A Lifetime In Aviation, As I Remember It

by Don Winkler

Flying has been somewhat different for me. I have grown up with a camera in my hand. The airplane has been a platform for me to capture images at a different perspective. I have been doing aerial photography for over 35 years. Prior to that, I was a photojournalist. I have recorded images in aviation while in the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s, and as an air traffic controller in Madison, an aviation cadet, and the public affairs officer with the Wisconsin Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. I have been the media relations representative for Wisconsin Aviation, Inc. since 1996.

Whether for the military, government or general aviation, I have recorded historical facts of life in my photography.

For 35 years, I was with Sears Roebuck in Madison, and a member of the local Rotary Club.

Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin, is my second home. Notice I said “Truax,” not Dane County Regional Airport as it is referred to today. The mystique is in the history of the early days of this airport, and friends such as fixed base operators Louie Wuilleumier of Four Lakes Aviation and Claude Frickleton of Frickelton Aviation; Don Halverson of Halverson Avionics; Ed Addison and his crew at the U.S. Weather Service, which was atop the old terminal building on the east side of the field where the new Wisconsin Aviation terminal is today; my fellow controllers in the tower; and the many pilots I have known over the years.

My first promotional experience was a “Penny-a-Pound Airplane Rides” event. It was a fundraiser for the local Civil Air Patrol squadron. Thank God for Claude Frickelton; we could not have done it without his help. We held those rides on the south ramp off Wright Street.

Claude lined up people who had aircraft based there…we used their aircraft…bought fuel from Claude, of course…and flew our butts off from day break until dusk. All parties supported this effort and we made money on those weekends. We also made a lot of people – young and old – very happy!

I remember a great friend, Mike Rogers. Mike would come up with a huge commercial scale at each event. We would cover the round face of the scale with a circular piece of cardboard that had a small pie shape cut out of it. Then when this rather obese woman stood on the scale, only the operator would be able to see her actual weight.

During this time I was a qualified mission pilot with the CAP, and had flown several training and actual missions. I was more interested in working with the cadet squadron, and had the unit renamed “The Daniel Klitzman Memorial Cadet Squadron” in memory of a young cadet who was killed in an airplane accident.

CAP has always had a great aerospace program. I tried to contribute to education through my position as squadron commander and later as wing director, public affairs. Later, I purchased a Cessna 150, and was doing aerial photography. In 1993, I retired from Sears Roebuck, and also from the CAP, having served the organization for 23 years. But after 6 months, I reenlisted with the CAP, and I am still an active member.

After Sears, I worked with Johnson Hill Press as an advertising representative for Airport Business Magazine part time prior to joining Wisconsin Aviation, Inc. full time. Regardless of where I’ve worked, “I sold the sizzle, not the steak!”

While at Wisconsin Aviation, I conducted tours for school groups for as many as 900 students a year, as well as seniors and service clubs. I also did “Dog and Pony Shows” and talked about general aviation at schools.

For the past 12 years, I have helped promote hangar dances at Wisconsin Aviation, which have been well received by the general public. I would say 95 percent of the people who attended were not in aviation. Rather, they were from dance groups and just fun-loving people. They dressed up in costumes appropriate to the era, usually the 1940s, which is the music performed by the great “Ladies Must Swing” orchestra.

I feel this type of promotion is important so as to get the community involved in the airport. I always welcomed people in jest, “to the friendly side of the airport,” where they don’t have to take their shoes off or get scanned. Of course I am joking, for I could not have done my job without the cooperation of the airport director, Brad Livingston, and the staff at Dane County Regional Airport. I just feel it is necessary to let the public know that aviation is a major player in their community, and that there is more to flying than flying on the airlines.

General aviation brings a huge amount of revenue into Madison each year. We get great feedback and of course we have been able to pick up new students for our flight school.

While conducting a tour of first graders through our terminal, I was passing our CEO/President’s office. Jeff Baum was at his desk and I stopped and said to the kids, “This is Mr. Baum. Without his permission, I would not be able to have these tours.” Jeff smiled and at that moment one of the kids said, “Gee, I hope you don’t blow up,” concerned that Jeff might not appreciate the noise and commotion.

What the kid didn’t realize is that their presence was music to Jeff’s ears. Jeff knows only so well that those kids are the future of general aviation, as either aviation professionals, customers, or as elected officials, who will some day pass judgment on general aviation, hopefully with a sympathetic ear.

During the tour, the kids and adults saw all the interesting things going on in the hangars. They heard jets taxiing in and out, and the engines from piston aircraft roaring on takeoff. They had the opportunity to sit behind the controls of some of our training aircraft, and experience what it must feel like as an executive sitting in the cabin of one of our charter jets. They had fun. I had more fun!

The thank you cards and drawings we received following a tour were all the feedback and thanks we needed.

As I told you earlier, I have never worn a white scarf, or been the leather jacket guy with all the war stories. I have just been a PA guy behind the scenes sharing the experiences of others. I have usually not been the guy in the photos or written up in stories. Rather, I have tried to make the other guy or gal look good, and I’ve been pretty good at doing just that.

This entry was posted in Columns, Columns, Dialogue, February/March 2014, People and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.