The Cutting Edge

Charles James Heatley III was born in Pensacola, Florida, the cradle of naval aviation. In 1972 he graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in photojournalism. After college, Heatley joined the Navy and earned his wings as a fighter pilot, accumulating more than 4,200 flight hours and 620 carrier landings with VF-74, Topgun, the 64th and 65th Aggressor Squadrons, the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron, VF-1, and VF-124. Heatley has been an instructor at both the Navy and Air Force Fighter Weapons Schools. Author of various articles on air combat maneuvering and camouflage paint schemes, he is currently the Executive Officer at VF-124, NAS Miramar. The Cutting Edge is Heatley's first book, although the Navy, Air Force, and Marines have often used his photographs in military publications, lectures, and briefings. Heatley lives in San Diego, California, with his wife Kay, an art director, and their children Sparrow Rhiannon and Adam Michael.C. J. Heatley III is the author of 'The Cutting Edge' with ISBN 9780934738170 and ISBN 0934738173.