AV8 Questions: Wesley Vert

Interview with Wes Vert, AV8 Flight School Flight Instructor

When did you become interested in aviation? My father was in the Air Force. Most of my childhood, I got to look up at military aircraft flying around the air force bases that we were living at. This sparked my interest in aviation. Eventually, I decided to switch careers and pursue aviation.

Are your family or friends interested in flying? I have several friends that were pilots. I got to experience general aviation a few times when I was growing up and later as an adult. It was a fun experience getting to see a new side of air travel and the freedom that comes with flying small planes.

How did your career in aviation begin? After a career in a different industry, I decided that I needed to make a change. The only other career I had thought of growing up was being a pilot. I took my first flight at AV8 and was hooked instantly. My instructor took care of me and made sure that I felt comfortable along the way. I knew that this was the new path I was going to follow and I decided to put in the work and training necessary to get me ready to help instruct student pilots. It has been a great change and a fun experience.

Has your career evolution followed an expected path? My career path was less than conventional. I worked night shift for around 15 years. My study time was always in the early morning hours. I had a very accommodating instructor at AV8 that always flew with me in the early morning or late at night to help me get my ratings. Even with this unconventional approach, I was able to get my ratings done and moved on to start instructing.

Do you have a favorite aspect of your work? I thoroughly enjoy instructing and helping student pilots, but outside of that, the sights and scenery we get to look at is breathtaking at times. I enjoy when seasons change and I get to look at the leaves changing along the Mississippi with all the fall colors. While we stay a far distance away from weather, it always impresses me seeing storms build many miles away. I remember a flight that I took at night where we could see a thunderstorm off in the distance and the lightning it produced was amazing. These are the types of moments that keep me coming back every day.

Is there a time in aviation history, or aircraft that you find most fascinating? My grandfather was also in the air force and served during WWII. He was a crew member on the B-24. I always found his stories of that time very interesting as he took part in history. From modern times, I have always had a fascination with the F-22. Its performance and capabilities are astonishing and I was finally able to see one fly in person at the most recent Duluth Airshow. It was very cool to see that display of air superiority.

When is/was your favorite industry-related event, such as annual camp or fly-in? Every year growing up, we had an airshow at Robbins AFB, in GA where we lived. We usually got to see the Thunderbirds and all different types of Air Force aircraft. This was definitely one of the things that I got to experience growing up that solidified my love for aviation.

What is the future of flight for you? The short answer is, I don’t know. I am very family oriented and want to continue working a job that will keep me at home with them most every night. I haven’t yet decided what the future holds, but it will for sure continue to be working as a pilot.

Wes Vert at AV8 Flight School.

AV8 Questions: Interviews with Aviators