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Mark Gray

Mark first learned to fly in Canada as a glider pilot. Later, after moving to the U.S., he joined the ranks of the ultralight community and has accumulated several hundred hours in his Kolb Firestar II.

He has been flying from Ray Community Airport (57D) for the past three years. Mark purchased his ship already assembled but he took it apart completely, then rebuilt and recovered it. He is well-equipped for such work by his skill and knowledge as an automotive safety systems engineer.

Mark passed his Sport Pilot checkride in October of 2006 and received his Light Sport Repairman certificate in February of this year. After working steadily for several months on preparing his Kolb for the final inspection as an Experimental Light Sport Aircraft, he received his airworthiness certificate from the FAA on May 12. He now has to work on remembering to use his new call sign based on the tail number: N229K..

He is also planning to start a new building project this year. He will be tackling the Sonex, an all-metal design, which will be powered by the Aerovee engine, one of the Volkwagen variations redesigned for use in aircraft. With the added speed and range of the Sonex, Mark plans to do more cross-country trips and hopes to take his wife, Cristy, along on many of them.

Contact info:

Mark Gray
5635 Seabreeze Lane
Sterling Heights
Hangar: 421G
Cell: (586) 212-1059
Email: mark.gray@takata.com

Mark took the amazing photograph on the right from his Kolb. It's a picture of the rarely seen circular rainbow, also known as the Pilot's Glory. That dot in the middle is the shadow of Mark's plane!

Updated: May 2007

Ken Fackler

Ken learned to fly in the very early days of our sport. You can see this in the 1982 picture of him on the right taxiing the weight-shift Eagle, one of the very first powered ultralights. Since then, he has flown 16 types of ultralight and seven types of general aviation craft including a sailplane and a Quicksilver on floats. His current ship is the Kolb Mark II shown in the other photos on this page.

He began flying from Ray Community Airport (57D) after purchasing his Kolb in the summer of 2002. Though the seller insisted that the purchase be listed as a "kit," Ken disavows all knowledge of building and acquired the plane in a nearly-ready-to-fly condition. Since then, with the help of some friends, he has made numerous upgrades including a new engine, new control panel, and a new color scheme.

Ken obtained his Sport Pilot license in October of 2006 including a perfect score of 100% on the written exam. He then received his Light Sport Repairman certificate in February 2007. After finishing the work needed to convert his plane from an ultralight trainer to an Experimental Light Sport Aircraft, he received his final inspection and was awarded an airworthiness certificate on May 12. His airplane now proudly bears the tail number N722KM.

He loves the challenge of planning cross-country flights and particularly enjoys flying to lunch and breakfast spots. This summer his goal is to hook up with some flying friends for a jaunt across the state to Lake Michigan and back.

Contact info:

Ken Fackler
1003 Ironwood Ct Apt 4
Rochester
Hangar: 421G
Home: (248) 601-0566
Cell: (248) 390-4142
Email: kfackler@ameritech.net

The air-to-air photograph on the right shows Ken cruising comfortably over Michigan on a circumnavigation of the Thumb. The picture was taken by Rell White and Bob Mahieu from their beautiful Luscombe, who joined Ken on the trip.

Updated: May 2007

Grey Lane

Grey has been flying ultralights since 1982 when the industry first began to sell this type of aircraft. His interest was piqued when, while flying model airplanes, a pair of ultralights passed overhead and one of the pilots yelled down, “Eat your heart out!” Grey soon purchased a share in a flying club at Almont Airport that had two Mirages, as shown on the right. He helped the club build a third as more members joined.

After flying 200 hours on these 45 mph birds, Grey decided to go it alone and purchased and built a Phantom. He flew 400 happy hours in it over the next nine years. Along the way he joined a USUA club and later became its newsletter editor and then President.

Grey sold his Phantom in 1992 and returned to flying model airplanes until his retirement in 2001. As a present to himself he purchased a factory-built Kitfox Lite. It arrived at Ray Community Airport in April of 2001 and was assembled by him and some friends in a two-day building frenzy. He’s been based at that airport ever since. He now has over 350 hours in his Kitfox Lite and has flown all over the eastern portion of Michigan.

Grey was central in the rebirth of GTUF and led the club in the role of President for four years. It was during this time that the well-known and popular Thumb Tour events were created. He is also active in EAA Chapter 13 and served as its secretary for four years. He particularly enjoys their Young Eagles events where children can obtain a free introductory flight.

Contact info:

Grey Lane
38432 Arlingdale Road
Sterling Heights
Hangar: 402
Home: (586) 446-9532
Cell: (586) 215-7234
Email: speedygrey1@wowway.com

The picture on the right shows Grey flying his beautiful and meticulously maintained Kitfox Lite over the skies of Michigan. It was taken during one of cross-country flights organized by GTUF in the past.

Updated: March 2007

Ron Catenac

Ron earned a Private Pilot license in 1976 while flying from Clements Municipal in Bay City. His early flying was all in Yankees and Grummans. He purchased his first airplane in early 1977, a slightly used 1946 Ercoupe. He enjoyed many leisurely flights in it and made some great cross country trips in the areas around Michigan, basically anywhere there was a good fly-in breakfast!

He later owned or was a partner in several airplanes including two Cessnas, a Stinson Voyager, a Grumman Traveler, and an experimental Flagler Scooter. Ron retired from aviation in 1987 and swore he would never again look at or fly another airplane.

