Proficient Pilot: Member No. 554

Michael—as he preferred to be called—had read my March 2004 column in AOPA Pilot in which I had mentioned my original Link Trainer instructor, Charlie Gress. It seems that we—Michael and I—had submitted ourselves to Charlie’s sadistic approach to instrument training at his school in Santa Monica, California, at about the same time (1955). Charlie used colorful language to make it clear that he would settle for nothing less than perfection from his students. That Michael and I had shared and survived Charlie’s balsa torture chamber at about the same time created a bond between us that caused him to reach out and make a connection that evolved over several years into a warm friendship.

Michael was born in 1921 and ascended the throne in 1927 to become a 6-year-old monarch. He was 18 when World War II erupted in Europe. In that same year, he joined AOPA: founding member number 554.

The young king was taught to fly by a Romanian Air Force instructor in a Klemm Kl 35, an open-cockpit taildragger that looked much like a Fairchild PT–26 Cornell, except that the Klemm had an inverted gull wing. His early lessons were from a grass strip in Transylvania in central Romania. This was in the shadow of Bran Castle, a Gothic fortress associated with the legend of Dracula. This was also in the darker shadow of global conflict.

During most of the war, Romania had been a pro-Nazi dictatorship ruled by Marshal Ion Antonescu. Michael was proud that in 1944 he helped to stage a successful coup against the strongman and establish an alliance with the Allies that helped to shorten the war in Europe.

The Soviet Union occupied postwar Romania, and the newly formed Communist government forced Michael to abdicate his throne and into exile. His properties were confiscated, and his citizenship was stripped.

He and his wife, Princess Anne, settled in Switzerland and quickly discovered that there was not much demand for an unemployed king. He wound up working in various positions that were less than gratifying. In 1955, however, he serendipitously bumped into Bill Lear at a local Swiss airport. They got along well, and Lear offered him a flying position at a branch operation that he was opening in Geneva. Michael would be responsible for flight testing, troubleshooting, and demonstrating Lear avionics and autopilots. First, though, he would be sent to Santa Monica to obtain instrument training and a multiengine rating in an Aero Commander, and that is where our paths crossed.

Prior to “meeting” Michael, I had thought that the only monarch who flew was Jordan’s King Hussein, but there were others. Michael told me that he had personally known several who were certificated pilots. These included King Felipe VI of Spain, King Peter of Yugoslavia, King Paul of Greece, and King Constantine II of Greece. He also knew other royals who flew, mostly princes.

Michael and I developed a close and symbiotic relationship. He relied on me for conversations about matters aeronautical. And, being a serious student of World War II, I found it fascinating to get his take on events from that era.

In addition to his love of flight, Michael was passionate about military Jeeps, and I was invited to his home in Switzerland for a ride in one or two of them. In return, I was to take him flying, but it never happened.

Michael flew west on December 5, 2017, the last surviving head of state from the Second World War. AOPA lost one of its last founding members, and I lost a good friend, one whom I regretfully never met.

Web: www.barryschiff.com