Barrel Rolls Around the Moon

Kathy Hirtz grew up between strength and limitation. Her father, once ambitious and athletic, lost nearly everything to polio before she was born. Her mother did everything. From that contrast, she learned early that life was fragile-and moving forward was a choice.
She pursued medicine first, training in neurosurgery before building her own practice. But discipline alone was never enough. Horses followed. Then scuba diving. Then flight.
What began as private pilot training evolved into competitive aerobatics, airshows, aircraft ownership, and the founding of an international flight training operation. She flew barrel rolls around a full moon. She trained military pilots and police in tailspin recovery. She performed at airshows while still practicing medicine. And when each chapter felt complete, she closed it-deliberately.
Across medicine, aviation, competition, partnership, and loss, one pattern remained: commit fully, master risk, and move forward.
This is the story of a life built through discipline, precision, and the refusal to remain still.