Meet the GAC Member - Michael D'Arcy

30th January 2026

Meet Michael D'Arcy, a Goodwood Aero Club Member with a true passion for aviation.

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Have you always been interested in Aviation?

Yes, since a very young age. My grandfather and namesake, Michael Austin D’Arcy, was Air Commodore Royal Air Force and Deputy Leader of the Queen's Flight so I grew up to wonderful stories of his heroics that stirred my interest in aviation. This curiosity led me to study Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol, where I had the privilege of working on the almighty A380 wing systems at Airbus in Filton during a year in industry.

 

Tell us a bit about you and your flying journey?

Rather unusually my journey started by leaping from aircraft, rather than flying them, as I became a military paratrooper jumping static line from the rear of a C-130 Hercules. I went onto gain my British Skydiving and Paramotor licences which only whetted my appetite to fly more conventional fixed wing aircraft. The gap finally came in 2020 during lockdown where I had the pleasure of learning to fly with Rob Wildeboer and have been lucky to continue flying, and working, at Goodwood ever since.

 

Any favourite moments of flying?

Flying from Goodwood truly is breathtaking every time. A recent highlight was flying down our beautiful coastline to Bolt Head Airfield with fellow GAC member Kurt. Flying past Mount Everest into Lukla Airport in Nepal will certainly go down as the most memorable, if not the scariest flights, I have ever taken.

 

Who is your aviation hero?

My grandfather for setting the course on this aviation journey.

 

What has been the best piece of advice you have been given about flying?

“Focus on flying the plane” from the legend Rob Wildeboer.

  • aerodrome

  • GAC Exclusive

  • flying at goodwood

  • Flying

  • Flying Lessons

  • Flying Membership