John Appel ’56

Receives the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award

On Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007, John Appel ’56, was presented with the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award at ceremonies in Lakeland, FL. The award recognizes the efforts of pilots who have followed and continue to follow the precaution and awareness of safe operations. Most of all, FAA recognizes pilots who have contributed and maintained safe flight operations for 50 or more consecutive years of piloting aircraft. Following are the words used to introduce John at the ceremony in Lakeland.

“John is one of only a few in this room or anywhere else to experience flight at Mach 2, in the legendary F-4 Phantom, no less! And by the way, it was a brand new F-4 right out of the factory, too … with that “new fighter” smell when you strapped in and closed the canopies. It was one of only a few times John ever flew a NEW airplane. John’s beginnings were a bit more humble. He joined the Maryland Flying Club during his days at the University of Maryland and soloed at the College Park Airport, the world’s oldest continuously-run airport, first established by the Wright Brothers themselves in 1909, and still in use today. John was a quick learner and soloed an Aeronca 7AC in December of 1956, and were it not for his vigilance on that flight, he might not have survived a very close encounter with an opposing aircraft that was taking off on the opposite runway! John’s next step after college was the US Air Force, and there he helped phase out the last of the B-47 Stratojets. After a tour as an Air Force Flight Instructor, John was assigned to combat missions in the F-4, and was among the first combat pilots to pioneer the use of the laser guided munitions so commonplace today. John flew 255 combat missions during his time in Southeast Asia, including two dozen missions over heavily defended North Vietnam. John retired after 20 years with the Air Force, and flew as a civilian as he traveled across the country in his motor home. Today he holds a 1⁄4 share in a Clearwater-based Mooney M20C.

Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the Administrator, please join me in recognizing John Appel as one of our newest Wright Brothers Master Pilots. Congratulations!”

Theta’s congratulations to John. Photos are pictures of John in action.