At 69, local man finally gets his wings
SUN PHOTO BY BRENDA BARBOSA
At the age of 69, Punta Gorda resident David Wentzell achieved his dream of becoming a pilot. Last November, after completing his training at the A1 Aero Flight Services school in Punta Gorda, he earned his private pilot's license. Wentzell will be 70 in September.
SUN PHOTO BY BRENDA BARBOSA
Flight instructor Pierre Cieciorko, right, of A1 Aero Flight Services in Punta Gorda, debriefs David Wentzell, left, and other pilots before flying off to Fort Pierce for lunch.
His wife thought he was crazy. He thought he might be too old. But flight instructor Pierre Cieciorko, of A1 Aero Flight Services in Punta Gorda, thought David Wentzell was the perfect candidate — he was sharp and had lots of chutzpah.
So at age 69, Wentzell, of Punta Gorda, hit the mute button on the naysayers and achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot.