But after 13 years as a ‘groundhog’ the flying bug bit him again!

Ron began checking out powered parachutes, trikes, and many fixed wing ultralights, attending several big fly-ins along the way. He eventually decided on the Kitfox Lite, powered by the 2si two-stroke engine, and began working on the first kit right away.

With much assistance from Grey Lane, Ron had the plane ready for its first flight in May of 2003. The maiden flight was a huge success with no major problems. Since then Ron has enjoyed many hours of flying with his buddies at Ray Community. He especially enjoys the GTUF flying activities.

Contact info:

Ron Catenac
32441 Crestood Lane
Fraser
Hangar: 402
Home: (586) 294-1755
Cell: (586) 530-9113
Email: catenac@comcast.net

In May, Ron received an engine upgrade along with a new prop and cowling from STA-Lite Aviation in Imlay City. He is now flying behind a Rotax 447 and couldn't be happier with his airplane's peformance.

Updated: May 2007

Doug MacPetrie

Doug began his piloting career at the very young age of just 16 with flying lessons at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, where he first soloed in a Cessna 140. Imagine trying to take your primary flight training at that airport today! He continued flying there until the Army called him to serve in southeast Asia.

He flew helicopters for Uncle Sam in Vietnam until 1968, then returned to the United States as a helicopter instructor stationed at Fort Walters in Texas. After leaving the Army, Doug learned how to fly sailplanes, even flying in competitive events through the late 70s.

Doug’s first airplane was a 1965 Mooney Super 21, and he later owned three different sailplanes. He eventually found a Stearman in need of some TLC, so he rebuilt the ship and flew it until 1980. Then he purchased a Cessna 337 Skymaster, which he flew for nearly four years.

After logging nearly three thousand hours, he left flying completely to race sailboats. But after two decades of watching from the ground and water, the urge to fly got the better of him. So last spring he bought a used CGS Hawk II which he flies now while continuing to make improvements on it.

Contact info:

Doug MacPetrie
2920 Lola Court
Waterford
Hangar: Willie Run Airport (3MI7)
Home: (248) 673-7344
Cell: (248) 709-7344
Work: (248) 680-1222
Email: dougmacp2@comcast.net

Doug says he’s had his fill of flying high and fast! So ultralights are definitely what he’s into now. He’s looking forward to the upcoming year in which he hopes to make many new friends while doing lots of flying.

Updated: April 2007

Steve Adamczak

When you meet Steve Adamczak, one of the first things you’ll notice is the sparkle in his eye whenever aviation is being discussed. His fascination with flight started early. As a young boy, he rode his bike to McKinley Airport where he would sit eating beef jerky, watching the airplanes, and listening to the pilots over a speaker someone had mounted on the outside of a hangar.

After tiring of the limitations of tethered airplanes, he bought and built his first radio-controlled model airplane at the age of 14. He recalls those early days fondly when the most important task of these self-taught pilots was “not to crash.” Steve still enjoys building and flying radio-controlled airplanes, helicopters, and other vehicles.

The year 1989 was a turning point in Steve’s life when he obtained his first ride in a “real” airplane, a Piper based at Berz-Macomb Airport. He says he knew from that moment that flying was for him. So the following year he began taking flight lessons at Romeo Airport, learning in the venerable Cessna line of aircraft with time in the 150, 152, and 172. After 13 hours of dual time, his instructor spoke the words we’ve all longed for and yet dreaded, “I think you’re ready to solo. I want you to do three takeoffs and landings while I watch.” Steve could not get enough! After the required three, he contacted his instructor via radio and pleaded for the opportunity to do two more.

But Steve’s time in general aviation was cut short due to a layoff at work, and he was forced to leave his lessons behind. He continued to fly radio-controlled aircraft and even built a runway for them on his property in Imlay City. But by 2001 he couldn’t remain on the ground any longer! He extended his runway to 1000 feet, then bought and built a Flightstar II.

Contact info:

Steve Adamczak
5399 Cade Rd
Imlay City
Cell: (810) 417-8000
Email: czkree@netzero.net

With a two-place airplane in his possession, Steve soon began receiving requests for training, so he obtained a BFI certification and starting teaching. He quickly found that he enjoyed teaching others to fly as much as he enjoyed flying himself! A year later he became certified in Rotax engine repair. He has since advanced his certification to level 3 and is an authorized Rotax repair station. The following year (2002), Steve opened STA-Lite Aviation, a business umbrella for his engine repair and flight instruction activity, adding a second, longer runway in 2004. Though operating STA-Lite remains a hobby, not a job, it has grown beyond Steve’s wildest dreams and he now does engine sales, repair, rebuilding, and consulting for friends and customers all over the United States.

Steve recently sold his Flightstar to a student and has purchased a Kitfox Super Sport. He plans to have the aircraft built and flying by the summer of 2009, and everyone who knows him is certain he will make it. Since his whole family loves to fly as well, the pressure is on! In the meanwhile, and in his "spare time," he has successfully obtained his Private Pilot certificate!

Updated: May 2008

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Contact info:

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Hangar: XXX
Home: (248/586) XXX-XXXX
Cell: (248/586) XXX-XXXX
Email: someone@somewhere.com

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Updated: Month 2007