Mason Metzinger posing with an airplane. (Photo Provided)

WARSAW — Mason Metzinger, a graduate of Warsaw Community High School, was recently granted the opportunity to participate in an internship at Warsaw Community Municipal Airport.

Metzinger changed the direction of his future about two years ago, when his desire to become a pilot was sparked by unfortunate circumstances. “[It was] my grandfather. He was a private pilot and he would tell stories. When he passed away I decided that I was gonna fly for him … [that’s] when I started taking the class.” Metzinger said.

The class that Metzinger is referring to is the aviation course offered at WCHS. “it was a great way to start my training,” he said. “The course is very thorough and having Eric Coburn, the Ground School teacher, out there was very helpful. We used a program called King’s School and what it couldn’t cover, he helped cover. That was the reason I was able to pass and follow through with my flying career.”

His experience in the aviation class was a positive one that helped him move forward with his studies and opened new opportunities. “There have been a couple of changes in plans, but it’s been pretty easy. It takes a lot of work, money especially and time … but with the help of the Warsaw Flying Club it’s gone smoothly,” Metzinger said.

Metzinger was helping out at the Flying Club for about a year and a half before he was offered the internship at the airport. “I was so excited … [The Flying Club] was the small business side and I wanted to see the bigger business side of running an airport. I was so excited that Nick offered me the chance to see that,” he stated.

He seems to be enjoying his time at the airport and the opportunities his internship affords him. “I show up at around 1 p.m. and I monitor the flight tracker and the radios … I do a lot of fueling for Zimmer-Biomet. If there isn’t any fueling to do and the weather is nice, I’ll jump on the mower and have fun mowing all day,” stated Metzinger.

Metzinger plans to attend Indiana State University and major in Professional Flight and Aviation Management. He wants to fly for UPS one day. “Don’t let people discourage you [from pursuing aviation], and don’t let the money and time do it either,” he said.