Charles E. Taylor Bronze Bust Locations

This page will list all the locations where a bronze bust of Charles E. Taylor is on display. This bust is created by the very talented artist Virginia Krause- Hess. Mr. Taylor is considered the "Unsung Hero" of aviation and the "Father of Aircraft Maintenance". Over 100 years of aviation have passed and the man who provided the power for powered, controlled flight has been overlooked by history. These lifelike busts will enable the public to see the man who, because of his knowledge, skill & integrity, enabled the United States of America and the Wright Brothers to claim first in powered, controlled flight.

Kenneth MacTiernan

Director, AMTA

This bust of Charles E. Taylor is on display at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The University is located at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 South Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. The bust was dedicated by the University on May 24th, 2005 when the University renamed their Aviation Maintenance Technology Department to the Charles Taylor Department of Aviation Maintenance Science. Their web site is WWW.EMBRYRIDDLE.EDU.

This bust of Charles E. Taylor is located in the San Diego Aerospace Museum. The museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, California 92101. The museum's web site is WWW.AEROSPACEMUSEUM.ORG. This bust was donated by the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association on December 18th, 2005.

This bust of aviation's original "Unsung Hero" is in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar - Hazy Center. It was dedicated on Friday August 11th, 2006.

This bust was donated to American Airlines' Maintenance Overhaul Base in Kansas City, MO (MCI). The bust was donated on May 24, 2007 and prior to the unveiling the F.A.A. presented 6 Charles E. Taylor Master Mechanic Awards to local AA MCI AMTs.

The bronze bust is on display in the main lobby to the base with a "Wall of Honor" behind it. On this wall will be placed photos of each C.E.T. Master Mechanic Award recipient. With the 6 recent recipients the total is now 20 award holders in the MCI facility! When potential customers of A.A. maintenance visit this facility they will see who the first aircraft mechanic was and those who have proudly followed in his footsteps and set the example for future AMTs to follow.

This bust was donated to American Airlines' Maintenance & Engineering Base in Alliance, TX on August 9, 2007.

This bust was donated to American Airlines' Maintenance & Engineering Base in Tulsa, OK on May 24, 2007.

This bust was donated to Wright State University's Paul Laurence Dunbar Library on June 16th, 2007. It was made possible by donations from AMTA Members. Our guest speaker was Howard DuFour, author of the informative biography on Charles E. Taylor. Many people attended the event. Remarks were given by Richard Dilbeck, Fred Mirgle and Virginia Hess as well as AMTA Director Kenneth MacTiernan.

The Taylor Family was represented by Emily & Rueben Taylor, Charles and Chase Taylor. Both Rueben & Charles spoke briefly and thanked all those involved in making this donation a success.

This bust was donated to Southwest Airlines on May 21, 2009 at 9:00 AM in Hangar 5 at Love Field, TX. The Taylor Family attended and Rueben and Charles Taylor, Grandson and Great Grandson, respectively, both spoke to the assembled group of AMTs. Colleen Barrett and Mike Sokol helped accept the bust from the AMTA.

This bust was donated to the United States Air Force Academy on March 2nd, 2010. The bust resides on the third floor of the McDermott Library. Colonel David Lange, who is related to Charles E. Taylor and Brigadier General Dana H. Born spoke at the ceremony.

This bust was donated by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, AMFA, to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington on August 11, 2010. The left hand picture shows AMFA's officials from across their system. The center picture shows Louie Key, AMFA's National Director and AMTA Director Ken MacTiernan who was invited as a guest to attend this special event. The right hand picture shows the decal which is located next to the L-1 entry door on an Alaska Airlines 737.

The bust ceremony consisted of Laurie Haag, VP and COO for the Museum of Flight who was the Master of Ceremonies with Brad Tilden, Alaska Airlines President and Fred Mohr, Alaska Airlines VP of Maintenance and Engineering speaking. Louie Key also gave a great speech about Charles E. Taylor's dedication to a craft he started which today includes AMFA AMTs at Alaska Airlines. Charles E. Taylor II, family representative of the Taylor family spoke about many of the "firsts" that Charlie is known for.

The AMTA is proud to have been invited to such a wonderful event which under AMFA's support brings the total resting places for a bust of aviation's "Original Unsung Hero" to 11!