Who Are We?
Scallywag Air was born out of a passion for aviation and the opportunity to share flight in its purest form with as many people as possible.
Owner Chip Ferguson is an Alaskan bush pilot and owner of world famous Alaska Rainbow Lodge. After attending Texas A&M in Galveston, he decided to make the island his off season home. A calling to work in aviation year round lead to the idea for Scallywag Air and the acquisition of our two beautiful Waco biplanes.
There isn’t a better way to explore the air over the gulf coast!
Meet Your Pilots
Nathan Featherston, a recent IBC (Islander By Choice), took his first flight in a Cessna 140 and began his career in the skies 10 years ago, training in a Cessna 172. Since then, he has pursued his love of aviation through various ratings and spends his summers as a commercial float pilot in a deHavilland Beaver for clients in Alaska. For Nathan, flying is the ultimate freedom, where he is always learning and honing new skills. He is especially drawn to biplanes because they are beautiful, and he loves flying an airframe that was designed in the early days of aviation.
Cadence Bomgardner grew up in north Texas and started flying at the age of 15, quickly falling in love with the world of general aviation. By the time she graduated high school, she earned her flight instructor certificates and went on to become a certificated A&P mechanic. In addition to flying the gorgeous Waco biplane for Scallywag, she also owns Cadenza Aviation, a company focused on aircraft rental, training, sales, and delivery. Cadence enjoys competition aerobatic flying and is especially drawn to classic tailwheel airplanes— her favorite airplanes are two classic biplanes: the Waco and the Pitts Special.
Sara Etherington is a third-generation pilot—and the sixth in her family to take to the skies. A tailwheel and seaplane pilot, she owns and flies a Citabria and has competed in the Air Race Classic, embracing both the precision of stick-and-rudder flying and the adventure of cross-country navigation.
She volunteers with EAA and Ladies Love Taildraggers, passionate about helping others—especially women—fall in love with aviation the way she did. Currently working toward her CFI and A&P certificates, Sara’s long-term goal is to open her own flight school focused on tailwheel instruction. For her, flying is about skill, tradition, and community—and she’s committed to keeping all three alive.
Schedule Your Flight Today
See Galveston Island like you never have before!