My name is Ed Woerle. I've been in aviation maintenance for over fifty exciting years.
My professional career started as a mechanic in the Air Force, working on B-47 bombers for Strategic Air Command. After six years of travelling the worlds' more exotic spots (Alaska in the winter, Guam and North Africa in the summer), I decided to give the civilian world a chance. Working for several FBO's before getting on with Delta Air Lines, I had opportunuties to work on exotic and antique airplanes. The hook was set. I've loved old and vintage aircraft ever since. In the mid-late sixties a customer of mine, a writer for a large aviation magazine, convinced me to write an article for another magazine. That endeavour led me to be a Contributing Editor for Private Pilot magazine until the mid-seventies. I wrote pilot reports, and had a regular column on pilot-owner maintenance.
Working for Delta allowed me the time and finances to continue with my love of vintage airplanes, and I was fortunate to be selected to be on the restoration team of United Airlines' 50th anniversary airplane, a Swallow biplane. This aircraft is currently in the Boeing museum in Washington.
It so happened that a certain Memphis entertainer had just bought a Convair 880 that had belonged to Delta as his executive transport. His co-pilot knew of me through the old airplanes, and asked if I would be interested in working on it, since I was qualified on the airplane. Uh-huh! I worked on it until after his death.
In 1986 Delta was 'modernizing', and downsizing the Memphis base. I went across the street to a little outfit called Federal Express and applied for a job. They were in the process of buying all of the Boeing 727's and McDonnell-Douglas DC10's they could get their hands on. Since I was qualified on both aircraft from Delta I had no trouble getting hired on. I eventually retired from FedEx Express after working as a line mechanic, lead mechanic, line maintenance manager and manager of aircraft maintenance control.
My flying lagged some as my family grew and matured, but never went entirely away. I am currently a rated single and multi engine airplane pilot, and own a 1965 Cessna T-41A (military 172F) and a 1960 Piper PA-23-160 Apache. Oh, yeah...I can drive to the airport in my 1957 Chevy Bel Air. See? Aviation has been GOOD to me.
My son has decided to follow in my footsteps, He's been a line mechanic for FedEx Express for almost twenty years, and has a Private pilot certificate.
My professional career started as a mechanic in the Air Force, working on B-47 bombers for Strategic Air Command. After six years of travelling the worlds' more exotic spots (Alaska in the winter, Guam and North Africa in the summer), I decided to give the civilian world a chance. Working for several FBO's before getting on with Delta Air Lines, I had opportunuties to work on exotic and antique airplanes. The hook was set. I've loved old and vintage aircraft ever since. In the mid-late sixties a customer of mine, a writer for a large aviation magazine, convinced me to write an article for another magazine. That endeavour led me to be a Contributing Editor for Private Pilot magazine until the mid-seventies. I wrote pilot reports, and had a regular column on pilot-owner maintenance.
Working for Delta allowed me the time and finances to continue with my love of vintage airplanes, and I was fortunate to be selected to be on the restoration team of United Airlines' 50th anniversary airplane, a Swallow biplane. This aircraft is currently in the Boeing museum in Washington.
It so happened that a certain Memphis entertainer had just bought a Convair 880 that had belonged to Delta as his executive transport. His co-pilot knew of me through the old airplanes, and asked if I would be interested in working on it, since I was qualified on the airplane. Uh-huh! I worked on it until after his death.
In 1986 Delta was 'modernizing', and downsizing the Memphis base. I went across the street to a little outfit called Federal Express and applied for a job. They were in the process of buying all of the Boeing 727's and McDonnell-Douglas DC10's they could get their hands on. Since I was qualified on both aircraft from Delta I had no trouble getting hired on. I eventually retired from FedEx Express after working as a line mechanic, lead mechanic, line maintenance manager and manager of aircraft maintenance control.
My flying lagged some as my family grew and matured, but never went entirely away. I am currently a rated single and multi engine airplane pilot, and own a 1965 Cessna T-41A (military 172F) and a 1960 Piper PA-23-160 Apache. Oh, yeah...I can drive to the airport in my 1957 Chevy Bel Air. See? Aviation has been GOOD to me.
My son has decided to follow in my footsteps, He's been a line mechanic for FedEx Express for almost twenty years, and has a Private pilot certificate.
