Craig S. Genheimer 1960~

Craig was born the third child of Kenneth and Marjorie Genheimer in Columbus, OH. His parents were restoring an Aeronca 7AC Champ at the time, which would be one of the major contributing factors that set the path for Craig's life. Kenneth earned his commercial pilot certificate and though Marjorie never achieved a rating, she did officially solo the Champ before deciding that the passenger seat was good enough for her.

Craig's first memories of flight were filled with trips to a grass strip where the Champ was kept. Flying in the back seat with his father, he was perched up on a pillow so he could see out of the windows. His father would let him fly from back there and even though he couldn?€™t reach the rudder pedals, Craig knew the front seat would eventually be the place for him!

At the age of 13 Craig went back to that grass strip where it all started. He became the quintessential "airport bum". He would offer to help pilots with their planes and with most any projects around the little airport in exchange for rides. That sparked the entrepreneur in Craig. He washed and waxed airplanes and saved every penny he could to eventually put toward learning to fly.

By the time he was 15, Craig had enough money saved to start on his aviation quest. Learning in a rented Champ, he got that front seat spot he dreamed of so many years before. As time continued, Craig convinced his dad it was time to get back into flying so together, they bought Craig's first airplane, a used 1969 Cessna 150J. This would be the airplane that Craig would solo on his 16th birthday and, on his 17th birthday, obtain his private pilot certificate. His first passenger that day was
his mother.

Craig continued his aviation path to obtain his Commercial/instrument certificate and rating on his 18th birthday. A few years later Craig rounded out his resume with Commercial, Multi, and instrument certificate and ratings. Finally, he added his CFI and CFII.

Over the years Craig has enjoyed flight instructing and has successfully taught 100's of students and pilots. Teaching primary students the basics for a private pilot certificate to more advanced ratings such has commercial, instrument, tailwheel, and flight reviews/competency checks.

Craig has been a general aviation advocate, aviation business owner and always did what he could to provide opportunities to up and coming pilots. He always thought that the accessibility to aviation that he was so fortunate to have in his youth, was being replaced by fences and barriers and it has been his cause to encourage and promote accessibility, safety, education, and opportunity in aviation - especially to our youth.

Craig has been fortunate to have had opportunities to have logged time in over 100 different types of aircraft from Cubs to King Airs, Blimps, to a P-51 and has amassed over twenty thousand hours of logged flight time with many more hours not in the logbook. His latest adventure is flying "paramotors" Craig says "With everything I have flown, all the opportunities I have had, THIS is some of the freest, the purest form of flight I have ever experienced!"

Craig continues to fly but has slowed a bit. "I will fly until my last flight West". Leonardo da Vinci said.... "For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return."