Feature Article Flying Their Flag
FEATURE ARTICLE FLYING THEIR FLAG
A conversation with Michael McGie
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What’s your favourite flight memory? My favourite thing to do is to have fun. My first priority as a pilot is safety, but my second is to have fun. Flying for This month we sat down with Michael me is fun. And my favourite all time McGie to talk about their passion for them. But this one pilot in particular, flight is the one I proposed on! It was flying and being their best self! Kent Pietsch, had a routine that an evening flight and only had about inspired me to become a pilot. He’s a forty-five minutes before twilight. I How long have you been flying? comedy pilot. One of his main routines don’t have my Night Rating, so I had to Since May 21, 2008. is that he takes off from the runway time it right. like he’s stealing it and everything My girlfriend was over from Congrats on 13 years of flight! goes wrong. Parts fall off, he hits the Vancouver and I told her I wanted to Sort of. I took six years off because life ground, wings and everything! The skill take a quick flight, which was almost stuff happened and I found that I just it takes to fly that badly—safely—is a giveaway. So we’re about 2,000 feet didn’t have time for it. Over my last few incredible! That routine is one of the up enjoying sunset and I asked her to months flying on a regular basis I lost most phenomenal things I’ve ever seen. reach back and grab pull something out excitement for it and then one day I I think he’s probably one of the most of my flight bag. She asked what she just stopped. I let my license expire and talented pilots in the world. was looking for so I told her it’s a small didn’t fly again until recently. box. We were super casual, so I told her You started flying when you were to open it up and I said “You should just What's it like being back in the air? about 16. Was it hard to convince your put that on now.” Oh God, it's amazing. I love flying. parents to let you? And she said, “I think I will.” So that’s Not really. They always knew that I literally how I proposed. So you're you a big vehicle person? liked planes, and I always played flight When we landed the dispatcher asked Absolutely! I still have all my Hot simulators, so when I brought it up it how the flight was. I said that it was Wheels toys. Planes, boats, and cars. was just a matter of booking it. pretty good, but that I went up with a girlfriend and didn't have one anymore. What certifications do you have? What’s your favourite kind of plane? The dispatcher looked worried, but I just have my PPL. For now. I like flying old school. New planes then I told them that I had a fiancée have all sorts of GPS and computer now. It was great. We’re not together What made you want to fly? features—which are cool—but I love the anymore, but it’s still a really great I always thought planes were cool, but nostalgia on older planes like the ones I memory. then I started going to air shows. I love learned to fly in.
JUNE/JULY 2021
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