The first-generation flyer who started it all for the Reigles was the late Charles Reigle. Flying became a generational habit that trickled down to the family’s newest pilot, Carl Reigle. Aviation wasn’t just a bug that these men caught; it was a gene deeply rooted in their DNA to become pilots.
Charles was an eight-year-old boy in rural Pennsylvania on his family farm when he saw an airplane for the first time.
“From that day on, he just watched it from one end of the horizon to the other, and that day on, that’s what he wanted to do,” Charles’ grandson Duane Reigle, EAA 849520, said.
Charles later went on to become a CFI and bought some land to start his own all-grass airport. In 1942, Reigle Airport (58N) was established in Palmyra, Pennsylvania.
Duane went to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for the first time with his grandparents in 1974. After being around aircraft his whole life, being there made him realize he had taken their presence for granted. But when he was 15 years old, he considered flying as a full-time job as he watched his father, Wade Reigle, EAA 126445, fly as an aerobatic competitor.
Duane is a third-generation pilot. “It was exciting to solo on my 16th birthday,” Duane said, “but the real love came on my first solo cross-country. Suddenly the world was smaller. The map wasn’t just a flat piece of paper.”
Duane went the airline route and worked for commuter airlines, Frontier airlines and US Air. “I absolutely loved it. I couldn’t believe I was in an airplane that I could stand up in,” he said. “But still being able to take off when I want in a little airplane … I think that’s what keeps [it] fun. Doing all types of different flying.”
Duane’s son Carl is now a fourth-generation pilot. He also soloed on his 16th birthday just like his dad, but it wasn’t until he was 26 that he took his private pilot checkride, taking off on April 28. He flew the sky over southeast Pennsylvania, earning his certificate at his family’s own airport just like his grandpa and dad.
Carl basically grew up at his great-grandfather’s airport. Between his dad being an airline pilot and flying to football camps and baseball tournaments, Carl was able to travel the U.S. at a young age.
“Whenever we would travel or go to the beach or sporting events, we would just hop in one of the Cessnas or hop in one of our other planes, just fly ‘em down to the beach instead of taking the four-hour drive,” Carl said.
Carl started coming to AirVenture with his father and grandfather when he was around 11 years old. His dad would fly the three of them up each year.
So, becoming a pilot wasn’t just a personal milestone — it was the continuation of a family legacy. For Carl, aviation runs deep in the bloodline, shaped by the generations before him.
“It’s definitely an honor, and just a privilege because I don’t know if I’d be here if it wasn’t for my great-grandfather and then grandfather after him and then my dad,” he said.
Earning his own wings was a tribute to all who paved the way. The support from his family was palpable when he passed his checkride.
“So just to carry that on to see how proud they were when I finished up my checkride, seeing how much of the family was there at the airport waiting for me afterwards and how excited they were,” Carl said, “it really meant a lot.”
As Wade is getting older, the family has found it difficult to make it to AirVenture each year, but they try their best.
“We still want to be able to get there as many times as we can while he’s still around. So, it’s been pretty special with going the three of us there,” Carl said.