Larry Macon - Recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
On July 12, 2021, at the Mid-Carolina Regional Airport in Salisbury, North Carolina, Larry Macon received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. The award was presented by Paul Meyer, FAASTeam program manager from Charlotte, North Carolina.
In his Sport Aerobatics 2007 Meet a Member interview, Larry said, “I have been fascinated with flying and airplanes since I was a kid watching the Carolina Aero Club have their fly-ins at a grass strip just a few miles from home. My dad arranged for my first flight in a C-172 from this same grass strip when I was 12. I knew immediately that I had to fly when I became old enough.”
According to the PowerPoint created for the award presentation, Macon’s first flight lesson was at the Rowan County Airport on June 1, 1968. He completed his first solo flight on June 26, 1968. Not long after, he flew his solo cross-country flight on July 20. Macon got his commercial certificate in 1987 and became an advanced and instrument instructor on March 18, 1988.
His first taste of aerobatics was in 1980 when he received training from Lindsey Hess, a local air show performer, in his Pitts S-2A. Larry rode through many of Lindsey’s air show maneuvers and marveled at the performance of the Pitts. Larry would later go on to train with great instructors such as Bill Kershner, Dagmar Kress, Bill Finagin, and Budd Davisson.
Out of all the great folks he met in the sport, he had to admit the person he admires the most is Bill Finagin. “I would pick Bill for his wealth of knowledge about aerobatics, the IAC, and the Pitts. He has been very helpful with information about the Pitts and spin training.”
Larry joined IAC in January 1999. With an ambition to fly aerobatics for the pure joy and freedom, and to help others experience aerobatics, he joined up with IAC Chapter 19 in North Carolina. By October that year he had entered his first aerobatic contest at Farmville, Virginia. When asked what his most memorable contest moment was, he said, “My second contest when I won my first trophy, second place in the Super Decathlon. I was in first place after the first flight, but Dave Watson out-flew me in a battle of the Super D’s.”
In 2002 he purchased his 1996 Pitts S-2B, appropriately named The Ride. “It is a kick in the pants to fly! A beautiful airplane and great fun!” Larry said. He had enjoyed the Super D, but wanted something with more performance. He called Bill Finagin for assistance, who let Larry know there was an S-2B available in Annapolis, Maryland. It was love at first sight. He has spent over 1,000 aerobatic hours in The Ride and has more than 1,900 takeoffs and landings in it.
Larry told the Salisbury Post that he has competed in 42 IAC contests in 11 states, with an incredible record of success. Winning first place in 30 percent of the events, he also has placed either first, second, or third in 67 percent of them. “I only competed twice in 2019, but won first place in both the New Jersey and Virginia contests,” he said. “Then I missed a year and a half for COVID. My first competition for this year was on May 14 and 15 in Rome, Georgia, resulting in a second-place finish.” Larry flies in the Intermediate category.
Always involved in community organizations, Larry turned his leadership skills toward IAC Chapter 19, serving as the chapter president from 2004 to 2008. He also served as a contest director and judge for regional contests. With the support of the Charlotte FSDO and Mid-Carolina airport (KRUQ) managers, tenants, and users, Larry maintained a waivered aerobatic practice area (APA) there for 13 years.
His hobbies, other than aerobatic competition flying, include driving and maintaining classic cars, currently a 1978 Datsun 280Z and a 1969 Chevelle 396 SS. Larry and his wife, Pat, have been married 38 years. She is generally underwhelmed by the idea of aerobatics but has been supportive over the years.
“And I also play golf, but I am much better at flying,” he said.
Congratulations to Larry Macon on the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, recognizing his practice of safe flight operations continuously for 50 or more years during the course of his aviation career!
The Ride
