Mike Machat

Aviation artist, author, and historian, Mike Machat, has dedicated his career to the documentation of 20th Century aviation history. As the nephew of a Republic Aviation Corporation Chief Engineer, he was inspired to aviation at an early age. Mike completed the Foundation Art Program at New York's Pratt Institute, served in the U.S. Air Force, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach. He was then hired by McDonnell Douglas as a technical illustrator, and soon advanced through the ranks becoming a Staff Artist and Corporate Representative.

In 1984, Mike established his own aviation art studio and was elected first president of the American Society of Aviation Artists. As a senior flight-rated member of the U.S. Air Force Documentary Art Program, Mike contributed 21 works to the collection. He holds an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate, and has flown in more than 200 different types of aircraft. An avid sailplane pilot, he was also the first Air Force Artist to fly in the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Grumman F-14 Tomcat in a U.S. Navy exchange program. Mike painted murals at the Bob Hope Airport at Burbank, California, and Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards AFB.

In 2001, Mike focused on aviation writing, and moved into the Editor's slot for Wings & Airpower Magazine from 2002 to 2007. He has since written the definitive book on the Republic XR-12 Rainbow, co-authored FROM PROPS TO JETS, and served as Acquisitions Editor for Specialty Press Aviation Publications.