Entomologist plans flight in homemade aircraft Published Nov. 14, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Valerie Smock 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Becoming a pilot is no small feat. Building your own aircraft with the intent of flying it is a completely different story. Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Karl A. Haagsma, a medical entomologist assigned to the 757th Airlift Squadron's Aerial Spray Flight, has completed both tasks. He became a licensed private pilot in 1998 and recently completed his own plane, a STOL CH 701. "It was always something I wanted to do," said Haagsma. However, being an entomologist wasn't always what Haagsma said he intended on doing as a career. He said it was something he just fell into. His unexpected career as what some people affectionately call a 'bug doctor' ended up leading him to build his own aircraft. Haagsma received a doctorate in entomology with a specialty in toxicology from the University of California Riverside. After college, he attended a meeting in Florida when he met Lt. Col. Mark Breidenbaugh, a research entomologist assigned to the 757th Airlift Squadron's Aerial Spray Flight. "[Breidenbaugh] actually recruited me to come to Youngstown," said Haagsma. "He said they were looking for entomologists and wondered if I wanted to join the unit. So I said, 'sure, why not.'" Even though entomology and aviation may not seem to go hand-in-hand, there is a bit of a relation. "As an entomologist, I fly in the aerial spray planes, so it's not too far off," said Haagsma. After spending some time in the unit, a fellow Airman helped pique his interest in local experimental aviation. "We began discussing flying and realized we both had a similar passion for building and flying small recreational aviation airplanes," said Master Sgt. Dennis Brown, a 910th Maintenance Group Aircraft Quality Assurance Inspector. "Haagsma was just beginning to build his airplane and I had finished building a Piper Cub style airplane some years before." Having built a plane in the past, Brown became useful in helping Haagsma become a bigger part of the aviation community. "He and I both belong to the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, where we share activities and the passion with many others," said Brown. Both Haagsma and Brown said that passion is necessary when flying and building a plane. General aviation is expensive. Building your own plane allows the expenses to be significantly cut. Even though building a plane takes time, Brown said it is fascinating to see the pieces come together to become that flying machine. "There are many homebuilt airplanes that are started and never completed, primarily due to the time discipline required to see an airplane project through to the end," said Brown. "Not weeks or months, but normally years are the measure of seeing an airplane built to completion." Haagsma said his plane was six years in the making. Even though the aircraft is complete, the process isn't finished. "I'm done building but now I have to go through the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) registration process, and that can take a while." When the entire process began, Haagsma said he didn't imagine it would take as long as it had. He said it was discouraging at times but it at least kept him off the couch. "I was very impressed with his progress each time that we talked, due to his very busy schedule during the aerial spray season," said Brown. "His craftsmanship is impeccable and I enjoyed viewing his project at various stages." The goal is for Haagsma to fly his STOL CH 701 by the end of 2014. Depending on how long it takes the FAA to register his plane and give the go ahead, it may not take flight until the spring. "A lot of people do this," said Haagsma. "Be prepared for it to take some time, but if you want to build a plane and you're passionate about it, then I say go for it."