Pathway: Maxwell Wenglarz

by Allison Wenglarz

PATHWAY: Maxwell Wenglarz

Little did we know that August 19th would be such a fitting day for our son, Maxwell David Wenglarz, to come into this world. It is known as “Aviation Day”. He also shares his birthday with Orville Wright. Maxwell developed a love for aviation at a young age. However, up until age five he was only interested in John Deere tractors. That was until his dad took him to visit an aviation enthusiast friend in southern Indiana, Jerry Brown. Jerry put Maxwell in a 1942 WACO UPF-7 and that is all it took, he was hooked. So eventually we packed up the John Deere tractors. At age six he got to go up for the first time with friend Doug Parsons in his 1934 WACO YKC. He admitted he was a little scared, but after they landed, he could not stop smiling and talking about it. When he was in first grade, he got a ride in the B-17, “Aluminum Overcast” for his seventh birthday. He even got to help pull the blades through to prevent hydro lock. He began studying airplanes to see which one he wanted to build. Maxwell decided on a Pietenpol Sky Scout, so the plans were obtained, and the building process began. At age 10 (fourth grade) he, with the help of his dad, David, began the wing ribs. As the years went on, it became very evident that aviation was his passion.

While most other kids his age were playing video games, he was working on his plane. Nobody at school believed him when he shared with them, he was building his own plane. They thought he was speaking about model airplanes. Maxwell grew tired of the teasing and nay saying, so he finally asked his teacher if he could put together an aviation day for the fourth grade class. His goal was to get more kids his age interested in aviation. She agreed, and with the help of his dad and three other aviation friends, Jerry Brown, Jim Wheeler, and Rick Schreiber, they all came to the school and put on an aviation program for the kids. They each spoke of their individual experiences in aviation, and then Maxwell took the kids outside for a show and tell. His dad brought a W670 Continental Engine as well as a Taylorcraft BC12D fuselage to show them. Unfortunately, the kids were not interested but that never stopped Maxwell. He was a determined young man who continued achieving his goals of building antique aircraft.

Maxwell excelled in school and once he entered middle school and high school, he got involved in basketball and track. Between his school work and sports, there was little time left for his Pietenpol project. He would work on it when he could, but he knew he needed to do well in school also. He was a member of the National Honor Society, broke a school record in track and took a tool and die vocational class everyday outside of his regular studies, driving an hour away.

While taking a full load of classes at school, at age 16, Maxwell began taking ground school and flight lessons in order to obtain his private pilot’s license. He soloed, December 19, 2017, after nine hours. He let nothing and no one stand in the way of this goal. After much hard work, dedication, personal sacrifices, countless hours of reading, studying, and preparing for the written exam, he was cleared to prepare for the three hour oral exam and check ride. On Thursday, October 18, 2018, 13 months after his first flight lesson, Maxwell received his private pilot’s license. He celebrated this great accomplishment with his parents, David and Allison, sister Emily, and Grandma Schumacher.

“Don’t let anyone tell you cannot do something, because with enough drive and determination, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”

Another goal of Maxwell’s was to graduate a year early and he did just that in 2019 with honors. He continued his education at Ivy Tech having earned a full ride, receiving the Gene Haas scholarship, which he used towards his machining tool and die certificate. He made the Dean’s list and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

He has been volunteering with his dad at the Oshkosh, WI airshow, AirVenture, since 2008 doing metal shaping demonstrations and is the Co-Chairman of sheet metal shaping in the Vintage area. He was named Vintage Youth Ambassador at AirVenture. He is a member of the American WACO Club, National WACO Club, Vintage Aircraft Association, Antique Airplane Association, as well as EAA. He is an American WACO Club director. He has been working in the family metal fabrication business since age four. Helping his dad with everything from, cranking the bead rolling machine to repairing several steel tube fuselages. Maxwell is a great businessman and most people are shocked when they meet him in person, only then finding out he is 19.

He has done lots of research on aircraft and therefore is quite knowledgeable. He was walking around the airshow in Oshkosh and met a couple of gentlemen, Nick Pfannenstiel and Glenn Gordon, who had a Ryan STL kit plane on display. As they were talking, they mentioned they were looking for someone with the ability to make sheet metal parts with compound curves. Maxwell chuckled and said “well we can do that” referring to him and his dad. He invited them down to the sheet metal demonstration in the Vintage area. They liked what they saw and asked Maxwell and David if they could make the cowling among other parts for the kit plane. Months later, the parts were completed, and a business relationship formed with Timber Tiger Aircraft of Colorado. Maxwell is truly an “old soul”. We always say “he is a 65 year old in a 19 year old body”. He likes everything vintage from 1940’s music, clothing, hairstyles, to cars and aircraft. He owns a 1939 WACO VKS-7, originally owned by Continental Motors Corp, as well as a 1940 WACO UPF-7, both under restoration. He is currently working towards his A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) license.

One of the greatest lessons he learned from his vocational teacher, Mr. Kaser, was “Life is all about choices”. This motto has stuck with Maxwell. Not only has the motto stuck with him, but also a comment made to him by a coach that “kids didn’t have any goals”. Max chuckled, and said “he has no idea of all my goals.” This comment only added fuel to the fire of his determination. If only that coach could see Maxwell now. We get lots of wonderful compliments about him which makes us proud parents.

Below are a couple of Maxwell’s favorite quotes and a little advice.

“We were lucky enough to grow up in a home environment where there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests.”

Orville Wright, 1939

“Do the impossible, because almost everyone has told me my ideas are merely fantasies.”

Howard Hughes

“Don’t let anyone tell you cannot do something, because with enough drive and determination, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”

Maxwell Wenglarz age 19, San Pierre, IN waco20900@gmail.com