[1][2][3][4] Phillips earned a degree in journalism, with a minor in aviation, from the University of North Dakota.
A Federal Aviation Administration-certified flight instructor and advanced ground instructor, he earned a commercial pilot license, with instrument and multi-engine ratings for single-and multi-engine land airplanes; and an Airframe and Powerplant aircraft mechanic license.
[2][3] He is particularly noted as the principal author of books and articles on the early aircraft manufacturers of Wichita, Kansas—the "Air Capital City.
He served for 21 years as Business Flying writer for Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine, before retiring in 2007 as its Southwest-U.S. Bureau Chief, based in Dallas, Texas.
[10] Phillips' writing and historical research has appeared in numerous books,[11][12][4][6] magazines and journals, online, in documentary films, and in public presentations.