Barton Springs Resident Aviator Takes to the Skies Again

Flying airplanes has been a lifelong love of Silverado Barton Springs resident Sheila, who first earned her pilot’s license in the 1950s. One of her greatest joys was soaring above the clouds in her single engine Mooney plane, which she’d had painted in the colors of the Texas flag so everyone could see her coming from miles away!

As an aviator Sheila made her mark in numerous ways.  She used her passion for the good of others wherever possible, flying DEA missions, as well as search and rescue missions and cadet orientation flights for the Civil Air Patrol. A booster for women in aviation, she was also a member of the 99s, a group created by Amelia Earhart for the purpose of inspiring and helping women pilots.  

After logging an impressive 4,500 hours of flight time, Sheila thought she’d had her last flight at the age of 86. As a resident at Silverado Barton Springs, Sheila’s love of aviation had become legendary, and everyone knew she just had to take one more flight. So it was that, working together with Sheila’s family, the Barton Springs team arranged for her to take to the skies again. At the age of 92, sitting alongside her son (who is also a pilot!), Sheila roared up the runway and out into the blue once more!