MUSKEGON, Mich. — A retired lieutenant general with four decades of experience as a U.S. Marine Corps aviator is taking to the skies at the Wings Over Muskegon Air Show for the first time.
WATCH: Retired Marine Corps aviator takes flight at Wings Over Muskegon Air Show
Retired Marine Corps aviator takes flight at Wings Over Muskegon Air Show
Robert Schmidle, who served in the Marine Corps for 40 years, is showcasing his skills in a two-seat Pitts Special, a high-performance aerobatic aircraft he flies at air shows across the country.
WXMI.
“I basically do a lot of things with the airplane that people don't think airplanes can do and they haven't seen them done before,” Schmidle said.
During his military career, Schmidle logged more than 4,700 hours in tactical fighter aircrafts.
Schmidle is also a graduate of the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN.
Robert Schmidle.
“I'd go out and fly against them, and you know, the theory was you beat him like a baby harp seal and now everybody's ready to listen,” Schmidle said.
His military career included a deployment during Operation Desert Storm, where he led the largest U.S. Marine Corps strike on the first night of the Gulf War. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.
“My original plan was to stay in the Marine Corps for 6 years and then get out and go fly for the airlines,” Schmidle said. “But I screwed that all up, and the Marine Corps has a sense of humor, and they kept promoting me.”
Robert Schmidle.
Schmidle retired from the Marine Corps in 2016, but he had no plans to stop flying.
Instead, he began performing at air shows, hoping to share his passion for aviation with audiences and inspire the next generation of pilots.
“The kids run from little ones that think it's really fun to watch, to the teenagers that are kind of thinking about, ‘Maybe this is something I'd want to do,’” Schmidle said.
WXMI.
Ultimately, Schmidle hopes his performances do more than entertain. He wants to inspire young people to consider careers in aviation.
“Hopefully it'll incentivize some young guy or gal to say, ‘Hey, you know, I think that's kind of cool. I'd like to go do that,’” Schmidle said. “It's a passion of ours, of all of us in the industry, and we just would like to be able to sort of pass along that passion.”
Schmidle is among the pilots taking to the skies during the Wings Over Muskegon Air Show August 21-23. You can find more details on the event here.
Robert Schmidle.
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