Kevin vondran

Kevin Vondran was born in Forrest City, Arkansas in 1956. He attended high school in Marianna, Arkansas before enrolling in Arkansas State University. He withdrew from ASU after mastering all the math and science courses he wanted to take. In 1980, he obtained his Private Pilots License. He knew aviation was going to be his life’s work. He accumulated ratings and certificates through 1995 including an A & P Mechanic Certificate, an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and a B727 Flight Engineer/Pilot/Engineer/Mechanic PMIC.

Vondran became a Fire Pilot in 1998 for Aero Tech International located in Hot Springs, and between 2003 through 2018, for Henry’s Aerial Services in Brinkley, Arkansas. As a Fire Pilot, he drew on his experiences to design the Hydramax Fire Gate and Controller System which enable the pilot to program and regulate the release of fire suppressants during a mission. The first Hydramax Fire Gate exceeded the testing requirements of the Interagency Air Tanker Board. He manufactured and secured approvals for installation of 173 fire gates globally. Ninety-nine per cent of the fleet of fire aircraft in the United States is equipped with Vondran’s system.

Additionally, Vondran designed a fire variable rate, auto in and out gate box controller for agricultural airplanes requiring advanced application techniques. He has also engineered Fire Gate and Controllers to retrofit B757 aircraft for fire suppression.

Vondran has advanced the safety and efficiency of the task of fighting wild fires immeasurably by his ingenuity and resourcefulness.