 After a ten-year hitch in the military (including both active and reserve status) In 1961, he flew as a pilot for Northwest Airlines and as an instructor pilot for United Air Lines.He then joined West Coast Airline (later renamed Hughes Airwest) for ten years (1963–73) as captain and as Director of Flight Standards and Engineering.In 1973, Hinson moved on to other ventures, notably Hinson-Minella, Inc., a limited partnership whose investments included Flightcraft, Inc., a distributorship for Beech Aircraft in the Pacific Northwest.