• Name:  W.  Reed Parsons

• Position: Aircraft Maintenance Technician (A&P)

• Home Town: I was born in Austin, TX, but have lived many more years here in Denton, TX

• Years of Experience: Pilot since 1994, Aircraft Maintenance since 2001

• Favorite Aircraft:  I’m most at-home flying a Cessna 182, but my new found love and the most fun to fly would be the Schweizer 300C

• What made you decide to pursue a career in aviation?

As a young man growing up on the family farm, I would occasionally get buzzed by helicopters or fighter jets while I plowed fields or bailed hay. Those pilots looked like they were having a lot more fun up there in the air than I was on the ground. I decided then and there that I would learn to fly some day. I still find flying to be a great escape from the mundane grind of life!

• What is your most memorable moment in aviation?

The first time I flew a twin turboprop aircraft and reversed thrust after landing. Flying coast to coast in single engine planes is pretty slow, so I don’t know if it would qualify as a “moment”, but trips I’ve made from Texas to California, Florida, and Virginia are certainly the most memorable times.

• If you were to choose any profession other than this what would it be and why? 

I’ve already tried a lot of other professions: horse trainer, biochemist, bee keeper, auto mechanic, isotope-ratio masspectroscopist, carpenter, photographer, boat mechanic, software engineer, boat captain, dive master, and children’s home director… I think I had better stick A&P mechanic for a while.

• How do you spend most of your time when not flying or working? 

Fellowship, building friendships, cooking, traveling (usually to South America).

• If you could have any aviation job in the world what would it be and why?

I’m where I want to be, A&P / IA is just fine with me.

• What are some other notable mentions about your life? 

I spent 6 years working with orphaned/abandoned/troubled youths living aboard boats and ships. That was one of the most rewarding and challenging times of my life.  I also studied Spanish and lived in Ecuador for a couple of years doing Christian mission work. I still have friends in Ecuador and like to go there when I have vacation time. It feels like my home away from home.