AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2013 - 112

PILOTS

MIGRATING PILOT

Jack Schulte
Versatile pilot in a rugged world
B Y D AV E H I R S C H M A N

112 | AOPA PILOT October 2013

In New Zealand, Schulte has helped
introduce an American charity, Angel
Flight, to his home region on the North
Island, and he recruits fellow pilots to
take part in medical missions. The former
trader on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange
also runs East Bay Aviation in the town of
Whakatane, which offers scenic flights
over White Island—an active volcano—and
helps pilots from the U.S. and other countries update their licenses so that they can
fly GA throughout New Zealand.
“The United States offers the most freedom to fly of any country in the world, and
sharing those freedoms with pilots from
other countries shows them possibilities
that they can take home,” he said. “And
I’m absolutely delighted when I can show
Americans the stunning natural beauty of
New Zealand and introduce them to Kiwis.
The combination of the place and the smart,
vibrant, welcoming people make New
Zealand unlike any other place on Earth.”
(See “Epic Flight,” May 2012.)
Schulte learned to fly in New Zealand in
a Piper Tomahawk, and he has earned U.S.
commercial and instrument certificates.

Schulte got a tailwheel endorsement in
2008 and bought an Aviat Husky, then had it
crated and sent to New Zealand. It was the
first Husky on the New Zealand aircraft registry, but Schulte is sure it won’t be the last.
“The Husky is a rugged, versatile airplane
that seems as though it was designed with
New Zealand in mind,” he said. “Rough airstrips and high elevations don’t bother it at
all. I’ve taken many Kiwis flying it in, and
they all sing its praises.”
AOPA
LOGBOOK
WHO | Jack Schulte
HOURS | 3,400 equally split

between New Zealand and the
United States.
RATINGS | Instrument and com-

mercial
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT | Aviat Husky

A-1C
PROJECT | Introducing U.S.

charities such as Angel Flight to
New Zealand, and showing New
Zealanders the flying freedoms
that exist in the United States.

MIKE FIZER

JACK SCHULTE prefers to fly in summer—
and he does so for six months a year. In
June, July, and August, he flies a Cessna
182 in the Mountain West from his home at
Alpine Airpark in Wyoming. In December,
January, and February, he takes an Aviat
Husky A-1C throughout New Zealand during the Southern Hemisphere summer.
Schulte’s wife Marion is a Kiwi, and
together they follow an endless summer
migration between their native countries.
At the same time, Schulte tries to transplant the best aviation traditions between
the United States and New Zealand.
Many Kiwi pilots have been guests at
Alpine Airpark, and Schulte takes them
flying throughout North America where
general aviation pilots fly IFR and use airports without the stiff ATC charges, landing
fees, and bureaucratic hurdles they face in
their home country. He has led them on
mountain trips with the “Husky Brigade,” a
boisterous group of backcountry fliers, and
guided them as far as Alaska. He also brings
them on annual treks to EAA’s AirVenture
in Oshkosh to show them the world’s largest aviation gathering.

AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2013

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