DISTRICT VII
Iowa / Michigan / Minnesota / Wisconsin
PO Box 1111
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-1111
(414) 881-0070 Evenings
Howdy… Let me start off by saying that I’m happy to be the new District 7 JPO Representative and I hope I can add to the great work everyone is doing and have done to get the JPO where it is today.
As for me, I started building stick planes as a boy and went on to fly as commercial pilot for some 20 years. I was in and out of modeling and RC Aircraft during that time and found nothing new to hold my interest, that was until “Jets” were introduced at a level that I could understand. It was the “R.C. Jets” that brought me back to RC Modeling. Their realism and performance was impressive. Suddenly a new interest was awakened and a desire to keep up with the ever changing R.C. Jet technology took hold. The hook was once again set and I was all the way back.
I now have four RC Jets, one flying and three under construction. My nickname “Tomcat” didn’t arrive from flying as many thought. My mother nick named me that because as a teenager I was always out late and was tagged “a Tomcat” by her, it stuck and fit with an aviation theme so to me, that was fine.
My business interest are in film and video production. I have some ownership interest in a Film / Video Production Company and also fly part time as an instructor and stand in pilot for a local corporation, this is on a limited basis, just enough to keep me current on their equipment and sharp in instrument weather.
I am a lifelong Wisconsin resident with short departures during my commercial flying career. The weather here in Wisconsin can sometimes be brutal; however with mud slides, floods and fires across other parts of the country; Wisconsin cold doesn’t seem to be as bad as I once thought.
I am the AMA-AVP for my area and work with pilots and clubs to help resolve issues and lend a hand when and where possible. I have put on safety programs for clubs in our local area and have been well received when I talk about jets and how they have added to the sport / hobby.
I look forward to attending more jet events when able, and hopefully passing on news and information that you’ll find interesting.