Francesco Paco Chierici

Francesco Chierici is a screenwriter and distinguished U.S. Navy fighter pilot.With notable accomplishments in both arenas, Francesco has a unique perspective and skills that made this film the perfect project for him to bring to life.

Francesco has been writing original screenplays for six years and was a semi-finalist in the Chesterfield Writer's Film Project for his original screenplay Exposure.Currently he is working on an original screenplay with well-known Australian Director Maciek Wszelaki.

In 1997 Francesco joined the prestigious Navy Reserve squadron The Fighting Saints of VFC-13 who are the only fighter pilots in the World today who teach the art of Dogfighting, A Commander in this squadron, Francesco flies F-5 Tiger II jets at the Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada.During his career Francesco was twice deployed to the Persian Gulf where he served on both the USS Ranger and Lincoln and flew patrols in the "No Fly Zone" over Iraq for Operation Southern Watch.For his service he received three Air Medals.Francesco was also awarded the Navy Achievement Medal.

At the end of his active duty, in addition to joining the Navy reserves, Francesco became a commercial pilot.Francesco graduated on the Dean's List from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations.He also completed an Honor Studies program at St. Catherine's College, Oxford University.

Francesco "Paco" Chierici, the producer and a distinguished U.S. Navy fighter pilot himself, said they are on track for a January 30 release.

Producer and screenwriter Francesco (Paco) Chierici said he felt compelled to tell the story of naval aviators more accurately than had been portrayed in past movies.It was a story he knew personally since in 1997 Chierici joined the Navy Reserve squadron The Fighting Saints of VFC-13, the only fighter pilots in the world who teach dogfighting.

"The things I loved about being in the Navy were the people and flying," he says."There will never again be flying like that for me, nor a group of people like that.Top Gun was a fun movie, but it was not accurate in portraying who we are and what we do."

Pairing up with Director Peyton Wilson, the documentary started to evolve when Wilson was interviewing some of the students the Fighting Saints train, Chierici says.
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"Their courage, dedication and passion are the highlight of the film for me, especially in the dogfight and aircraft carrier scenes," Chierici says.
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Chierici himself understands that dream."As far back as I can remember, I imagined myself in the air.I don't remember a lightning bolt hitting me about flying in the Navy, but it was always part of the fabric of who I was."

While the film is about Navy fighter pilots, the greater message isn't military or aviation specific, Chierici says."It's young people who find what they're looking for in life and who are dedicated to achieving it.Whether you're into sports, arts or whatever, the passion and desire to get to that spot is still the same."

Chierici's military career at a glance

Producer and screenwriter Francesco (Paco) Chierici serves as commander of The Fighting Saints of VFC-13, flying F-5 Tiger II jets at the Naval Air Station in Fallon, Nev. He was twice deployed to the Persian Gulf where he served on both the USS Ranger and Lincoln and flew patrols in the "No Fly Zone" over Iraq for Operation Southern Watch. He received three Air Medals for his service, and he was also awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. At the end of his active duty, in addition to joining the Navy reserve, Chierici became a commercial pilot.He has flown for Delta Airlines for 10 years.

Francesco "Paco" Chierici , the producer and a distinguished U.S. Navy fighter pilot himself, said they are on track for a January 30 release.

Francesco (Paco) Chierici, the documentary's producer and screenwriter, said they wanted the film shown at Oshkosh because it really is a story about the passion of flying. Chierici, who attended AirVenture, also commanded the Fighting Saints of VFC-13 and is in the film.

For the moment, you can't see the documentary anywhere. However, Chierici says they just signed a distribution deal with Salient Media, which will allow them to bring it to the masses.

That bothered former fighter pilot Francesco (Paco) Chierici enough that he finally decided to do something about it.Read more

Francesco Chierici is a screenwriter and distinguished U.S. Navy fighter pilot.With notable accomplishments in both arenas, Francesco has a unique perspective and skills that made this film the perfect project for him to bring to life.

Francesco has been writing original screenplays for six years and was a semi-finalist in the Chesterfield Writer's Film Project for his original screenplay Exposure.Currently he is working on an original screenplay with well-known Australian Director Maciek Wszelaki.

In 1997 Francesco joined the prestigious Navy Reserve squadron The Fighting Saints of VFC-13 who are the only fighter pilots in the World today who teach the art of Dogfighting, A Commander in this squadron, Francesco flies F-5 Tiger II jets at the Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada.During his career Francesco was twice deployed to the Persian Gulf where he served on both the USS Ranger and Lincoln and flew patrols in the "No Fly Zone" over Iraq for Operation Southern Watch.For his service he received three Air Medals.Francesco was also awarded the Navy Achievement Medal.

At the end of his active duty, in addition to joining the Navy reserves, Francesco became a commercial pilot.Francesco graduated on the Dean's List from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations.He also completed an Honor Studies program at St. Catherine's College, Oxford University.