Mech Nostalgia

Remembering the First Aviation Mechanic - Charles Taylor

The history of naval aviation has a beginning like many others that affect us in the Navy. This is a story of man who was just a mechanic-like many of us who do this job and enjoy it. He was a quiet man who did big things with his hands and brought many of us a pride, integrity and sense of life in our jobs as ADs, AMs, ATs, AEs, and PRs. He made us what we are today, and his legacy lives on as we continue to keep planes flying.

I am one of those many people touched by his skills and became a mech in my early days, working to get my A&P license and wearing it everyday with honor, courage and commitment-like the core values we Sailors use everyday 24/7/365 days a year. I hope this story encourages many of my shipmates young and old to remember the early days of aviation and when in doubt ask, "What would Charles Taylor do?"

I am proud to be an Navy AD and an A&P Mechanic. The FAA has an award named for Charles Taylor. It's their master mechanic award and is given for 50 years of aviation maintenance work-as a mechanic or repairman. An awardee also must have held an A&P for a minimum of 30 years. I have met 3 of these award recipients, and I was amazed to hear their stories of the golden days of aviation and about the equipment and aircraft they worked on.

May 24 is a day being set aside to recognize Charles Taylor and to provide thanks to all aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) in the United States. Aviation organizations have worked to get this day recognized nationally, and they also are working with state legislators to have this day recognized in each state. As a member of Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) and AMT Society, I am very proud to share this story of our beginning with the Navy and Marine Corp. Thank You

The History of Charles Taylor

Three men were involved in the invention and development of the first powered airplane.that's right three. Everyone knows about the Wright brothers, but that third man was Charles E. "Charlie" Taylor, a quiet genius who loved cigars and the sound of machinery. Although he contributed to one of man's greatest achievements, "powered flight," his name was almost lost in aviation history--until now--and if it hadn't been for Charlie that first powered airplane would never have gotten off the ground.

Charlie Taylor was born on a little farm in Cerro Gordo, IL, on May 24, 1868. As a boy Charlie moved to Lincoln, NE, with his family. Charlie quit school at the age of 12 and went to work as an errand boy for the Nebraska State Journal. However, Charlie was mechanically inclined so later, when he began working with machinery in the Journal's bindery, it came easy for him.

When Charlie was in his twenties he moved to Kearney, NE, where he went into a business of making metal house numbers. While in Kearney, Charlie met a young lady named Herietia Webbert in 1892 and married her two years later. In 1896, the Taylor's moved to Dayton, OH, where Charlie worked for a Stoddard Manufacture which made farm equipment and later bicycles. It was in Dayton where Charlie met the Wrights. Mrs. Taylor's uncle rented the building on West Third Street to the Wright brothers for their bicycle business. This was a convenient connection, because, in 1898 when Charlie started his own machine shop, Orville and Wilbur Wright brought him special jobs, including a bicycle coaster brake they had invented but later dropped.

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