Tony McLarty Receives Orville and Wilburn Wright Master Pilot Award From FAA

Hope native and 1962 Hope High graduate Tony McLarty was recently awarded the “Orville and Wilbur Wright Master Pilot Award” by the Federal Aviation Administration.  Requirement of this prestigious award includes a minimum of 50 years of commercial aviation experience.

McLarty began flying as a student pilot at the Hope Municipal Airport in 1962 in a two-seat Aeronca Champion under the instruction of Al Page, a former Army Air Force instructor/pilot.  He received advanced ratings at the Sierra Academy of Aviation in Oakland, California.  He logged his first commercial hours flying tourists in Hawaii and delivering mail in the United States.

McLarty’s commercial airline career began in 1972 with OzarkAirlines, which merged with TWA and later with American Airlines.  He retired as Captain after a distinguished, non-accident career and thousands of hours in the cockpit.  Over the years he has flown international routes to Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as domestic routes from coast to coast.

He is the son of the late James and Muriel McLarty of Hope.  McLarty is married to Linda Sheffield McLarty.  They have two children and five grandchildren.  The McLartys live in St. Charles, Missouri.