Virgil Williams Wins Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award

By ANN Special Contributor Bill Barker

On Monday, January 10, 2005, at the regular meeting of the Plainwell City Council, in front of his many friends and family, Virgil Williams was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of safe flight (he actually has 54 years of safe flight.)

The award was presented by Tim Phillips & Donald Finney of the FAA Flight Safety District Office (FSDO) in Grand Rapids, MI (below).

"This is a special occasion," says Phillips, "Virgil is the only person in our area to qualify for this award." "Think about it," says Finney, "Aviation has been around for 100 years and this accomplishment represents half the time that man has been flying." Phillips & Finney flank Virgil, who is in the center of the picture.

There have been only 190 pilots nationwide to receive this prestigious award. Virgil is only the 4th in Michigan.

Virgil has retired from his position as chief pilot for Upjohn (now known as Pharmacia) with a career of 23,000 hours, visiting all 50 states and literally circling the globe.

In "retirement" he has remained an active commercial pilot from flying golf legend Jack Nicholas and music chart topping Julio & Enrique Iglesias to flying for the Department of Agriculture as an aerial spotter during gypsy moth control operations.

He also volunteers as Airport Manager for the Plainwell Municipal Airport to, as he says, "give back something to aviation that has offered me so many opportunities over the years."

In his free time, he frequently flies his J-3 Cub, C-182 Skylane or Beechcraft Baron.

(Bill Barker answered our request for GA and Sport Aviation stories from our readers. You, too can pitch in on an issue close to your heart. Drop us a line at editor@aero-news.net )

FMI: www.PlainwellPilots.org