A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of charles edward taylor, the world's first airplane mechanic, and urging the citizens of this state to recognize May 24 of each year as North Carolina AVIATION Maintenance Technician Day in honor of charles edward taylor and all the aviation MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS who have followed in his footsteps.

Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor was born on May 24, 1869; and
Whereas, in 1902, Charles Edward Taylor began working as a machinist for Orville and Wilbur Wright at the Wright Cycle Company in Dayton, Ohio; and
Whereas, within six weeks, Charles Edward Taylor, using only a lathe and drill press, built the first engine used to power the Wright Flyer; and
Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor's ingenuity earned him a place in aviation history when the Wright brothers successfully flew their airplane on December 17, 1903; and 
Whereas, after this historic event, Charles Edward Taylor continued to design engines for the Wright brothers and later taught them to build aircraft engines; and
Whereas, in 1908, Charles Edward Taylor accompanied Orville Wright to Fort Myer, Virginia, for test flights by the United States government and in 1909, accompanied Wilbur Wright to New York for the Hudson‑Fulton flights; and
Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor served as lead mechanic for Calbraith Rodgers, who made his first transcontinental flight in 1911; and
Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor had a successful career in aviation maintenance for more than 60 years; and
Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor was honored by the Federal Aviation Administration with the establishment of the Charles Edward Taylor Master Mechanic Award, which recognizes persons with 50 years or more of aviation maintenance experience; and
Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor died in 1956; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the life and memory of Charles Edward Taylor and expresses its appreciation for the invaluable contributions he made to aviation.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly urges the citizens of this State to recognize May 24 of each year as North Carolina Aviation Maintenance Technician Day in honor of Charles Edward Taylor. The General Assembly further urges the citizens of this State to participate in activities commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' flight.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Flight Standards District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration in the City of Greensboro.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 29th day of July, 2002.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives