By Joel Godston, EAA 441437
To celebrate 50 consecutive years of fly-in conventions in Oshkosh, we’re featuring Stories of Oshkosh told by attendees remembering their special moments at EAA’s long-standing home. If you or someone you know would like to share your own Story of Oshkosh, email editorial@eaa.org.
I was 9 years old in 1943 when I knew I wanted to be involved in aviation — and I have no idea why! My first paying job (about 25 cents per hour) was when I was 11 years old in 1947 washing airplanes at the remaining of five airports originally on Staten Island. I received a ride in a seaplane that could take off and land on water as well as land. So, that began my adventure in aviation that has lasted for more than 60 years! While I no longer pilot aircraft, I mentor and review many aviation topics with youngsters, and oldsters, very often.
Born on July 4, 1934, living on Staten Island, my parents helped me purchase a Thor model airplane motor, it really wasn’t much good, and it would not run very well even on the motor stand I constructed.
I graduated from Curtis High School in February 1952, then went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to become an aeronautical engineer while I was also in the Air Force ROTC. After graduating, I was in the Air Force pilot training class of 57-H. My first flight in a souped up Piper Cub was on February 2, 1956.
I became a pilot after almost being washed out. I flew B-47s with an aircraft commander who flew B-17s in World War II, and then flew F-86Hs and F-84s in the Massachusetts Air National Guard. I worked at Pratt & Whitney for about 40 years. I am now retired mentoring and teaching aviation-related subjects with elementary, junior high, and high school students, and previously adults in the Institute for Lifelong Education at Dartmouth program.
I first attended EAA AirVenture Oshkosh about 20 years ago and I keep coming back because you really don’t get to meet people that are so enthusiastic about flying and aviation other than at AirVenture. It’s fun and an honor to meet people like that. At AirVenture in 2002, I got to see my old friend Chuck Yeager, who I met in Spain in 1957 when I was in the Strategic Air Command flying B-47s. I also met Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger at AirVenture one year; just to be able to talk with him was amazing. I enjoy meeting and talking about the Air Force and things that I have in common with people like Chuck and Sully. Every year we would come to AirVenture, we would stay in a private home with some people we met through AirVenture and eventually became friends with. We were like family and it was a joy to meet those folks. The people that you meet through EAA are just special people. To hear about some of the stories of people traveling from all over the world to get here and share their love of aviation is just amazing.