Nutmeg Flight Team
Martin Opitz
Marty joined Nutmeg Soaring in 1967. He's held a Commercial Flight Instructor Glider rating since 1980. He holds an FAI Silver C badge with an altitude Diamond. In 2020 Marty was given a Certificate of Appreciation by the Soaring Society of America for his decades long contribution to the sport. Marty, as well as his brother Mike, have followed in the footsteps of their father Rudy; an original Nutmeg member who was a pioneer in aviation and inductee into the National Soaring Hall of Fame at Elmira, New York. You can rely on Marty’s knowledge on the Art of Soaring to achieve your own goals as a pilot. When he's not instructing the next generation of Nutmeg glider pilots, he can be found flying his family's ASW19B over the Catskills.
Chief Instructor & Operations Chairman
Randol Webb
Randol’s flight training started in college ROTC using an Aeronca 7AC Champs and earned a Private certificate in 1959. After graduation in 1960, he entered USAF Pilot Training at Bainbridge AB, GA and later at Craig AFB, Selma, AL as a 2nd Lieutenant flying the Beechcraft T-34, Cessna T-37 and Lockheed T-33. Randol finished USAF training in 1961 and the USAF Flight Instructors Course flying the T-33 in 1962. As a USAF Flight Instructor and Check Pilot in the T-33 and T-37 and as a civilian flight instructor he spent another 4 years instructing at Craig AFB, AL. In 1966, after transition at Hurlburt AFB, FL to the Douglas A1E Skyraider, he did one combat tour based in Thailand. Randol flew exclusively in North Vietnam and Laos as a combat pilot as well as an instructor and check pilot in the A1E. Returning from SE Asia in 1967 he joined Pan American Airways as a pilot/navigator, later as flight engineer, copilot, captain and instructor in the Boeing 727, 707 and Airbus A310. In 1991, after merging with Delta Airlines, he flew the A310, Boeing 757/767 and Lockheed L1011. Glider flying began in 1967 in California and continued with Nutmeg starting in 1999, finishing the Silver Badge in 2001 and instructing and towing at Nutmeg since.
Instructor & Tow Pilot
Mike Opitz
Mike Opitz has been around gliders his whole life. Starting with rides as a kid, Mike began lessons in May 1964 with Nutmeg at the age of 13 then soloed when he turned 14. Mike earned his licenses at the FAA minimum allowed ages. Then achieved: First Kolstad Scholarship recipient at age 17 in 1968, glider InstructGr at age 18 in 1969, Finished Diamond "C" badge #200 (USA) - #1000 (Intl) in 1971. With a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1972, Mike spent the summer of 1972 as an intern working at the Schempp-Hirth glider factory in Germany. Serving with the USAF and Air National Guard as a fighter pilot from 1972 to 1995, Mike flew A-7D, OV-10A, and F-16 as instructor pilot and weapons officer; retiring as a LTCOL with 23 years of service. Mike airline career spans over 35 years (16 years overlapping Air National Guard service) with Eastern, Northwest, and Delta Airlines, flying: 727, A300, DC-9, DC-10, A320 aircraft. Mike’s glider resume includes: 2 USA National Championships in 1986 & 2016, 2nd place in Std Class at the World Championships in Benalla-Australia 1987, 5th place Std Class at Rieti-Italy 1985, 18th place Std Class at Wiener Neustadt-Austria 1989. As well as numerous USA Nationals top 5 finishes.
Instructor & Chief Tow Pilot
Russell PArry
Russ joined Nutmeg Soaring in 2014 and earned his add-on Commercial Glider Certificate in 2016. He added glider to his Flight Instructors Certificate in 2018, This is after a 50+ year flying career. In 1968 Russ was working full time as a senior draftsman and attending college at night, he quit his job and started taking flying lessons, less than two years later in 1970 Russ was working as a Flight Instructor at LaGuardia Flying Service at LaGuardia Airport in NY. In 1972 he was flying a DA 18 and Queen Air for a charter Co. at LaGuardia. In 1973 back to flight instructing at Zahns Airport on Long Island NY, which led to a copilot position on a Hawker Siddeley HS 125 and a Lockheed Jet Star L1329. In 1978 was offered a Captains position with Champion International Corp. which lasted 25 years. While at Champion, Russ attended the University Of Southern California and received a Certificate in Aviation Safety Management, he set up and was responsible for Champions Safety programs. Russ is typed rated in the Lockheed Jet Star L1329, Falcon DA 20, Falcon DA 50, Hawker Siddeley HS 125 and Canadair Challenger CL600. With extensive flying in South America, Canada and Europe. He has an Honorable Discharge from the US Army Reserve, And loves to fly his Clipped Wing J3 Piper Cub.
Instructor
Paul Esser
Paul started flying gliders in 2000 and earned a private pilot glider license in 2003 out in Minnesota with the Red Wing Soaring Association. He joined Nutmeg in 2020 after moving back east. To help the club with rides Paul earned a commercial glider rating in 2024, as well as being the club Treasurer. If you come to Freehold for a demonstration flight there is a good chance Paul will be your pilot; he prides himself on his steady hand on the stick and a smooth ride for his passengers. Paul is a Schweizer 1-26 vintage glider enthusiast and currently is the editor of The 1-26 Association Newsletter. Nutmeg also has a group that flys a shared 1-26 that you can join. He is currently working on his Flight Instructor - Glider (CFIG) rating in 2026.
Commercial Glider Pilot & Treasurer
Bob PEtt
Bob has been a soaring enthusiast since 2005. He is currently President Nutmeg Soaring Association and served on the Board of Directors since 2012. Bob is also the Airport Manager of the Freehold Airport. Earning a Private Pilot ASEL Oct 3, 1980 and Glider Add-On rating in 2010, Bob has been owner of a Grob-102 and part owner in an ASW-24B.
Glider Pilot & President
Ready To Share Their Knowledge!
CFI-Glider + Tow-Pilots
Nutmeg Needs You!
We are always looking to add qualified Aviators