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Welcome to my personal web site!
I was introduced to flying by none other then Max Conrad himself! Max was giving rides in an airplane when I was about seven years old. "Way back then", my Dad brought my brother Steve and I for one of those rides...and needless to say... I was hooked. Even at the age of just seven! My brother went on to get his Private Pilot rating (with sea-plane endorsement) also. In 1970 I began taking flying lessons with a "slight" delay while I was in the USMC (from 1972 - 1975). But even when I was in the military I had a chance to do some flying in the California desert. While stationed at 29 Palms CA I did take some flying lessons. And flying in the "high desert" is a lot different then flying in Minnesota! While in the Marine Corps I was fortunate enough to have been further involved in aviation where my MOS was a "6756", (Air Defense Weapons Controller). What that is, is a fancy name for a "Ground Controlled Radar Operator". Basically, I controlled various jet fighter aircraft in air intercepts... i.e. "dog-flights". Talk about exciting! My favorite military jet aircraft is still the F-4 Phantom jet. And for a transport aircraft? The KC-130 cargo plane! The F-4 for fighting and the C-130 for transportation. A super combination! After my honorable discharge (Sgt. Marsolek, retired!) I hurried to complete the required training and that first summer home, 1975, I became a Private Pilot "SEL". And finally, in 2007 I became a "Sport Pilot" with a PPC endorsement too. In the year 2000 I bought my first Six Chuter Powered Parachute (PPC). If you want fun, in "low and slow" flight then sit yourself down in a PPC. And Six Chuter is in my opinion the best that there is! When I was flying mainly powered parachutes I did in fact become a BFI (Basic Flight Instructor) with an exemption from the EAA. And I still contend that the best platform for photography (a hobby of mine) is with a PPC. Wide open viewing, slow, low flight...perfect! In 2006 I sold my PPC (I still have one Six Chuter that I can use in my hanger!) and bought a 1998 Challenger II Long Wing, experimental aircraft from a friend of mine in Wisconsin.. WHAT A BLAST! He flew it to our local airport (Winona Minnesota) and then I called one of my friends who is a CFI. After a Bi-Annual Flight Review I was "good-to-go"! And "GO" I do! If the weather is half-way decent you'll usually find me flying. Every week, twelve months a year! Want to see a video of some winter flying with ski's? Just press here! The first two landings are "yours truly" while the next two landings are Dan Bass at the controls. Talk about fun! Minnesota, skis, Challenger, and winter! I have used aviation in other activities that I belong to also. As a past member of the Winona County Sheriff's Dive/Rescue Team, (I was a member for 25 years!) I have used PPC's searching for missing people, or in searching river banks for drowned victims. I also did locate for the authorities in Buffalo County WI, a car thief. He was on foot, hiding on a Mississippi River railroad dike. After eight law enforcement officers and one canine unit had searched for about 1 1/4 hours I was contacted by the Fountain City Chief of Police. And by flying low I was able to "look into" the canopy and spot the thief for the officers in just 15 minutes. The Fountain City WI Police Department awarded me this beautiful plaque which is proudly hanging in my hanger to this day!
Recently I was honored to have been selected as the 2008 Grande Marshall for our local Steamboat Days parade. VERY MUCH AN HONOR...I WAS SO PROUD! Thanks Winona!
So browse this web site. Enjoy it. And feel free to contact me to "talk aviation"! RLM
This page was last updated on 07/03/08. © 2008
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