EAA 838 Hall of Fame

The EAA Chapter 838 Hall of Fame recognizes accomplishments by Chapter members. Many of our members have been working hard to achieve additional ratings, supplemental education or have been determined to be Master Pilots. This space honors the accomplishments of those individuals who have put forth that effort.

Wright Brothers Master Pilot Awards

The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is the most prestigious award the FAA issues to pilots. This award is named after the Wright Brothers, the first pilots, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as “Master Pilots”. We currently have four members who have earned that designation.

Steve Myers

Steve Myers

Master Pilot

Licenses/Ratings: Commercial Multi-Engine, Single-Engine, Fixed Wing, and Helicopter
First Flight: 1957
First Solo: 1957
Joined Chapter: 1994
Founder: EAA Chapter 838 Foundation (2001)
Aircraft Built: Lancair Super ES (2008)
Scott Scherer

Scott Sherer

Master Pilot

Licenses/Ratings: Commercial Multi-Engine, Single Engine, Instrument
First Flight: 1964
First Solo: 1968
Joined Chapter: 2010
President: EAA Chapter 838 (2021)
EAA Chapter 838 (2020)
Larry Stys

Larry Stys

Master Pilot

Licenses/Ratings: Commercial Single-Engine, Flight Instructor
First Flight: 1967
First Solo: 1968
Joined Chapter: 2013
CAP Colonel: Mission Pilot, Command & IG Tasks
Dave Finstad

Dave Finstad

Master Pilot

Licenses/Ratings: Commercial & Flight Instructor Multi-Engine, Single-Engine, Instrument, Ground Instructor Advanced Instrument; FAASteam Representative
First Flight: 1969
First Solo: 1969
Joined Chapter: 2008
Director: EAA Chapter 838 Membership
Dave Finstad

David Mann

Master Pilot

Profile:
  • Commercial, Instrument and MEL 1967
  • US Army, Fixed Wing Aviator 1969 - 74, served in Vietnam 1970 – 71
  • Flew for Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management 1967 -77
  • Chief Pilot, Plasser Theurer Corp. flying North & South America 1977 – 83
  • Aviation Department Head, Virginia Tech 1983 – 91
  • Airport Manager, Batten International Airport 1991 – 2020
  • Flew DC-3 and B-17 for Experimental Aircraft Association 1993 – 2008
Steve Rehwinkel

Steve Rehwinkel

Master Pilot

Licenses/Ratings: TP SEL & MEL, CFI, CFII
Total Hours: 18,200 logged
First Solo: May, 1967
Work: Corporate Pilot for Modine Mfg., Inc. April, 1973 through August, 1988 & Chief Pilot September 1988 through June, 2007
Aircraft Flown:
  • Cessna, Piper, Bellanca, Beech King Air A100/200
  • Type rated in Learjet 20/30 & Citation 500
  • Founding & Executive Director WBAA 2009 – 2013
Jon Brocksopp

Jon Brocksopp

Master Pilot

 

Licenses/Ratings:

ATP AMEL, Flight Engineer B727, Air traffic control certification
First Flight: 1963
First Solo: 1970 (U.S. Navy AOC program)
Aircraft Flown:
  • Military: T-34, T-28, S-2, TA-4, F-4, A-6, E-2, C-130A, OV-10, C-131, HU-16, Douglas C-118
  • Civilian: Piper J3/28/23, Commander 500 & 600 series, Rockwell 112, Citabria, Pitts S2, F-27, Falcon 20, King Air A-100
Fred Fleischmann

Fred Fleischmann

Master Pilot

Licenses/Ratings: Private Pilot, ASMEL, Instrument; also licensed in Australia
Work: Owner of aircraft flight training school
Aircraft Owned: Cessna 150, 172, 182, 182RG, 337 Skymaster, Beech Baron B-55

 

Doug Doers

Doug Doers

Master Pilot

Licenses/Ratings: Commercial, Fixed, Rotary Wing
First Solo: October 1968, Flight Class 69-13 WORWAC - US Army
Hours and Types:
  • Rotary wing: 12+, > 6000 flight hrs.
  • Fixed wing: 10+, > 1000 flight hrs.
Builder: Built Velocity Aircraft, currently own and fly
Membership:
  • EAA member since: 1971
  • Chapter 838 member since: 1996
George Snamiske

George Snamiske

Master Pilot

Licenses/Ratings: Commercial pilot, Airplane, single engine land, Instrument
First Flight: July 4, 1971 Alamogordo, NM
First Solo: August 22, 1971
Profile:
  • Cessna 172 owner since August, 1984
  • Airport owner, WS02 since 1986
  • USAF: KC-135 Boom Operator, 5,200 flight hours
Membership:
  • Chapter 838 member since: 1992

 

Michael Rush

Michael J. Rush

Master Pilot

Licenses/Ratings: ATP, MEL, Types: L-1329, F27, BAC 1-11, DC-9 FK-100, CV-A340/A440, Boeing 727, 737, 757, 767.  Commercial SEL, SES, Glider, CFI with MEI, CFII, F/E-Turbo Jet

 

 

Michael Rush

 Michael J. Rush

Master Mechanic

Certificate: Aircraft and Power Plant (A&P) in early 1960’s. Trained in National Guard and A&P School. After graduation, maintained (singles and twins) while continuing a career in flying and continued on to maintain heavier corporate aircraft. I was also involved in small aircraft engine overhaul. I continue maintaining my personal airplane.  

