Derek Linder was born in Seattle, Washington, but grew up in Ketchikan, a little town in Southeast Alaska. Derek's father Ken, had flown seaplanes in Ketchikan during the 1960s and 1970s, including the Grumman Goose. From a very early age, Derek was interested in airplanes and aviation. He has flown in several different aircraft from a DHC-6 Twin Otter on floats to a B-17.
Currrently he is working as an F-16 crew chief for the United States Air Force.
Derek and his friend Chris John are working on a book covering the histories of each of the 345 Grumman Gooses that came off the Grumman production line at Bethpage, New York. He is also taking airplane photos whenever possible.
