Foil: 3 Panel: 2 Column: 4 Line: 36

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Jack Hudspeth

Michael has always loved aviation. His plastic models were used to recreate the battle of Briton instead of being blown up by firecrackers like other boys did with their models. He and his brother, grandfather and father flew radio controlled model airplanes. They converted free flight airplanes to radio control by adding one channel at a time for more and more control options.
He joined the Civil Air Patrol to take advantage of the inexpensive rental of a former Air Force academy trainer and earn his private pilot license. With the Civil Air Patrol, he was able to travel to Dillingham to solo in the Schwietzer 2-33 and earn his glider rating He entered college with a four year Air Force ROTC pilot scholarship. He was accepted into the Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) which was starting at Sheppard AFB. His year at Sheppard was very rewarding providing a chance to fly with instructors and students from our allied countries. Upon graduation, he was assigned to fly the F-l5 at Bittburg Germany.
After three years of fun, Michael was assigned duties as a flight instructor in T-38s at Williams AFB. After three years of instructing, he decided to get out of the service and begin a career with the airlines. He was hired by Delta and trained as a flight Engineer on the Boeing 727. He was furloughed in 1993 and two years later went to work for Federal Express as a B-727 Second Officer.
Michael upgraded to 1st Officer on the MD-11 after a year with FedEx and is still flying the MD-11 as a Co-Pilot. He could fly as a very junior Captain on the B 727 but prefers to enjoy his seniority as a MD-11 1st Officer