our STAFF
Paul R. Wood
Paul founded The Warbird Heritage Foundation in December of 2003. His interest in aviation began as a young child and has continued on to this day. He holds Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor Certificates with over 7,500 hours of flight time, including over 1,500 hours in military type jets. Paul has been a member of the U.S. Navy Legacy Flight program for several years. He also holds a Level 1 Aerobatic Competency Certificate (surface). Besides flying the Foundation Warbirds, Paul has his own Cessna Citation CJ1 and Aviat A1-B Husky. In addition, he is also a jet warbird aerobatic competency examiner. Paul is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at a leading private equity investment firm. Paul and his family live in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Herwig Schmidts
Herwig has over 10,000 hours of flight time, including 3,500 hours in jets, and has flown over 100 different aircraft types. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with Type Ratings in Falcon 2000, Falcon 10, Gulfstream II, Cessna Citation CJ1, and Experimental Type Ratings in L-39, T-2, T-28, F-86, MIG-15, and MIG-17 aircraft. He also has Commercial Rotorcraft / Helicopter Privileges. He is a Gold Seal Flight Instructor with over 5,000 Hours of instruction given; as well as an Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor. Herwig currently flies for a Chicago area Fortune 500 company. Prior to that he was a Charter Pilot for Banner Associates of Lake Forest, IL, and Chief Flight Instructor at Waukegan Aero in Waukegan, IL. Herwig, his wife Kathleen, and their family live in Deer Park, IL.
David Staffeldt
David joined the USAF in 1984 as a jet engine mechanic, where he worked on F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft. During Operation Desert Storm he was an F-15 maintenance crew chief stationed in the Middle East. After leaving the Air Force, he joined KC Aviation in Dallas, where he worked on a wide variety of corporate aircraft. David is currently working as an aircraft technician for a corporate flight department in Waukegan, IL. He is a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization. David is also a licensed pilot with instrument rating. He became infected with the "Warbird Virus" once again in 2004, when he was introduced to the Warbird Heritage Foundation. David and his wife Cindi live in Salem, WI.
Steve Kirik
Steve is an Airline Transport Pilot with over 11,000 hours of flight time. He is a former U.S. Air Force Fighter Pilot and flew the F-15C Eagle. He has logged over 1,000 hours in the F-15C, which includes 240 hours of combat time flown in 43 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. Steve has flown numerous combat support missions in Operations Desert Shield and Southern Watch. He then went on to be an Instructor Pilot and Pilot Examiner in the T-38 Talon. In 1996 he separated from the military and is currently employed by a major airline as a Boeing 767 and 757 First Officer. Steve is a Certified Flight Instructor and Ground Instructor with Advanced and Instrument ratings. Steve enjoys training pilots in the L-39 and serves the FAA as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner in the L-39, T-38, F-5, and F-86 aircraft. Steve is also a member of the L-39 Hopper Flight Demonstration Team, which fly a precise formation airshow. Steve is married and has three daughters.
Fred Bower
Fred is an Airline Transport Pilot with over 20,000 hours of flight time and currently a captain with Southwest airlines. He is a former U.S. Air Force pilot and flew the KC-135, KC-10, T-38, U-2 and A-10. Fred is a Veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He has flown the B-24, T-34, T-28, T-6, P-51, AD-1 and L-29. He also holds Seaplane, Glider and Helicopter ratings. Fred is a a Certified Flight Instructor and instructs in the Decathlon, Pitts, Extra 300, BT-13, T-6, T-28 and TF-51. He holds a licensed airframe and power plant mechanic certificate with an inspection authorization. Fred lives near South Haven, MI.
Stuart Milson
At the age of 10 Stuart took his first ride in a de Havilland Beaver in Canada. From that moment on, it was his destiny to become a pilot. Stuart received his license at the age of 17. He went on to pursue his love of flying by building hours in over 25 different Tailwheel aircraft. When an opportunity presented itself, he became the proud owner of a Harvard Mark 4, (also known as a T-6). He is employed with FedEx and is currently a pilot on the MD-11. Stuart is a Certified Fight Instructor, (CFII, MEI), and an A&P Mechanic. Stuart is the aircraft coordinator for the CAF's F4-U Corsair. He also has been certified to fly a EMB 120, CL-65, B-25, B-17, A-26, T-28, F4U, F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, P-40, P-47, P-51, AD-1 SkyRaider and Hawker Sea Fury. Stuart has been a member of the US Navy Legacy Flight program since 2007. Stuart lives at a residential airpark in Midlothian, Texas with his wife and three boys.
Steve Dietz
Born into an aviation family, Steve has been involved with airplanes his whole life. He holds an A&P license with Inspection Authorization. Steve has over 30 years of aviation maintenance experience, ranging from gliders to Boeing 747's. He has worked for Northwest Airlines, Bohman Airways, and most recently Heritage Aero. Over the last several years, Steve has been involved with the assembly and maintenance of several F86 Sabres; as well as maintenance on T-6, T-28, P-51 and T-33 aircraft. He is currently rebuilding an American Eaglet and building a Skyote biplane. Steve is excited to be a part of the Warbird Heritage Foundation team.
Mark Kohlhorst
Mark fell in love with aviation when his uncle took him on his first flight at the age of 12. He started working at the local airport in 1987, and at the age of 20 earned his A&P License from Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL. Inspection Authorization was granted years later. Mark has over 32 years in aviation maintenance experience ranging from General Aviation to Military Aircraft (T-28, T-34, T-6, B-25, B-26, etc.). Mark has been fortunate to travel the world performing maintenance and inspections on a variety of aircraft, specializing mainly in Warbirds. Mark gained experience working on a variety of aircraft through Courtesy Aircraft, Heritage Aero, and most recently Code 1 Aviation where he focused on L39/731 conversions. Mark is excited to bring his experience and knowledge to the Warbird Heritage Foundation.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Since late in 2015, several experienced commercial aircraft technicians have been volunteering to provide us with some much needed assistance with our aircraft maintenance backlog.
The Warbird Heritage Foundation would like to acknowledge Paul Batzel, John Engel, and Pat Marsh for their ongoing volunteer work. Paul, John, and Pat have been putting their 20+ years of airline maintenance experience to good use, working on our warbirds. We thank you for your efforts.
Volunteers Pat Marsh, Paul Batzel, & John Engel
Photo by Patrick Lutker
Volunteer Colin Evans
Colin knew he wanted to fly at a young age. He was always fascinated with planes, building models of vintage and current fighters, and visiting London's Heathrow airport to watch airliners come and go. He finally decided to see what it was like to fly in 2007, and after his first intro flight he was hooked. He quickly earned his private and instrument ratings, and flew recreationally for 10 years before deciding to pursue his life-long dream of flying professionally. He is currently flying King Airs for an aerial imagery company, and enjoys working part time at Warbird Heritage Foundation. Colin and his wife Lydia live in Libertyville, IL.
Volunteer Colin Evans