Military Aviation Expert Witness: F/A-18, A-10C, T-6 Texan II & Range Safety
Elliott B. Lushin is a former U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Section Leader (VMFA-314) and T-6 Texan II primary flight instructor (VT-2), and a retired Indiana Air National Guard A-10C pilot (163rd Fighter Squadron) and Range Safety Officer (113th ASOS). Available to plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide in matters involving military flight operations.
Issues Addressed
- Tactical jet operations: U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18A–D strike-fighter operations, including formation and section leadership, and Indiana Air National Guard A-10C attack operations.
- Night Vision Goggle (NVG) operations: day and night NVG flight operations and close air support.
- Air-ground coordination: coordination with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) and ground personnel.
- Range safety and restricted airspace: restricted range airspace deconfliction, ordnance and laser configuration checks, range procedures and weather minimums, and hot/cold range and weapons-release safety authority.
- Squadron operations: flight scheduling, range and airspace scheduling, and the alignment of aircraft and ordnance availability with the flight schedule.
- Military flight training: Naval primary flight training, syllabus checkrides, and student progression. See flight training & pilot qualification.
- Military-to-airline career pathways: military fighter and commercial Part 121 pilot qualification pathways and DoD/DoDMERB and FAA aviation medical and training standards.
- Military maintenance organization: see aircraft maintenance programs (NAMP).
Relevant Military Background
- U.S. Marine Corps (August 2005 – January 2017, Former Active Duty): F/A-18 Pilot, Squadron Flight Officer, Primary Flight Instructor & Student Stage Check Pilot (T-6 Texan II), and Aircraft Maintenance Officer.
- F/A-18 Operations & Squadron Flight Officer (VMFA-314, Aug 2010 – Aug 2013): flew F/A-18A–D Hornet strike-fighter operations (including day/night NVG and JTAC air-ground coordination) and served as F/A-18 Section Leader.
- Primary Flight Instructor & Student Stage Check Pilot (VT-2, NAS Whiting Field — T-6 Texan II, Aug 2013 – Jan 2017): ~800 military instructor hours.
- A-10C Fighter Pilot (163rd Fighter Squadron, Indiana Air National Guard, Jan 2017 – Aug 2019): single-seat A-10C Thunderbolt II attack operations, including day and NVG close air support and air-ground JTAC coordination.
- Range Safety Officer (RSO — 113th Air Support Operations Squadron, Jefferson Proving Ground & Camp Atterbury, Aug 2019 – Feb 2025): coordinated and deconflicted restricted range airspace for live military aircraft operations and held hot/cold range and weapons-release (“Terminate / Abort”) safety authority. Retired from the Air National Guard in February 2025.
- ~450 hours F/A-18A–D and ~150 hours A-10C.
Military Records & Privileged Safety Information
Military aviation cases often involve records with special handling rules. Safety investigation reports may be subject to the military safety privilege, and requests for official information or testimony from Department of Defense personnel are governed by the Department’s Touhy regulations. Elliott B. Lushin relies only on materials counsel has properly obtained and flags these issues for counsel early in a review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which military aircraft has Elliott B. Lushin flown?
The U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18A–D Hornet (VMFA-314), the A-10C Thunderbolt II (163rd Fighter Squadron, Indiana Air National Guard), and the T-6 Texan II as a primary flight instructor and student stage check pilot (VT-2, NAS Whiting Field).
Can he review range safety and restricted airspace issues?
Yes. He served as a Range Safety Officer (RSO) for the 113th Air Support Operations Squadron at Jefferson Proving Ground and Camp Atterbury from August 2019 to February 2025.
Does he still serve in the military?
No. He completed active-duty U.S. Marine Corps service in January 2017 and retired from the Indiana Air National Guard in February 2025.
Other Practice Areas
Case Intake & Conflict Checks
Available to plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide for initial conflict checks, case evaluations, Rule 26 expert reports, depositions, and trial testimony. Please include the jurisdiction, parties involved (for conflict screening), and key case deadlines in your initial inquiry. The current Fee Schedule, Retention Agreement, and Form W-9 are provided immediately upon conflict clearance.