Director, Board of Directors, Past President, for Estrella Warbirds Museum
Rob Kinnear was born in Kansas around 1947, and raised in Southern California. He enlisted in the United States Air Force after completing an AA degree at Mt. San Antonio College in 1968.
Rob Kinnear
During his enlistment as a parachute rigger, he served one tour of duty in Viet Nam and completed technical school for his FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certificate during his off duty hours.
In 1972, Rob and his wife moved to San Luis Obispo, where he worked as an aircraft mechanic for Swift Aire Lines. Ten years later, he found himself working at Vandenberg Air Force Base with Martin Marietta as an Inspector on Titan II and Titan III satellite launch vehicles.
In 1983, Rob began work as the Maintenance Training Manager for Wings West Airlines. With the buy-out of that company by AMR in 1998, he remained as the west coast Maintenance Instructor until retiring in 2003.
Rob's knowledge and expertise of aircraft maintenance is very much appreciated by Estrella Warbirds Museum, and has played a key role in the reconstruction and restoration of many of the display aircraft. Rob aserved as Board Vice President during the 2009-2010 year, and President for the 2010-2012 and 2018-2021 years.