Written by AMA Staff (09/2010); Reformatted by JS (03/2011)
Ashley Rauen, AMA Communications Specialist, wrote the following for the September 2010 issue of Model Aviation magazine.
A Lifetime Spent Promoting Aviation
Since receiving his first model airplane at age 4, Mike Markowski has been using his love of aviation to accomplish great things. In addition to designing, building, and flying models, he designed and built wind/smoke tunnels and ran cutting-edge experiments on model wings as science fair projects. He received numerous awards and recognition, including a four-year scholarship.
Completing Penn State’s aerospace engineering curriculum in three years, Mike earned his degree in 1968. After four years of designing wind tunnel models for Douglas, Sikorsky, and NASA, and studying for a masters in engineering management, he pursued his flying dreams by becoming an aviation entrepreneur, innovator, and pioneer.
In 1971, Mike designed, built and taught himself to fly a hang glider, co-founding the first two hang glider companies on the East Coast. He also taught hang gliding and aviation at the adulteducation level and co-owned and ran a hang gliding flight school. In promoting the sport, Mike garnered national coverage on TV and in newspapers and magazines. He acquired his private pilot’s license in 1972.
Through Mike’s company, Aeronautical Publishers, he distributes the only comprehensive series of books about ultralights and books about home-builts, aviation history, airplane mechanics, and model airplanes.
The FAA used his fourth book, Ultralight Aircraft, to help develop FAR 103- The Ultralight Rule. Mike’s Possibility Press Company publishes a line of books on success. The EAA inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2007. At its 29th Annual Aviation and Aerospace Conference, the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania presented him with the state’s highest aviation honor: the 2009 Achievement Award.
Mike has received many more awards and honors throughout the years, including induction into the US Ultralight Association Hall of Celebrities in 1996 and receiving the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association’s 2007 Commendation Award.
Combining his love of aviation and motivation, Mike is now expanding his efforts in inspiring the world. Writing his memoir, Wings of Dreams – One Small Gift Can Inspire a Dream as BIG as the Sky, his mission is to encourage youth and adults alike. He wants the world to know how important and exciting aviation is, as well as to teach people to follow their dreams and do whatever it takes to make them come true.
Mike’s newest passion is pursuing having Wings of Dreams produced as an inspiring featurelength movie, documentary, theatrical play, and success book. To learn more about his exciting aviation career, his works, or his companies, visit www.aeronauticalpublishers.com and www.possibilitypress.com. -Ashley Rauen AMA Communications Specialist Information provided by Mike Markowski
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