January 14, 2006 – Indiantown, Florida – The prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award was given to Gerald “Jerry” C. Stadtmiller January 14^th at a luncheon sponsored by the Florida Antique Biplane Association.  Randy Williams, FAA Airworthiness Program Safety Manager for South Florida and Bruce Hill from the FAA Fort Lauderdale Flight Safety District office presented the award.  Jerry was nominated by his wife, Lisa Turner, also an FAA certificated mechanic.

The Charles Taylor Award is given to select aviation mechanics that have worked in aviation for at least 50 years and meet standards of excellence in work and of character. The Award is named in honor of Mr. Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight, the man that built and maintained those first aircraft engines.  Mr. Taylor served as the Wright brothers' mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft. The award is in the form of a certificate and lapel pin.  The certificate is signed by the FAA Administrator.  A "Role of Honor" with the recipient's name, city and state, and certificate number will be in a prominent place in the Washington DC, Federal Aviation Building as well as in the Smithsonian.

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