WAHF 40: #2 - Archie Henkelmann

Born in the Town of Hewitt in Marathon County, Wisconsin, in 1931, Archie Henkelmann made his mark in the world of aviation as an instructor and supervisor at the Janesville Vocational School, now known as Blackhawk Technical College.

Growing up during the pre-World War II and World War II eras, when supplies and materials—even tires—were rationed, the philosophy in Northern Wisconsin was “fix everything that needed fixing, scraping together anything available to do the job.” Archie quickly found he was naturally inclined to understanding the theory, operation, and mechanical approach to solving problems. If a Chevrolet six-cylinder engine ran rough, he’d dive in to identify the issue and find a way to fix it. Like doing a valve job in his dad’s driveway.

As a young kid before the war, Archie saw Cubs, Aeroncas, and Taylorcraft flying around the Northwoods sky and was smitten with the idea of flight. As soon as the war restrictions on flying were lifted, 14-year-old Archie immediately went to Merrill Municipal Airport (KRRL) and started flying lessons in a Piper J-3 Cub. Shortly after getting his pilot certificate, while still in school, he purchased a Cessna 120 that he flew from his family’s backyard in Woodruff, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school in 1949, he worked for a year as a lumberjack in the Northwoods to pay off his airplane.

With Archie’s growing love for aviation and knowing that the FAA required a Mechanics License to work on his Cessna 120, Archie decided to attend the Janesville Vocational Technical School in Southern Wisconsin. The school had one instructor, Ben Kellogg, and about 10 students. While in Janesville, Archie met his future wife, Mae.

Eighteen months later Archie graduated with his mechanic certificate and immediately joined Wisconsin Central Airlines working on DC-3s in Madison, Wisconsin. However, that was short-lived as the country became involved with Korea and Archie was quickly drafted into the U.S. Army and assigned as a Helicopter Maintenance Instructor at Fort Fill, Oklahoma. Shortly thereafter the school and Archie were moved to Dothan, Alabama.

To become an Army instructor, Archie first had to attend the Army aircraft mechanical school, and during one of his early classes his instructor (a captain by rank) was teaching the theory and mechanics of how a Marvel-Schebler carburetor operated. Archie knew the instructor was completely wrong, and proceeded to tell the instructor how a carburetor really works (true to Archie’s form). After class break, the instructor called Archie up to the platform asking Archie to explain to his class how carburetors work. Archie truly enjoyed his moment, and at that point he knew teaching was his future. Even today, Archie’s past students continue to provide compliments that he was their only instructor who could explain, teach, and demonstrate something in a practical and understandable way.

During this time, Archie took advantage whenever possible to fly the Army’s Bell H-13 and H-23 helicopters, and Cessna L-19 Bird Dogs. No questions asked, just call the tower, and go fly!

Archie was discharged from the Army in 1955 and returned to Janesville to work with North Central Airlines. However, that didn’t last long… one day Archie was at the local Sears Roebuck store, and he ran into the district director of the Janesville Vocational Technical School. The director asked, “Archie, you want a job?” Archie responded “yes” and two weeks later, in January 1956, Archie realized his dream career of being an instructor. He became head of the school’s aviation department, where he helped organize dozens of open houses. In 1966, an open house featured aircraft engines that his students had overhauled. The students were on hand to answer questions and show their work of testing and adjusting overhauled magnetos. He continued in that role until retiring in 1989—after having taught thousands of students.

Archie’s teaching was always focused on practical problem solving to be a true repairman, not merely to replace parts. As well, Archie made sure his students gained practical experience—beyond classwork—by maintaining, repairing, and rebuilding aircraft for the Civil Air Patrol, the school flying club, and even Archie’s own Aeronca Chief (on floats) and later, his Cessna 170B. It was always a newsworthy event when Archie would land his floatplane in the Janesville airport grass. His students would lift it up and bring it into the school hangar, then after working on it through the winter, they’d lift it back onto a cart, and send Archie off, barreling down the runway. Archie always had a knack for knowing which students would make good mechanics. When considering student applications, he often commented that kids who grew up on a farm made the best aircraft mechanics.

Archie also engaged his students in other unique projects. He proposed that the school could build a full-size replica of the Wright Brothers’ historic 1903 Flyer, and he met with Paul Poberezny, EAA’s founder, who replied “If you do it, we’ll put it in the museum we’re building.” The 10-year completed project is now the centerpiece in the EAA AirVenture Museum’s aircraft collection in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Archie has been an EAA member since 1956 and a founding member of Janesville-Beloit EAA Chapter 60, formed the same year, actively working on more aircraft projects such as a Baby Ace on floats and a Monnett Moni. He has also been a member of the Brodhead EAA Chapter 431 for about 35 years, plus volunteered with EAA’s Green Gang communications team for EAA AirVenture. In the meantime, Archie continued to fly his Cessna 120, although things didn’t always go as planned. In 1959, he was flying to Cuba, but was delayed by weather in Florida. When the weather cleared, the Cuban Revolution had started, scuttling his trip.

In 2009, when the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame asked EAA Chapter 60 to build a third-scale replica of a Curtiss Pusher flown by Wisconsin’s first aviator Arthur Pratt Warner of Beloit in 1909, Archie took on the role of project manager. “It’s only natural that our EAA chapter to be the number one candidate for this project, as Beloit is the birthplace of aviation in Wisconsin,” said Archie, as quoted in the Eau Claire Leader Telegram. The five-month project was completed on time, and the model, with its six-foot wingspan, went on to tour the state of Wisconsin to celebrate Wisconsin’s Centennial of Flight. The model is now a showpiece, hanging in the lobby of the Beloit Historical Society.

When Archie purchased his Cessna 170B he flew it everywhere across the United States with his family. However, his favorite airplane is his Aeronca Chief on floats, based at Archie’s Seaplane Base (WS01) just north of Janesville. With its orange starburst paint scheme, it has been a fixture of the community for decades. He says he gets double the pleasure as it would both provide him with the joy of flying it and experiencing the enjoyment of his passengers. One summer he kept a logbook signed by 231 passengers.

Somehow, amongst all this Archie served his community as the Town of Janesville Chairman and then Constable for over 40 years. He has enjoyed riding motorcycles around the United States, in Europe, and has even ridden his Harley Davidson with a sidecar 9,000 miles to Inuvik, North of the Artic Circle. After retirement, Archie restored a 1953 Cessna 180l. His favorite place to fly it is in the Idaho mountain backcountry. At 91 years old Archie is still flying and working on airplanes and involved with all things aviation. In fact, he’s currently reliving his youth flying another J-3 Cub around Wisconsin.

Archie still attends EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and he’s often at the annual Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame induction ceremony each fall. He’s a legend in Wisconsin aviation maintenance circles, always willing to lend a hand on the next project that comes his way.

Archie was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame in 1994.