Meet Michael Phillips, a South Jersey Renaissance Man

Michael Phillips walks with the biggest and brightest smile you will ever see, living a well-accomplished life. His shop, called Big Head Mechanic, sits on the Black Horse Pike in Hammonton, NJ. Inside you’ll meet a man with deep passion, strong religious values, and a story that inspires.

Meet Michael Phillips, a South Jersey Renaissance Man
Michael Phillps in a cockpit. Photo credit: Photo credit: Michael Phillips

HAMMONTON —When you walk into an auto mechanic shop, you'd expect to meet just your mechanic, but Michael Phillips is not your average mechanic.

Known around Trenton and along the Black Horse Pike as “Big Head Mike,” he is a modern-day renaissance man. He is a master auto mechanic, a seasoned pilot, founder of and teacher at an aviation school, an accomplished mural artist, and above all, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and man who loves the Lord. 

Picture of Michael Phillips in front of his auto mechanic shop. Photo credit: Lydia Kai Adjetey

At 61 years old, Michael Phillips walks with the biggest and brightest smile you will ever see, living a well-accomplished life. His shop, called Big Head Mechanic, sits on the Black Horse Pike in Hammonton, NJ. Inside you’ll meet a man with deep passion, strong religious values, and a story that inspires.

Michael didn’t plan to become a mechanic. Born and raised in Burlington County, Michael graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Willingboro. He was once a fierce basketball player—still “lethal on the court,” he jokes—and he passed down his athletic drive to his daughter, who became an All-American under his training. But behind the sports and sweat was a visionary leader who thrived to gain more. 

After high school, he got a job at PSE&G but quickly realized he didn’t like working for others. “I like to choose my own environment,” he says. “Less stress, no chest pains.” Thus, he tried his hand at home improvement. In 2008, when the economy crashed, his home improvement business slowed down, so he decided to open a car repair shop. The name “Big Head Mike” came from a joke a friend made—and it stuck with him. But fixing cars is only a small part of his life. His real dream is flying planes. Michael has loved planes since he was a kid. He wanted to be a commercial airline pilot after high school, but his family needed help. He got married at 22, had kids, and had to put his flying dream on hold. “Kids come with responsibilities,” he said. “I had to be present for them.” 

Michael Phillips standing in front of an airplane he built. Photo credit: Photo credit: Michael Phillips

Years later, once his daughters were grown, he finally got his pilot license and has established his own aviation school called Phillips Aviation. Today, Michael’s aviation school has six students. He builds planes with his wife, sometimes right in their home garage. He has been a pilot for about 40 years now, building and owning planes alongside his journey. This inspiring story of Michael’s knows no boundaries.

A plane being built from scratch in the garage of the Phillips. Photo credit: Michael Phillips
Photo of Michael Phillips, his wife and another aboard an aircraft. Photo credit: Michael Phillips

One would think this is already mind-blowing. However, Michael was a former muralist, making him a man of many talents. "I started doing special effects on walls during my painting business,” he recalls. “Then someone asked, ‘Why not put a mural up there?’ So, I did.” 

His favorite work was a recreation of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam—rendered on a ceiling which was featured three times on the front page of the Courier-Post 25 years ago. Despite his talent, he eventually turned away from commissioned artwork. “Art is too subjective,” he says. “You paint clouds, they want puffier clouds. It’s never ending. With cars or planes, it’s either fixed or it’s broken.” 

Michael Phillips, then Michael Laneer at the front page of the Courier-Post 25 years ago. Photo credit: Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips' recreation of Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" painting. Photo credit: Michael Phillips.

Just like many successful businessmen live by rules, Michael’s number one golden rule to success is his “1% rule”: “Only a small percent of people is truly honest. If you can be that person, you will stand out. Everyone wants to work with someone they can trust.” “I hate liars and crooks,” he says with blunt honesty. “A lot of folks come in guarded because of how other mechanics have treated them. But I live by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.” Michael shares his love for the Word of God, “I’m like a walking Bible encyclopedia,” he says. “I listen to it all day, every day. I just can’t get enough of God’s word. “My passions in life are God, family, and aviation,” he says. “Auto repair is a distant one. "Michael hammers on his commitment to being transparent and honest to customers who visit his auto mechanic shop, quoting the Bible verse that talks about sowing what one reaps.  

Michael Phillips on the left with others. Photo credit: Michael Phillips

When asked what advice he has for young people who want to start a business, the entrepreneur and businessman says, “Be honest. Don’t do it just for money. Find something you’re passionate about—and do it with all your strength.” 

Michael Phillips is living proof that it's never too late to follow your dreams. He missed his chance to be a pilot in his 20s—but built his own runway in his 50s. Today, he inspires his students, his customers, and his community—not just with his skills, but with his heart. 

Picture of Michael Phillips showing one of the planes he built. Photo credit: Lydia Kai Adjetey

He might be known as “Big Head Mike,” but his story is all heart. 

Find the full story of Michael Phillips' accomplishments in this interview.

Interview with Michael Phillips, pilot, auto mechanic and owner of an aviation school.


(This story was produced as part of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University's South Jersey Information Equity Project fellowship and supported with funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and the NJ Civic Information Consortium.)


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