 

 

Jimmy Szajkovics

 Jimmy Szajkovics

 Master Pilot

License: ATP Single & Multi Engine, Rotorcraft Helicopter and Fixed Wing

First Flight: 1964 First Solo: 1965 Panama Canal Zone, J3 Cub. Joined EAA Chapter 838: 2022

CAP Flight Instructor and Check Pilot FAA Flight Standards Operations Inspector: 1978 – 2004

Wisconsin Air Nation Guard 1982 – 2003 Instructor Pilot & Instrument Examiner.

Airplane; Single and Multi 7,000+ hours. Rotorcraft 3,000+ hours.

 

Jerry Isaacson

Jerry Isaacson

 Master Pilot

License: Commercial & Flight Instructor, Airplane, Single & Multi-Engine, Instrument, Ground Instructor, Advanced; Former CFII at Sylvania Airport; First Solo April 24, 1960 at MKE.  EAA Chapter 838 member since 2023; Aircraft most fun to fly – Piper PA18-150 Super Cub.

 

Gary Smith

 Gary Smith

 Master Pilot

License: Commercial Pilot Airplane Single & Multi Engine Land, Instrument Airplane, Former CFI at Sylvania Airport, C89, AOPA Member Since 2006 First Flight: 1972 First Solo: April 4, 1972 - EAA Chapter 838 Member Since: 2022 Favorite Aircraft Flown: Piper Seneca II, Piper Archer, Piper Arrow, Cessna 150 Aerobat

 

Eddy Huffman

Eddy Huffman

Master Pilot

First Solo: July 1965. Total flying time: 23,000+ hours

Ratings: Airline Transport Pilot MEL, Commercial SEL. USAF Command Pilot

Airlines: North Central, Republic, Northwest. Type ratings: Convair 580, DC-9, Airbus 320, DC-10

USAF Aircraft: T-37, T-38, C-119, C-130 

Civil: C-150, C-172, C-182RG, PA28, Flight Design CTLS

        

Ken Welch              Ken Welch

                 Master Pilot
       License: Commercial Multi-Engine, Single Engine, Instrument.

First Flight: 1970 - First Solo: 1970.  Served in Vietnam (C-141) 1971-1974

EAA Member Since 1982. EAA Chapter 838 Member Since 1994.  AOPA Member Since 1972.
Al Ruud Master Pilot             Alan Ruud                         

             Master Pilot

                                  
 

A native of Wisconsin, Alan Ruud received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Chicago and an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from MSOE in 1998.

In 2015 the Ruud family purchased controlling interest of DeltaHawk Engines, a developer of multi-fuel general aviation engines based in Racine, WI where Mr. Ruud serves as Chairman of Board of Directors.

DeltaHawk has developed and certified a robust, compact, lightweight, and efficient SAF/jet fueled piston engine to replace the hundreds of thousands of leaded fueled general aviation engines.  This is the result of Mr. Ruud’s passion for aviation.  He has held a pilot’s license since 1968, has an ATP rating and several type ratings.   He has flown almost 8000 hours in several turbine airplanes, including over 2 million miles in Falcon 900’s since 2000 to six continents.

                                             

 Carl Bumpurs Master Pilot

 Chuck Styles Master Mechanic

Chuck Styles
Master Mechanic
License: A&P/IA. Received my aircraft maintenance training in the Air Force and worked on F-4 Phantom in 1974. Received my aircraft maintenance training in the Air Force. I earned my civilian  A&P license in 1979. After my time in the Air Force I worked in general and commercial aviation on various small aircraft and commercial jet airliners. EAA Chapter member since 2020.

Joe Weirich Master Pilot

 George Snamiske Master Mechanic

George Snamiske
Master Mechanic
Started learning trade in USAF 1969. Licensed in 1973. Worked at Aerodyne KMKE. Joined Wi. Air National Guard in 1983 as KC135E crew chief. Retired from USAF in 2004. Employed by Skyway AL then on to DeltaHawk. Haven’t worked a day since.
Mike Jay Jones Master Pilot     

 

Mike Jay Jones
Master Pilot
Certificates: Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land & Rotorcraft HelicopterInstrument Airplane, Current CFI since 1995, Aircraft Owner since 1978Remote Pilot (sUAS) since 2016, Lead Instructor - Vortex UASFirst Flight 1970, First Solo 1974, AOPA member since 1980, EAA since 2008Cessna Owner & Piper Owner Magazines, Aviation Director, Editorial Staff, Author