John

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John Chmiel with fellow pilot Greg Schuette after Greg earned his CFI spin endorsement through the WFS Stall/Spin Clinic

John P. Chmiel

Biography:

I am second generation aviation and pilot. My summers were spent in Wisconsin with my father when he worked at the Merrill and Rhinelander Airports. My mother said my first word was airplane, and my first memory is playing airport on my bed with a shoe box as a hangar and some plastic airplanes. I grew up in Hayward, California and got my first aviation job at the Hayward Airport (HWD) at Aviation Training, Inc. as an airplane washer sometime in 1979. My bicycle was my mode of transport and I rode it 7 miles each way most days during the week. For the next 5 years I worked there and other FBO's on the airport as a washer and fueler fantasizing that the FBO's and airplanes were mine. I took some flying lessons, but most of my flying skills were given to me by my father during the summers in his C-172. After high school graduation I earned a 4-year scholarship for aerospace engineering at Northrop University in Los Angeles. After 18 months I realized engineering wasn't doing it for me and that the FBO business and airports was where my heart really was.

In 1985, I moved to Rhinelander and got a job at Rhinelander Flying Service, Inc. where I worked my way up the ranks from part-time lineman, to Line Supervisor, marketing Director for Air Direct Charter, and Flight Instructor. I also got serious about flying and earned all my ratings while working and learning the FBO business at Rhinelander Flying Service. During this period I purchased a set of banners and started a part-time aerial advertising business serving Central Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan. In 1992, Wausau Airport needed an FBO and Manager. Angela (my future wife) and I convinced Charlie Turner (owner of R.F.S.) that we were capable of the job. The rest is history. I've been a pilot since 1988 and a CFI since 1992. I love flight instructing, especially in taildraggers.

Licenses & Ratings:

Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single-Engine Land, Instrument Airplane, Certified Flight Instructor Airplane Single-Engine Land, Former Certified Weather Observer (NOAA), FAA Knowledge Exam Test Proctor, specializing in tailwheel training & stall/spin awareness training.
Total Flight Time: 3,230+ Dual Given: 2000+ Tailwheel: 1,520+

Memberships:

National Association of Flight Instructors, AOPA, EAA, VAA, Bellanca-Champion Club, Short-Snorters

Awards/Designations:

Aviation Safety Counselor & FAASTeam Representative Mikwaukee FSDO, (NAFI) Master Flight Instructor , Pilot Proficiency Award Program Wings I, II, III, & IV

Most Interesting Aviation Experience:

There are many great aviation experiences in my memory, but one of the best is the day I soloed a Stearman for the first time (Thank you Glen Witter). Open cockpit on a hot summer day, the right combination of grass, exhaust, leather, dope & fabric in the air. They say that you are more likely to remember something if it is accompanied by an emotion, and if that's the case, I'll never forget it. Three trips around the patch, three less-than-perfect landings, one great flight!

Favorite Airplanes:

My Dad and I own a 1972 7ECA Citabria that I just flew the 500th hour on. My wife and I currently own a Piper Cub J5A which we plan to restore with our kids. We’ve also owned a 1942 Aeronca Chief and Luscombe 8A. I love anything taildragger and open cockpit and aircraft from the 1930's and '40's. The Stearman, and the New Standard D25 are my favorites. The New Standard was designed by and for the Gates Flying Circus for the sole purpose of giving airplane rides. The open cockpit bi-plane's front cockpit can carry 4 passengers.

Goals: To be a great flight instructor. To earn Instrument Instructor, Multi-Engine, Sea-plane, and glider. To become a designated examiner. To operate Wausau Flying Service, Inc. with my wife and kids until retirement.

taildraggerflyer@yahoo.com

Here’s some pictures of the tailwheel airplane makes and models I have logged flight time in. Many of these photos aren’t the specific aircraft, but are beautiful examples of the species.