Bio from Fred (Ski) Skalski—WB8YXI

I grew up in Portage, Michigan around the Kalamazoo airport. This was probably the main reason that I worked for and finally received my Private Pilots license many years later. But during the time of attending school, I was always interested in the electronics field. I used to take apart old radios and televisions, when I could get them. I built several kits, and some of them did work (sort of!). At school I took many science and math courses that I would use later in my (hopefully) electronic career. 

I realized that I couldn’t afford the cost of college, so I checked on the military. I liked airplanes so it was obvious that the Air Force would be my number one choice. Just before graduating, I talked to the AF recruiter and took the acceptance test. I did well probably due to the classes I took at Portage High School. Later that week, I met with the recruiter and I did qualify for the electronic field, as I received scores of 95% in electronics, 95% mechanical, 90% in general and 75% in administrative. I asked for electronics and ‘signed on the dotted line’. At the end of July 1961, I was inducted into the Air Force at the Fort Wayne Induction Center in Detroit. My enlistment date was August 1, 1961.

After basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, I was off to my tech school at Lowry AFB, Colorado for the next 12 months. This is where I received my ‘nickname’ of Ski. My training was on the F-105D weapons firing systems, which covered the attack radar, sighting system, and the toss bombing computer system, which were all integrated together with all of the other systems in the aircraft. I graduated just before September of 1962 and received PCS (permanent change of station) orders to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 8th Armament and Electronics Squadron (8th A&E Maint Sq.) at Itazuke AB, Japan, which in near Fukuoka on the southern island of Kyushu.

Before I was assigned to the field shop I attended a three month ‘in depth’ training at the Field Training Detachment (FTD) school on the base. I was probably given the field shop due to my high scores on the acceptance exams and the ‘intelligence test’ that I had scored 97%. (Most of the graduates of my school from Lowry were given ‘flight line’ duty.) We in the shop would test and repair the ‘black boxes’ that the flight line techs would pull from the aircraft for troubleshooting and replacement. Then we in the shop, would tag and repair these defective units. Putting them back to ‘supply’ when completed.

While being stationed in Japan, I acquired several Honda motorcycles. I learned to drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road and enjoyed traveling locally with a group called “the Rangers”. I shipped a 305 cc Honda CB Super Hawk home after discharge and drove it till I sold it. Then there was a CB 450, and finally the 1982 1100cc Gold Wing I have now. 

After about two years at Itazuke AB, the Air Force decided to close the base and move the Wing to Yokota AB near Tokyo. I had about one year left on my enlistment, so I was assigned to the 441st A&E Maint Sq at Yokota. During my time at Yokota I had temporary duty (TDY) at Osan AB, Korea for three months. When my service time was up, I was discharge at Travis AFB, California in 1965. 

Traveling back to Michigan, I got a job at National Waterlift in Kalamazoo testing their military aircraft hydraulic actuators for the F-4 Phantom jet. NWL also produced the landing shock absorbers for the Lunar Lander that eventually landed on the moon. They were also the prime contractor for the hydraulic flight actuators on the Air Force C5A Galaxy cargo aircraft. In 1966 I wasn’t working much in the electronics field at NWL, so I saw an article in a newspaper for service technicians at the Heath Company.  I was interviewed and later hired for the position. I started repairing Heathkit meters and other instruments that people had built that didn’t work. After a month or two, I asked to be moved to the Amateur Radio Equipment servicing area. I really enjoyed the work and was at Heath for about 2 ½ years. Although the work was enjoyable, the pay was quite low. In 1968 some of the other techs saw an add in a Grand Rapids newspaper for ‘Tester Analyzers’ at Lear-Siegler Inc. The pay was a lot better and I went up for and interview with several others. I scored well on the exam and was hired. I stayed at LSI for 1½ years until the layoffs started. I was #26 out of 55 on the seniority list and was eventually laid off in late 1969. 

