he was ten, an airplane crashed in the field behind his grandmother’s home. Britt was the first one to the crash. He pulled out a teenage girl and others arrived to help pull out the girl’s father. Unfortunately, both individuals died from the crash however, this did not deter Britt’s determination to become a pilot.

When Britt graduated from the small Oliver Springs High School, one of his instructors, Professor Britton, became a trusted mentor and a leading figure in his life. Up to this point, he had not been encouraged to go to college. Professor Britton, suggested a small college, Lincoln Memorial University. Beginning the summer after high school, he left for the pea fields of Wisconsin to work as a laborer. He was allowed to work twenty hours a day which helped him save money to afford school. While in school, he worked in the health care clinic to help afford to continue school, then returned to Wisconsin for the summers.

He graduated from college in May 1964, as a physics and math major. He joined the Navy and left immediately after graduation for officer’s candidate school. Upon completion of OCS, he became a navigator because there were no open flight school spaces available. This did not deter him, and after 2 years of applying, he was accepted to Navy flight training where he graduated Number 1 in his class. While attending flight school, Britt married his college sweetheart, Joyce Wheeler.

He spent 20 years as a Naval Aviator. His last 3-year tour, he was chosen to be model manager for the new Navy Training Aircraft. This was a great honor and ultimately the beginning of his path into civilian life. He worked with the manufacturer of the new aircraft along with the manufacturers of the new avionics. Britt hired a film crew to film him flying the aircraft for the Navy’s training films as well as writing the training manuals. Shortly after the completion of this assignment, he retired from the Navy. During his work on this project, Britt met and worked with many individuals from the aviation community. The one he was most impressed with was the CEO of FlightSafety International, Mr. Albert Ueltschi. Both of them had come from similar backgrounds. Having spoken with FlightSafety Employees that worked with Britt on the Navy project, Mr. Ueltschi knew he was the one to head up the building of a new facility in FT. Rucker, Alabama where they had just received a new contract for Army flight training simulators.

Britt began the project just outside of Ft. Rucker, in Daleville, Alabama, with the building of an office and a single flight simulator. As time progressed, Britt expanded from Daleville to Dothan, Alabama as well and became the simulator and flight training center for all of the Army’s fixed wing training. From there, he expanded again to also train Air Force, Navy and several foreign governments. Ultimately taking on the Army’s helicopter simulator training as well. Britt became the director of all government and military training for FlightSafety International.

In December of 2006, just one month before he was due to retire from FlightSafety, Britt Hoskins died from ALS. He had realized many of his dreams through his life. He taught both of his children to fly. Over the years, he was able to help several students like him to be able to attend college.

He helped many others too numerous to count here. It is for him that this foundation is being formed.