September 16, 1998
Pilot joyously leaps to life of flight
By Garret Leiva
Herald staff writer
Four years ago, Keith Messingschlager took a flying leap.
Resigning himself from the "corporate life," this Williamsburg resident turned his back on the world of finance to pursue a dream; a flight of fantasy. Today, he still has his head in the clouds - but when you're office is at 2,000 feet you tend to run into a cirrus here and there.
As owner of Azure Air Adventures, this Michigan State University accounting graduate has in the last year become an aerial entrepreneur by offering his ultralight services to thrill-seeking sightseers, photographers and student pilots.
However, giving up big business for a endeavor with a smaller wingspan has come with a few sacrifices.
"I've waited tables, laid tile and done a variety of other things to stay afloat so I could get my ultralight business going," said Messingschlager, who in 1994 resigned as a credit manager with a gas services company to pursue, among other things, flying.
While some might be unwillingly to take such a risk, Messingschlager has always been up for any challenge that would put him in the cockpit. In the eighth grade he even joined the Civil Air Patrol because he thought it would get him airborne.
"The only reason I joined was because I thought I was going to learn how to fly an airplane," Messingschlager recalled. "Instead, I learned a lot about marching and wearing a uniform."
Still interested in flight, Messingschlager started flying model airplanes shortly after graduating from college in 1988. Moving up in size, he learned to fly full scale aircraft through a club at the corporation where he worked in Battle Creek. After becoming a member, Messingschlager started taking flying lessons and eventually bought a share of the plane owned by the club.
It was, however, while he was unemployed after resigning from the Battle Creek company that he found a form of flight that truly captured his attention.
"With hangliding, I knew I was getting closer to the right aviation because I wanted to be out in the open in a real lightweight aircraft," said Messingschlager, who was driving back and forth to Frankfort from a rental house in Elk Rapids in pursuit of the right wind conditions for soaring.
However, when two ultralights happened to fly by his house, Messingschlager knew he had just discovered his ultimate form of flight. "I knew that this was what I was looking to do," said Messingschlager, who bought his first ultralight in October of 1993 and today owns a two-seater Maxair Drifter trainer which at nearly 500 pounds is capable of flying at speeds of 75 knots and altitudes of 10,000 or more.
Most flights Messingschlager takes though are well below the level for supplemental oxygen. After all, most passengers feel a close up view of the Bay, or Torch Lake or Elk Lake or even the Manitou Islands, is worth the $40 they pay for a 15 to 20 minute flight.
"The typical reaction is, 'Oh my gosh, it's so beautiful up here,'" said Messingschlager, who with his full Lotus floats can take off and land on the surface of area inland lakes and Grand Traverse Bay. "People really get excited by the color of the water. It really comes alive from up above with all the different layers."
While the feeling of flight remains a rush for Messingschlager, being a pilot he accepts the possibilities of 'what if's' and 'could be's.'
"There is always that possibility (crashing) and you understand that when you get in the aircraft," he said. "When I go flying I do the best job I can to make sure that plane is airworthy."
"But if my wing falls off in flight I just have to do the best I can with that situation. We're taught to plan and protect ourselves from unforeseen events and it's such a defensive way of living. My philosophy is to live more joyously."