Starfighters Welcomes Veteran Aviator as VP of Operations

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Starfighters Space, Inc ("Starfighters" or "the Company"), the innovative aerospace company operating the world's largest commercial supersonic aircraft fleet out of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, announces the addition of seasoned military and commercial pilot Michael "Smitty" Smith as Vice President of Operations. Mr. Smith's 30 plus years of professional experience aligns with Starfighters' focus on future flight test programs, hypersonic initiatives, space launch operations, and collaborations with defense and commercial partners. Mr. Smith was type rated by the FAA in the F-104 in 2007 as a Starfighters company pilot and, in his new role, will guide daily operations while helping to expand Company partnerships.

Starfighters' CEO, Rick Svetkoff, said, "With the national focus on both hypersonic research and rapid satellite launch capability, Starfighters is in a unique position to engage on both fronts. We believe Smitty's expertise and strong leadership will only strengthen our ability to meet operational goals and deepen key relationships, while delivering greater results for our customers and shareholders alike."

Smitty's expertise spans aerospace operations, strategic leadership, and defense contracting, with key roles in post-9/11 homeland defense. Smitty is a graduate of Texas A&M University, as well as remote graduate of the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Command and Staff College and has served in multiple fleet F-14 squadrons. Post Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) assignment as an Instructor Pilot (IP) and Tomcat Demonstration pilot, he was granted an inner-service transfer to the USAF and completed his service in the TXANG in 111FS flying the F-16. After retiring from the USAF, Smitty worked as a pilot and Captain for Southwest Airlines.

Mr. Smith has logged over 15,000 flight hours, completed missions in multiple theaters, and handled critical duties in homeland defense operations. This includes 132 hours of combat time over Iraq and Bosnia. He excelled in flight school and served as an instructor on the F-14 Tomcat.

Starfighters is currently undertaking a Regulation A Tier 2 offering hosted with Equifund (https://equifund.com), a private market investment platform that delivers vetted, early-stage investing opportunities, and being offered by Digital Offering, LLC, an SEC registered broker-dealer, and member of FINRA and SIPC. Interested parties are encouraged to carefully review the Company's offering statement on Form 1-A, the offering circular contained therein, as supplemented from time to time, and exhibits thereto.

For additional information on the Company and its Regulation A Tier 2 offering, including how to invest, visit https://starfightersspace.com and https://equifund.com/starfighters. The securities offered by the Company are highly speculative and involves significant risks. Additional information concerning risks about investing in the Company's securities, including risks related to the business, government regulations, intellectual property and the offering in general, can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of the offering circular, as supplemented from time to time, forming part of the Company's Form 1-A offering statement.

About Starfighters Space, Inc.
Starfighters Space, Inc. is the only commercial company in the world with the capability to fly at sustained MACH 2 and with the capability to launch payloads to space. Starfighters Space is an organization committed to participating in high-demand commercial space activities. Located at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Company operates a growing fleet of modified supersonic aircraft operationally configurable to act as the first stage lifting platform to carry payloads up to 45,000 feet for air launch to space. Additional activities include support research, pilot training, space flight training, and advanced scientific efforts including hypersonic testing as part of air launch partner development programs. Starfighters Space is working to position its capability to become the most cost-effective launch provider in the sector.

For more information about Starfighters Space, Inc. please visit: https://starfightersspace.com/.

Contact:

Starfighters Space Media Relations
Tel: +1 321-261-0900
[email protected]
www.starfightersspace.com 

Safe Harbor Statement
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States securities laws. These statements relate to analysis and other information that are based on forecasts or future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". We have based these forward-looking statements on information currently available to the Company, assumptions the Company believes are reasonable and our current expectations about future events or performance. While we believe these expectations are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Our actual future results may differ materially from those discussed or implied in our forward-looking statements for various reasons. Factors that could contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the ability to obtain the necessary permits and approvals to operate, the Company's ability to develop new products and/or services, the approval of the Company's application for a launch license and the timing thereof, the Company's expansion to Midland, Texas, the adoption by the market of the Company's method of satellite deployment, the Company's continued business arrangements, market trends and competition in the Company's industry, the future diversification of the Company's revenue streams and the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, and other factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Regulation A. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurances that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effect on, the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made only as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy the Company's securities.

No securities regulatory authority has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

SOURCE Starfighters Space Inc.