Albert F. Schmid (1929-) pursued a lifelong career in general aviation after he left Naval Aviation. He has resided in Rhode Island for the past 18 years, most recently in Exeter. He was born on September 7, 1929 in Springfield, Illinois and entered Western Illinois University in 1947, where he earned a business degree. He enlisted in the Navy as an Aviation Cadet, learned to fly at Pensacola NAS and took advanced training in seaplanes in Corpus Christi, Texas. He earned his wings and was commissioned in 1953. Schmid was assigned to Chincoteague , VA where he flew the F6F Hellcat, the F8F Bearcat and the TBM Avenger. He also flew multi engine aircraft such as the UF-1 Albatros seaplane, the Martin PBM-5A Mariner and the PBY Catalina. He towed targets with the Navy version of the B-26) and was also qualified in the F9F-2 Panther jet, the F9F-6 Cougar and the T-33.
When his duty tour ended he returned to to Springfield as an executive pilot for Sangamo Electric Company, whose fleet included a Lodestar, Learstar, and a twin Beech-18. His aviation career then took him to Oklahoma City and then Pittsburgh where he flew Commanders for North American Rockwell. In 1970 he went to Denver with Gates Learjet Corporation, and in 1971 transferred to Connecticut where he became their Eastern Regional Sales Director, earning a Learjet type rating. When Learjet closed their Connecticut office, Albert moved to Air Kaman at Bradley Airport where he developed an Air Taxi department. After Air Kaman closed their Bradley operation in the early 1980s, Schmid began to work with other air taxi operators, helping them to get their certification.
Following the death of his wife in 2000, Albert moved to Rhode Island. For several years he worked with Air Newport, a company started by Regis de Ramel. After an aviation career that spanned more than 54 years, Albert officially retired from flying in 2005 at the age of 78. He continues to promote aviation both in Rhode Island and the New England area. Schmid is an ordained Baptist minister and enjoys providing volunteer services at several Rhode Island Nursing Homes and other churches in the area.
