Editor's note: Pilot and writer Eric Bishop departs from his usual coverage of flight simulation topics to contribute this interview with a pilot flying Learjets, as well as many other aircraft types.

I met Frank Marsalek a year ago when I was taking my check ride for my Private Pilot's License and was immediately struck with his dedication and professionalism. Since he and my instructor are good friends, I got a chance to find out more about this man—and the more I did the more I shook my head in disbelief. Frank holds just about every rating you can get and flies just about everything you can fly. So You can imagine my excitement the day I got to go down and sit in a Lear 55 while he explained every button and computer system on it. Here is an interview I conducted with Frank; I think you will find it interesting.

Eric: Frank, please tell us a little about your background. How you got started in aviation, hours logged and ratings etc...

Frank: I always wanted to fly even as a 6 year old and after school I joned the Air Force as a mechanic. Tried skydiving and was not to learn to fly until after leaving the military and working as a mechanic for Northwest airlines; I was there for 31 years. I have five of the seven flight instructor ratings have been flying for 33 years and haven't logged a great deal of time as I have been a pilot examiner for the past 7 years and cannot log that time. I also have a Lear Jet type rating.

Eric: I know first hand about your check ride exams—how did you get involved with doing this? Do you enjoy it? I would think it would be very stressful at times.

Frank: Yes I do enjoy being a pilot examiner and it is stressful sometimes when someone fails that shouldn't or I pass someone that maybe should have more instruction. It is not always an easy call. I was asked to be an examiner by the FAA as a glider examiner was needed and I had 25 years as a glider instructor. They also certified me as an airplane examiner as I had 30 years instructing airplanes. I do more airplane exams.

Eric: How long have you been flying Learjets and what made you decide to get this particular rating?

Frank: I have been flying Learjets for about two years and always liked the looks of the airplane—that's why I went for that type rating.

Eric: What do you love most about aviation and flying?

Frank: Clean air and the look of the earth from altitude.

Eric: Tell us a little about this Lear55 we took a tour in? Is there anything different about this Learjet than the others you have flown?

Frank: The Lear 55 differs from the others in that it has a stand up cabin and lavatory but it dose require more runway as it is slightly underpowered.

Eric: How many hours does it take to get rated on the Lear 55?

Frank: About 200 hrs but not a requirement.

Eric: Many of our readers are private pilots like myself that are either VFR or IFR rated. What type of training is involved to become a pilot of a Learjet? What is the training like?

Frank: Systems training and lots of simulator time and money.

Eric: Who was the most famous person you ever flew in this Lear 55?

Frank: The Baseball pitcher Tom Glavine.

Eric: How does this Lear 55 compare to the Lear 45 in Flight Simulator 98 as far as flight model, V speeds and handling?

Frank: As far as comparing the Lear 55 to the Lear 45 simulator the speeds are very close but the 55 has old technology instruments and the Lear 45 in FS98 is an EFIS panel.

Eric: I think one of the things that struck me the most was how the cockpit looked so much like that of the Lear 45 in FS98, especially the autopilot and some of the other gauges. How real do you feel this is modeled in FS98?

Frank: I am working with a company now that wishes to purchase a Lear 45 and from my research the FS98 is an almost perfect match to the real aircraft.

Eric: Do you feel Flight Simulators for the PC are a good learning tool for the novice pilot or student?

Frank: Yes, flight sims are a very good learning tool; in fact the Navy is using FS98 now with new cadets.

Eric: What things do you see in flight simulators that could help and hurt the student pilot or even the experienced pilot?

Frank: The bad part of flight sims is that they make you rely on instruments too much.

Eric: With new products coming on the market every day like the new EFIS program I told you about, how do you see these programs helping simulator pilots?

Frank: These new programs are very much a help to instrument training pilots.

Eric: In closing, what would you say to anyone thinking about a career in aviation?

Frank: If you are thinking about a career in avation now is the most open time of hiring I have seen in 38 years.

Frank, thank you for taking the time to do this interview for us. It is a pleasure to be acquainted with someone in the aviation field as professional as you. I look forward to my next checkride with you!!!