Flying High

Sawyer native flies at air show in Chile


A native of Sawyer who is an F-15 pilot in the Air Force, recently led a first-of-its-kind deployment and exercise for the F-15E community to Chile.


Capt. Mark “Kaiser” Schmidt led the three-ship flight of F-15Es to Santiago, Chile, for the Feria Internacional del Aire Espacio air show, which is the largest air show in the southern hemisphere and fifth largest air show in the world.


“After the air show we participated in Exercise NEWEN with the Chilean Air Force. Both events were the first for the F-15E community – first F-15E deployment to Chile and first exercise for F-15Es in Chile,” Schmidt said.


“During the exercise I flew the first day and acted as the mission commander for the entire exercise,” he said.


“During our time in Chile our squadron visited two orphanages and participated in a good-will baseball game with local area teams,” Schmidt said.


The deployment ran from March 26 to April 13.


Schmidt is stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, with the 391st Bold Tigers. He’s an F-15E pilot and his additional duty is flight commander.


“The F-15E is the jet I fly,” Schmidt said. “It’s a jealous mistress that demands a lot of time and energy. I’m gone between four and six months every year. This next year will be a busy one for me.”


Schmidt grew up in Sawyer and went all 13 years to school in Sawyer, graduating in 1991.


“I graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 1995, worked at Argonne National Laboratory for a year as a nuclear research assistant and then went to school at the University of Delaware and received my master’s in oceanography in 1998,” Schmidt said.


 In 1999, he joined the Air Force and was commissioned through Officer Training School. This January, he’ll have 10 years in the Air Force.


“I’m currently stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in the 391st Bold Tigers. I’m an F-15E pilot and my additional duty is flight commander. Currently I’m a four-ship flight lead (means I’m qualified to lead a four-ship of F-15Es in combat)” Schmidt said.


“I’ve been operationally flying in England, Turkey, Alaska, Korea and Guam. I’ve had one tour over Iraq and I’ll probably be leaving for someplace with sand this fall,” he said.


“I love North Dakota and still get home as much as possible to see the family. I try to stop by some of the local schools to talk about flying in the Air Force and say thanks to the community. Last Christmas I was able to talk at Ryder (North Shore Elementary) School and Velva High School history class,” Schmidt said.