During Layoff, I submitted several job applications and one was with the State of Michigan. I was interviewed for a position with MDOT, and Dept of Aeronautics. Both were filled with someone else I guess, but then the State Police Communications called and I was interviewed. I was hired along with Paul List, on the same day. MSP had 2 positions for ‘Radio Engineer 07’. One was at the Rockford Post as Radio Operator/ Radio Tech, and the other was radio installer at the E. Lansing install shop. Paul apparently scored higher so he had the pick of the two. Fortunately he took the Rockford position, because I would have had the same problem he did with the Operator job. The installer position was a good start because most of the radio problems the Troopers had with the radio operation could be blamed on difficulties with the wiring, cables, and the antenna in the car. The actual radio was seldom the problem. I was at ‘install’ for about three months when a position opened at the 2nd District Detroit Post for ‘Radio Engineer 09’. I took the promotion in later 1970 and rented an apartment in Plymouth, just outside of Livonia. I was working with Bob Gabbard and Paul Calvert and we had the entire area from the St Clair Post, south to the Erie Post near the Ohio state line. We maintained all of the States communication equipment, base, mobile, portable, and undercover radios. I was at the 2nd District for almost 5 years, but when a position with the 5th District Headquarters in Paw Paw became open, I put in for it and was eventually accepted. At that time I married my wife Debby and took her off to the ‘sticks’. We eventually bought a house near Mattawan and have lived there ever since.

In 1972-73 I began working on and eventually passing my FAA Private Pilot license, for ‘Single Engine Land’ endorsement. I have about 100 hours in Cessna 150’s, 172’s, and a Cessna 401 twin-engine aircraft. I have also passed my FAA Instrument Rating exam, but I married, and family responsibilities have priority over flying. I do use Microsoft Flight Simulator for my flying, which isn’t quite the same, but it is better than nothing.

The radio equipment has changes a lot over the years and repair responsibilities have escalated as well. For the first 30 years, the MSP used VHF low band equipment, with high band and UHF radios for other departments. But around 1996, the State started to convert to the Motorola 800 Mhz digital trucking system, the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS). Phase II involved our district and the district north of us, the 6th District Rockford. Installation and testing was done and MPSCS went operational in 2002. We had many departments come over to MPSCS and we had to assist them, also program every radio that was used on the system. Berrien, Barry, and Van Buren Counties all came over to MPSCS with few exceptions. Eventually most of Kalamazoo County joined. I was also involved in coverage testing in our area, but when phase IV, the entire U.P. was installed, I was involved in the coverage testing there. That was a different type of operation as most of the UP is wild deserted territory. We were in places that the only way we got out was using the GPS, and the Trooper driving the Jeep knew well how to drive it! Some of the pictures about coverage testing on this web site were taken while being “lost in da’ U.P., eh?” It was really………………. interesting. We also have the responsibility to maintain all of the other Michigan department’s radios on the system like MDOT, Military Affairs, DSS, DNR, Corrections, Etc. 
Somewhere around 2002 the Communications Division was moved from MSP to the Department of Information Technology (DIT). I supposed due to the fact that we didn’t only service MSP anymore. Enough said about that!

After 37 years of service to the State of Michigan, I retired as of February 2007. I was the “MSRTITESOM”. (Which means: Most Senior Radio Tech In The Entire State Of Michigan.) During my working hours, I have enjoyed using ham radio to keep in touch with my friends that I have acquired while traveling on the job. I now have some free time to enjoy my hobbies like Amateur radio, and work at the ‘Honey Do List’ (HDL).
I also volunteered for being an Audio/Video tech at my church: St Catherine of Sienna, of Portage, Mi. My kids are gone; one interestingly is living in Plymouth, MI, and another in Jacksonville, FL, which is where the grandkids are. We don’t get a chance to spoil them very often.

I do get on the ham radio often, mainly on 2 meters in my area, but also on 3802 Khz Wednesday mornings to visit with my friends I use to work with, on the MSPRG. I do enjoy working DX and have confirmed around 245 countries. I have gotten confirmation on all bands from 160 meters to 900 Mhz. Give me a call if you hear me on the bands.

73,

Ski or Fred—WB8YXI