Air Capital Drop Zone | Our staff is the best you'll find, all USPA rated with over 10,000 combined skydives

STAFF

Martin Myrtle, Instructor made his first static line jump in 1990. Martin has made over 2000 tandem skydives, with over 3000 jumps total. Martin started working with students in 1995, and now holds USPA Tandem, Static Line, and IAD Instructional ratings. Martin also holds a Professional Exhibition Rating and jumps several demonstrations for local events each year. In 2002 Martin participated in an Iowa state record 43-way formation skydive, and in 2003 was in a 60-way formation. Martin holds a private pilot certificate. Martin is a Master Electrician, and works for the Wichita Public Schools in his spare time. He has written a few articles for other sites.
	Mark Follin, Instructor made his first jump in 1990 and it was a tandem. Well all this time and well over 3000 jumps later, he’s still doing it. Mark now holds a Tandem, Static Line, and Instructor Assisted Deployment Instructional ratings and is currently a USPA Safety and Training Advisor. He also has a Professional Exhibition Rating and is a Senior Parachute Rigger with over 500 reserve repacks to date. Mark has come a long way in this sport and put a lot of time and effort in the ratings he has earned.
Willie Sinsel, Instructor and Pilot made his first skydive in December of 1997, has made over 1700 skydives, holds a USPA IAD Instructor rating, and is a USPA S&TA. Willie was the recipient of the USPA Chesley H. Judy Safety Award in 2007. He has over 1000 pilot hours, with multi engine rating, holds a commercial pilot certificate and is allowed to fly 8882X from time to time. He is currently working towards a Certified Flight Instructor rating, is a FAA certified Senior Parachute Rigger, and is a former DZ owner. Willie owns and operates a full service auto and truck repair shop and parts store in Belle Plaine.
	Tim Frederking, Instructor made his first jump in 1982 at Sky Sports in Hutchinson, Ks on a round parachute. He took the first jump course again in 1993 at Oz Sport Parachute Center in Lyons Ks. (this time it stuck). Tim now holds the USPA Instructor Assisted Deployment Instructional rating. He has over 1500 skydives, including 150 camera jumps, and participated in the Kansas record formation skydive in October of 2000. He lives in Salina and is a partner in Dels Electronics a retail electronics company. Tim was recently married to his skydiving student girlfriend Kim.
Mike Russell, Instructor made his first jump with Air Capital Drop Zone in October 2002. Mike now has over 500 jumps, and he earned his USPA Instructor rating in July of 2006. Mike is a father and actually moved to Rose Hill to have a shorter commute to his weekend home at AC DZ.
	David Poland, Instructor made his first jump (IAD) in April of 1998 at Skydive Wichita in Kingman KS. He thought doing the one jump would satisfy the need/curiosity about jumping, it obviously didn't. Over 1500 jumps later David is still just as excited about the next jump as he was the first. David has several Instructional ratings including Tandem, IAD, Professional Exhibition Rating (PRO), and he’s a FAA Senior parachute rigger. David works for Sedgwick County EMS when he is not out skydiving
Larry Moore, Instructor started jumping in June of 2004, and now has over 500 jumps. Larry earned his USPA Instructor Assisted Deployment instructional rating in 2006, and now has aspirations of earning his Tandem Instructors rating. Larry is also working toward his FAA Senior Parachute Riggers Certificate.
	Chuck Powell, Instructor began going to the drop zone (Sky Sports in Hutchinson) in 1975. On May 17, 1978, he made his first jump. Chuck got his jumpmaster rating in 1984, his instructor rating in 1985, and his senior rigging license in 1994. He also holds a private pilot license and an airframe & power-plant mechanics license. Six years ago, he restored the 1946 Taylor Craft he now owns and enjoys flying. Chuck currently has over 1700 jumps with only four cutaways, zero malfunctions/cutaways in over 22 years (knock on wood.)
Dan Schneweis, Coach made his first jump at Cook Field (current home of Air Capital Drop Zone) in 1995. He didn't get serious about skydiving until 2005, and has since accumulated over 500 jumps. He also enjoys helping out around the DZ with answering the phone and greeting students/visitors to the DZ. To support his skydiving habit, he works as a Registered Nurse at a local hospital.
	Mike Buffington, Coach did his first jump in Gladewater Texas , circa 2006. Mike moved to Wichita, finished up his student training with Air Capital, and has since made over 400 skydives. He is interested in pursuing his FAA Senior Rigger Certificate. Mike is an Information Technology Guru by day, and fancies himself a super hero (with no special powers or motivation) by night.
Mike Bradfield, Coach did a tandem skydive over Oahu, Hawaii in 2006. He did another tandem with Air Capital two years later, and now has over 400 jumps. Mike is a student, and Aerospace Engineer intern for a local aircraft manufacturer. He also enjoys dating older women when time and the women allow.
	Troy Barnt, Coach made his first jump in August of 1981 under a round canopy. After dreaming about skydiving for the next 20+ years he tried it again under a tandem. The next month he took the first jump course and never dreamed again. He now has over 800 jumps and received his coach rating in June 2007. Troy is a chiropractor by day and also married to a jumper.
Gabe Morrow, Pilot has over 800 flight hours and holds Certified Flight Instructor with Commercial Single and Multi-Engine Instrument ratings. Gabe came out to Kansas from Georgia for work as a Flight Test Engineer. No jumps yet, but watching skydivers leave his airplane has put “human flight" on his to-do list.
	Todd Gaskil, Pilot bio
Open Pilot Position bio
	Open Pilot Position bio
Angie Myrtle has made 3 skydives. She made a solo skydive in March of 1998 and has made 2 tandem skydives since. Although she does not consider herself a ‘real skydiver’, Angie is very knowledgeable about the sport. If you call to make an appointment or ask questions you will generally talk with Angie.
	Kent Myrtle Kent loves to hang out at the drop zone, and is the unofficial small people ambassador to all the kids passing through with their parents. He’s in second grade (09/10) at Horace Mann Dual Language, so he’s learning in English and Spanish. He’s a smart friendly boy, he loves to play and make new friends.
Wade Myrtle is a very sweet (not so) little boy. He’s in kindergarten, and already learning to speak and be literate in Spanish. He loves to spend his spare time at the drop zone, playing with the kids, and helping his daddy when he can. He loves tools, and may grow up to be an airplane mechanic (brain surgeon, or fry cook).
	Kelly Johnson has 400 skydives, has been in the sport for three years, and is working toward her first instructional rating. Kelly often answers the phone, greets our students, and assists around the DZ in any way she can.
AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Jen Sharp made her first jump in 1989 at the age of 18, and became a drop zone owner (Skydive Kansas) in 1995. She’s an Accelerated Freefall Instructor, Tandem Instructor, Coach Course Director, Safety & Training Advisor, Professional Exhibition Rating, FAA Senior Rigger, with over 2000 skydives. Jen does not work at AC/DZ Jen is listed on our Staff Page in her capacity as a USPA Coach Course Director. She’s been instrumental in the training of our instructional staff. Air Capital DZ, and Skydive KS are “sister DZs.”