Meet the Members: Michael Varner

Michael Varner – FWFC Flying Member – Private Pilot

Happily, retired and loving every day. My story is more about how I returned to flying.

I proudly got my Private Pilot certificate in 2001… I even started about one-third of the way through instrument…. Then life got in the way… I have two wonderful children who needed to get through college, therefore, priorities meant I was grounded from flying.

Fast forward to the year I retired:  My wife and I drove down to beautiful Fredericksburg and on a whim, I reserved a room at the famous Hangar Hotel (A wonderful place to stay if you haven’t been there, literally right off the runway and totally warbird themed). We spent most of the trip sitting out on the porch in rocking chairs watching planes go up and down all day (well, truth be told, I wanted badly to AVOID souvenir touristy shopping in town)! Eventually my wife asked, “why don’t you fly anymore”? To which I replied, “It is expensive, and will be hard to get my license back after twenty years away…” She, being supportive said, “maybe check into it”.

To my surprise, with a Flight Review and some hours of ground school, I could be back in action! I had even thrown my pilot certificate away…  That cost me all of $12 to get a replacement sent from the FAA.

A short time later, I was hanging around a local flight school where I enjoyed renting the planes, and as old timers say, “turning money into prop noise.” It was great; however, the school politely (somewhat) made me understand that…. Their business was making money training students…. So, I was told I could fly anytime I wanted, as long as it was before 5 am or after 9 pm.

Huh? Now, I’ve never been one of those types that love watching the sunrise… so… I found the FWFC website, and the rest is history. So far, everyone has been super friendly and overall good club members to be with…the type of people I’d be willing to have a “beverage” with (although never to close before flying!). The aircraft are wonderfully maintained and constantly being checked.

For me, the hardest part of flying out of Meacham (KFTW) is the drive out of my own home city! It takes me longer to get past my mid-city limits than it does to get to Meacham Airport. I like the fact that Meacham offers multiple runways, one of which is long and wide enough to land a 747 jumbo jet on. It gives me a bigger target to aim for!

Every flight I am still learning to be a better pilot. I enjoy hearing other club member and instructor’s stories which too, helps me get better every day!