Why We Fly

Christian pilot achieves childhood goal

When asked the age-old question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" during a kindergarten graduation ceremony, Michael Walther of Collinsville, Illinois, told his principal he wanted to be "a Christian pilot."

As Walther found his way into the world, he never lost sight of that goal. Three of his jobs throughout high school in the 1970s were at the Illinois Vandalia Airport, where he earned a private pilot certificate. He graduated from Greenville College in Illinois with a degree in chemistry and completed six years of reserve duty with the Marine Corps based in St. Louis at Lambert International Airport. But Walther wasn't satisfied and felt the need to pursue the more important part of what he wanted to be when he grew up.

"I knew I'd like to be a pastor. I went to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis for four years of study," said Walther, who upon receiving his call into the ministry spent seven years in Nebraska, then returned home to Collinsville with his wife (whom he met in college) and five children.

During that time, Walther said he "missed flying so much." He was too busy with his career and his family to make extra time for a hobby--until four years ago, when he discovered a reason to get back in the air again. "I want to expose people to general aviation," said Walther. "I just really enjoy being up there, and a lot of people do not know the experience of being in a small airplane. They think it's something they cannot do until they see someone do it."

Periodically, he asks congregants at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville if they would be interested in flying--like Steven Goetz. "I went with him and loved every minute of it. I was so enthralled with actually flying that I began my training within a month of that introductory flight," said Goetz, who juggled his flight training and studies while attending Truman State University in Kirksville, Montana.

Goetz, who passed his multiengine instructor checkride in October 2007, remembers when he first took to the skies. "I did my private pilot training in a Piper Cherokee...when I was first transitioning to the Cessnas, I had trouble landing them." With Walther's help, Goetz learned to grease a landing in no time. "Pastor is a very patient and knowledgeable man, and I strive to be like him as I instruct my students."

Walther recalls another rough time when Goetz was on the verge of quitting because he wasn't meshing well with his flight instructor. "It was a critical moment for Steve," he recalled, acknowledging that it's a big job to teach a student and keep him comfortable at the same time. "I encouraged him to try a new instructor."

The mentoring experience continues for the pair as they see each other every Sunday at church and discuss future flights. Recently, Walther accompanied Goetz during a flight to practice instrument approaches. "I want to do that again. It was really amazing," said Walther.

At age 50, Walther stays proficient by flying two times a month with Air Force retiree Bob Morris, who is a friend and a member of the church. "I told him flying is a good way to keep his mental faculties in shape. It's a challenge," said Walther. Together, they rent a Piper Archer and fly out of Sparta Community-Hunter Field in Sparta, Illinois.

"Until I strike oil," jokes Walther, "I will just fly for fun." Now that he's grown up, Walther said he wants to get his instrument rating or maybe build his own airplane. He said, "We'll just have to wait and see."

Kathryn Opalewski, a student pilot, is an editorial assistant for AOPA Flight Training and AOPA Pilot magazines.