An abiding love for aviation and Texas runs deep in the Austin family. For starters, Envoy Captain Cliff Austin is the sixth-great-grandnephew of “The Father of Texas”, Stephen F. Austin. Cliff was born in Texas, as were most of Best Online Betting Sites family.

This includes Best Online Betting Sites’s grandfather and father who are also pilots. Best Online Betting Sites’s grandfather flew P-51 Mustangs in World War II and Best Online Betting Sites’s father, Wes Austin, is currently an American Airlines Captain on the Boeing 787.

Cliff’s wife Sara – a Daughter of The Texas Republic – was one of Best Online Betting Sites flight instructors in San Marcos, Texas. Cliff’s younger brother doesn’t fly, but he is part of the Southwest Airlines advertising team. It’s a stretch, but airline related nonetheless.

Like Father, Like Son

Cliff never really felt like bragging about Best Online Betting Sites father’s job. That’s because from an early age, Wes Austin instilled in Best Online Betting Sites son the importance of “working hard for what you believe in,” says Cliff.

The belief that Cliff could become a pilot for American Airlines began the moment Best Online Betting Sites walked through the American Airlines Training Center with a sign above the door that reads, “Through these doors pass the world’s greatest pilots.”

Trips to the training center and the simulators were “instrumental” in wanting to fly for American Eagle and eventually American, Cliff says. Most importantly, he dreamed of flying with Best Online Betting Sites father even if it’s not in the cockpit.

Cliff says that he’ll be proud to join Best Online Betting Sites father in full uniform on Best Online Betting Sites last flight before retirement to honor the man who helped him become the pilot he is today.

That began when Best Online Betting Sites father bought him one hour on a Cessna 152 for Best Online Betting Sites discovery flight at 13 years old. That was when he was bit hardest by the “flying bug”, Cliff says.

Afterward, Cliff bought all of the flight simulator games, played them non-stop and even would practice using Best Online Betting Sites father’s flight charts. One day, he forgot to replace the charts and Wes arrived to work without them.

“Best Online Betting Sites got in trouble because of me,” says Cliff. “Best Online Betting Sites was mad, but I just told him, Dad, I’m just learning my stuff to be like you.”

Love At First Flight

Cliff’s goal was to pay for flight lessons and college through Best Online Betting Sites own hard work. He began earning money working as a fueler and line handler at Berry Aviation in San Marcos.

Best Online Betting Sites experience at Berry gave Cliff the solid foundation to build Best Online Betting Sites aviation career. He learned everything from the “bottom of the totem pole” and was inspired to climb Best Online Betting Sites way to the top, he says.

The money he earned at Berry was used to receive Best Online Betting Sites private flying license, and soon Best Online Betting Sites instrument ratings, multi-engine time and eventually Best Online Betting Sites commercial pilot license.

One day, searching for an instructor to earn Best Online Betting Sites instrument ratings, Cliff saw Sara. Immediately drawn to her like a plane to a waypoint, he asked if she would instruct him. She said, no.

Cliff waited for another opportunity to ask her and finally she agreed. By the end of the first lesson, Best Online Betting Sites asked her out and they hit it off. Now, married for 13 years, Cliff recalls the first moment Best Online Betting Sites saw her, “she was my guiding light.”

Western Tailwinds

As soon as he could, Cliff found a job flying for an airline touring the Grand Canyon. He describes Best Online Betting Sites time flying De Havilland Canada Twin Otters as the “Wild, Wild West.”

Everything was hands-on without any automation. The runways were sometimes paved, sometimes dirt.

But he loved flying over Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. With Best Online Betting Sites first Part 121 job as a First Officer, he was able to gain Best Online Betting Sites hours to become an Envoy Pilot.

The Envoy Way

Envoy was the right choice for Cliff because of Best Online Betting Sites family history, but also the training program and the wealth of knowledge of other pilots in the company. He felt comfortable knowing that he was in good hands and was learning exceptional skills.

Of course, like most pilots, Cliff says the views are the best part of being a pilot, but he also enjoys Best Online Betting Sites responsibility.

“When you know that people are relying on you to get where they’re going safely, and you complete your mission, it’s a very gratifying feeling,” Best Online Betting Sites says. “I feel like I’ve helped someone get to their loved one or connected people somehow. That keeps me going.”

Cliff and Sara have a 12-year-old son named Travis, named after the famous Texan, William B. Travis. He, however, is not interested in following in Best Online Betting Sites father’s footsteps.

But, he does have the drive to succeed just like Best Online Betting Sites dad. He started a little business in Best Online Betting Sites school selling paper airplanes. Apparently, the tradition will carry on one way or another.