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Soaring high with a father's legacy and a flying spirit
Few, however, are able to sustain those dreams and aspirations beyond childhood. Consequently, many lose much of the imagination and adventurous spirit that makes childhood such a special time. Jim Scholter, 71, of Gulf Breeze, grew up in rural Pennsylvania, learning from a man that had about as much adventurous spirit as anyone who ever lived. His father, Kenneth Scholter, is one of the most influential, yet unheard of, pioneers in aviation history. His life crossed paths with aviation heroes such as Orville Wright, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. Kenneth Scholter's journey began when he was a child, fueled by uninhibited wonder and excitement. One day, on his way home, he heard an unfamiliar sound. It was a small plane headed for the airport nearby. He followed it to the airport, and from that day forward was overcome by dreams of flying. Scholter was only 14 years old, but he left home and began living at the airport, working as a mechanic and sleeping on discarded parachutes in one of the hangars. Airport officials allowed him to stay, and he earned the nickname "Monk," short for grease monkey. He eventually gained enough knowledge about the planes to learn how to fly, which was his life's passion, and in 1930 Scholter set a world altitude record. After providing flight training for new enlistments during WWII, Scholter flew as a stunt pilot in air shows. "The air shows were really something back then, and people came from all around to see them," Jim Scholter said. "Back then, many people had never even seen a plane so it was very exciting." Scholter's flight license was authorized and signed by Orville Wright. That name should be familiar, even to those who know very little about aviation history. After all, it was the Wright brothers who were credited as the first true pilots. Scholter's dreams landed him even greater honors over the course of his storied career. He shook the hands of Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart; had his home airport, Butler County Airport/K.W. Scholter Field, named in his honor; and eventually became immortalized as an inductee of the OX5 Aviation Pioneers Hall of Fame. Jim Scholter, or Birdman' as many here know him, acquired much of his father's spirit. He left Pennsylvania for the warm climate of Florida, and has traveled the world to places such as China, Russia and Egypt, to name a few. His nickname in itself is an indication of his inclination for adventure. "I got the name 'Birdman' because I took one of my dad's planes as a teenager and decided I wanted to fly it," Scholter said. "All of my friends bet me I couldn't fly, so I hopped in the plane and proved them wrong. I've been called 'Birdman' ever since." Although Scholter enjoys flying, he didn't follow in his father's footsteps and made a living in the aviation industry. "Flying didn't give me near the amount of joy my father felt," said Scholter. "It was his life." Scholter chose to work for Dunham and Smith, a company that distributes products to military commissaries, as an area manager. "I viewed flying as more of a hobby," Scholter said. "He understood that, and didn't try to pressure me to be a part of the aviation industry. Even though he would've liked it." Scholter's father knew, probably from his own grand aspirations, that it was unfair to try and steer his son's dreams in a direction that he felt was more suitable. Because even though a person benefits from proper guidance, they alone must ultimately decide on which road their life will travel. "My dad always told me that if you're determined and you set a goal, anything is possible," Scholter said. "If you find something you love, and find a way to make a living doing it, it's a wonderful thing." |
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