OUR TEAM
Mike "Cuckoo" Kloch
Mike is the CEO and Chief Instructor Pilot for SAW.
He is a two - time Master CFI - Aerobatic (MCFI-A), a two-time NAFI Master CFI, a former Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot, combat veteran, and school trained Aviation Safety Officer (Naval Postgraduate School). Mike is a contract test pilot and instructor for Epic Aircraft, Stratos Aircraft, Elite Pilot services, and others. He has Production, certification and R&D flight test experience. Mike is a two-time NAFI Master CFI/CFII/MEI and an FAA Safety Team (FAAST) Representative. He is also a member of Master Instructors, LLC board of review. Mike has a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University and 2 AAS Aviation degrees from Central Oregon Community College. He is also Commercial and Instrument rated in helicopters with Night Vision Goggles qualifications. To learn more about Mike see his website at mikekloch.com.
Andrew "Chief" Reischauer
Andrew is the Assistant Chief pilot for SAW. He is an ATP rated Instrument and Multi-Engine Flight Instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). He served a 20-year career in the U.S. Navy as a MH-60S Crew Chief and Rescue Swimmer. There he gathered a wealth of military leadership and teaching experiences which helped him to be an outstanding airplane instructor. Some of the airplanes Andrew flies are the Lancair Evolution, Cirrus SR-22, Beechcraft Baron, and of course the Super Decathlon. He is a tailwheel, spin and aerobatics instructor for SAW and looks forward to expanding his teaching roles. Email Andrew
Dan "OB" O'Brien
Dan is a Certified Flight Instructor (and Instrument Instructor (CFI-I)) with both advanced & instrument ground ratings. Prior to joining SAW Dan served as a Naval Flight Officer in multiple U.S. Navy and Royal Air Force aircraft, including the A6-E Intruder, S2-B Buccaneer and various U.S. Navy/RAF training aircraft. He was selected to be an exchange officer with the British Royal Air Force, where he served as a bombardier navigator in the Buccaneer bomber jet. He has deployed to the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, and Mediterranean. A former all-American triathlete, Dan enjoys all outdoor activity that Bend has to offer including mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Portland State University and Dan is a joint owner of a Cessna Skyhawk located at KBDN but his true passion is flying the Super Decathlon. He is currently a tailwheel instructor and does aerobatic rides, and is looking forward to expanding his teaching roles as a spin & aerobatics instructor.
Rich "Dizzy" Stowell
Rich is a guest instructor at SAW
Rich Stowell took his first flying lesson in 1982 and began his career as a full-time flight instructor specializing in spin, emergency maneuver, and aerobatic training in 1987. He authored the books Emergency Maneuver Training and The Light Airplane Pilot’s Guide to Stall/Spin Awareness, and has had more than 80 articles appear in various aviation publications.
Rich is a recognized subject matter expert in loss of control in light airplanes. He is the 2014 National FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year and 2006 National Flight Instructor of the Year, and has delivered nearly 450 safety presentations. Rich served on the organizing committee for the Pilot Training Reform Symposium hosted by the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators in 2011, and facilitated the “Flight Training Curricula” breakout session there.
A 20-year Master Flight Instructor (now Emeritus), Rich is a Charter and Life Member of SAFE, and a 37-year member of AOPA, EAA, and IAC. He is one of fewer than 200 pilots who have earned the All Five achievement award from the International Aerobatic Club. Rich has logged 10,200 hours of flight time, with 9,100 hours of flight instruction given, 34,700 spins, and 25,700 landings. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Richstowell.com
Nick Thomsen
Nick is a CFI, CFII and MEI. Nick's aviation career started in the Marine Corps as a MV-22 Osprey mechanic and eventually as an aircrewman with over 500 hours in the back of the Osprey. Immediately after being discharged from the USMC he started flight training. Nick is now a tailwheel instructor and he also spends 4-5 months out of the year flying float planes and wheel planes in the backcountry of Alaska, mostly in the Katmai National Park. If Nick isn't available at SAW just look up and you might see him flying around in his 1946 J3 Cub!
Matt "Chewy" Haines
Matt holds an ATP certificate, CFI, CFII, MEI and is an A&P Mechanic. He has a varied background in aviation that includes vintage aircraft restoration, Air Traffic Control, aircraft manufacturing, aerial survey, and now flies as an airline pilot based in Seattle. Matt also earned two Associate degrees in Commercial Flight and Aviation Science from Mt. San Antonio College and a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Matt has flown almost two dozen different airplanes over the past 14 years of
flying.
Matt is a passionate aviator and when he isn’t flying the line as an airline pilot, or at SAW, he spends his spare time working at his hangar on his old Chevy truck and flying his own classic tailwheel airplane or volunteering at the Erickson Aircraft Collection.
Tony "Woody" Paradis
Tony received his private pilot certificate in 1998 while serving in the U.S. Air Force as an Aircraft Structural Mechanic. He holds an A&P certificate with Inspection Authorization, ATP - MEL, CFI, CFII, MEI, Commercial SEL, and type ratings in 6 jet aircraft. Tony has a Bachelor of Science degree from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Tony is also an experienced test pilot with 20 years of flight test experience in R&D, certification, and production flight tests. He is also an Epic instructor/mentor pilot.
Jesse "Lola" Walker
Jesse is a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and Graduate of the Fighter Weapon School (TOPGUN) Adversary Course. With extensive experience in tactical instruction and high-performance aircraft operations, he has flown the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-16A-D, and F-5N Tiger II. Jesse Deployed multiple times to the Western Pacific where he logged over 200 carrier arrested landings. Jesse is also an ATP rated instrument and multi-engine flight instructor. Jesse currently instructs tailwheel and acrobatics and is eager to expand his roll at SAW. Jesse graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was the varsity water polo team captain. When not flying Jesse enjoys swimming and hiking in the P.N.W.
Travis "Hubble" Spaid
Travis is a native Oregonian growing up in Bend. He attended Central Oregon Community College, Oregon State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University culminating in a Bachelors degree in Professional Aeronautics with a Minor in Aviation Safety and an MBA. His flying adventures started in his late teens and took him across North America, equatorial Africa and eventually back in Bend. Travis flew part 135 operations to austere backcountry locations in Africa for 2 years. In the past 20+ years of flying he has flow over 50 different types of aircraft working as a skydive pilot ,instructor, corporate pilot, and is currently an Epic Aircraft instructor and air ambulance captain.