Nebraska Aviation Maintenance Technicians Day A Tribute to Today's Aviation Technicians as well as Charlie Taylor, Lincoln's Direct Connection to the 100th Anniversary of Flight

April 1, 2003

LINCOLN, NEB. - Saturday, May 24, will be recognized statewide as Nebraska Aviation Maintenance Technicians Day. On January 22, 2003, Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns signed a proclamation declaring this day to recognize the contributions today's aircraft maintenance technicians make. The recognition also honors the contributions of Charles E. Taylor, who is considered the first aircraft mechanic and was involved in the historic first flight of the Wright Flyer. Taylor spent his formative years in Nebraska.

"Nebraska Aviation Maintenance Technicians Day was established to recognize and honor all aviation maintenance technicians for their dedication and behind-the-scenes accomplishments that have made air transportation safe and reliable," says Rich Baeder, Vice President of Duncan Aviation's Aircraft Services and Customer Support. "The maintenance technician's job is crucial to the safety of every flight yet they are often overshadowed by the flight crew. This is a way to honor them and recognize the importance of what they do." As North America's largest family-owned business aircraft support facility, Duncan Aviation employs hundreds of airframe and engine maintenance technicians, the majority of whom are located at the company's Lincoln, Neb., headquarters. "In addition," Baeder continues, "this day honors Charles Edward 'Charlie' Taylor, the Wright Brothers' maintenance technician who attended public school in Lincoln and spent the early part of his adult life in the Lincoln and Kearney areas." Taylor was born in a small log cabin near the Sangamon River near Cerro Godo, Fiat City, a few miles east of Decatur, Ill. At the age of seven, his father relocated the family to Lincoln to re-establish a livelihood after a hog cholera epidemic destroyed their business in Illinois. Taylor grew up in Lincoln, eventually graduating from Lincoln High School. For about 18 months after graduation, he owned and operated his own machine shop. In 1892, Charlie was socializing at a club in Kearney and met a "striking" 19-year-old woman by the name of Henrietta Webbert. He soon asked her to be his wife. As a coincidence, Henrietta's family had at one time lived in Dayton, Ohio, and at that time were acquainted with a man by the name of Bishop Milton Wright, who had two inquisitive and inventive sons named Wilbur and Orville. Charlie and Henrietta were married in Kearney on September 20, 1894, and by March of 1896, with their first son in tow, decided to relocate to Dayton. While there, Taylor worked as a machinist for a couple of different companies as well as his own. By June of 1901, he started working at the Wright Cycle Company repairing bikes and "minding the store" for Wilbur and Orville. His relationship with the Wright Brothers grew and Taylor single-handedly designed and built the engine that propelled the 'Wright Flyer' on its maiden flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. "The story of Charlie Taylor is an interesting one that few Nebraskans know," continues Baeder. "Since this is the Centennial Anniversary of that first flight, it is important to share that story and see how a Nebraskan played a significant part in an event that changed the world forever."

Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider with 1,800 employees supporting the aviation needs of government and business operators and other service providers. These services include airframe, engine, component (avionics, instrument and accessory) repair and overhaul, avionics installations, interior and paint completions/modifications and parts support. Major service facilities are located in Lincoln, Neb., and Battle Creek, Mich. Additional locations include 20 satellite avionics facilities located throughout the United States, 19 government C-23 contract locations, a line service and regional support facility in Kalamazoo, Mich., and Lincoln-based AVPAC, a division that sells and consigns general aviation parts to aircraft operators and service organizations worldwide.

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