Charles E. Taylor joins Smithsonian’s aviation pioneers
A bronze bust of Charles E. Taylor now sits proudly at the Air & Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center.
Dubbed the father of aircraft maintenance, Taylor was the Wright brothers’ mechanic.
Kenneth MacTiernan, director of the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association, was the driving force behind raising both the awareness and the funds for the bust, which was created by sculptress Virginia Hess.
Attending the dedication ceremonies were three generations of Taylor’s descendants, including grandson Ruben Taylor (left), great-grandson Charles E. Taylor II (right) and great-great-grandson Charles E. Taylor III (center).
