Pilots, both pleasure and professionals, are rarely recognized. This is because most private pilots don't wear uniforms. The pilot wings pin tells all the people with whom you come in contact with that you are a pilot. If your passion, like mine, is flying, you're not doing yourself or aviation a favor by remaining anonymous. Why not let everyone you meet know you're a Pilot? Order your FREE pilot wings today. The more people that know you are a pilot, the more important your local airport becomes to voters. If you know a local politician that is a pilot, give a pilot wing pin to him or her.
When I soloed back in 1959, the airports were booming, nothing like the airports of today. Today most general aviation independant FBOs (fixed base operators) are trying to survive. The trend for the last 30 years has resulted in less pilots flying for pleasure. In the heyday, the whole family would pack up tents and cooking gear and make a weekend of flying camping, cooking, eating; and all right there by the hanger or tie down for their airplane. The FBOs were busy servicing and fueling planes, taking folks for airplane rides. Scenic flights over local towns, homes, farms, training new pilots, buying, selling and renting airplanes. Many people would come to their local airport just to watch the planes takeoff and land. Due to several factors, today, this is not the case. It hurts to watch as pilots faced with the economy, the falling dollar, cost of fuel, insurance, hanger fees, annual inspections, put their beloved aircraft up for sale. These beautiful aluminum, wood and fabric aeronautical works of art, are just sitting in their hangars, or tied down weathering away. Even worse as the price of aluminum goes up the parting out of these aircraft also becomes a desperate option.
Our copyrighted pin, is metal with soft enamel and shaped like a pair of wings. They are one & 1/2 inches wide and gold in color with navy blue text. I want pilots to be recognizable, and due to the fact that the pins say "PILOT" and not some organization logo, (NO MEMBERSHIP OR DUES TO WEAR THEM) they become the perfect icebreaker to kick-off conversations with people who always wanted to learn to fly, or started taking lessons but for one reason or another had not completed training. They now have a contact to discuss their interest in pursuing training for a career with the airlines, corporate or flying just for pleasure. All pilots should seek the opportunity to share their passion for flying and be that someone to encourage turning the dream of learning to fly into the reality. I started by ordering the pins and giving them to pilots at airports I visited. Then I started giving them to pilots that are living in nursing homes, retirement homes and assisted living facilities. Now I'm offering them free to all pilots.
These custom pins can be worn by any pilot, past or present, as a lapel pin, on a shirt pocket, on a hat, or as a tie tack. The fact that the pins say PILOT AVIATION ADVOCATE says it all. As an unintended benefit, on a recent commercial airline flight, the TSA agent noticing my pilot wings on my tie motioned me through the short security line. Also the rent-a-car agent pointing toward my pilot wings offered me the lower industry rate on my rental. They must have thought I was an off duty or in my case (67-white hair) retired airline pilot.
If you are an instructor, Not counting the first solo, what greater moment in your aviation life is the time your student passes his or her check ride and you have the honor of presenting and pinning the wings on your pilot. Instructors may order extra sets of wings for their students in advance of their check ride.
The wings are free, Send me your name as it appears on your pilot certificate If your medical is not current, (due to TSA we verify that only pilots order these pins)just send a voided copy of your pilot certificate and $2.00 shipping and processing for each ( one post type) wings pin ordered. We now also have the new two post type, that keep the wings level. For each two post type wings ordered send $3.00 shipping and processing. For both types 1 & 2 post (2 pins) send $4.00. Personal or company checks only. Offer valid USA only. Limit two pins per pilot certificate.
Wylie B. Axford Sr.
Aviation Advocate
402 2nd Ave East
Oneonta Alabama 35121
Propawn@Otelco.net
aawings.com
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