Maintenance and Modifications
Industry Honors Birth of Wright Mechanic Charles Taylor
Taylor designed and built the engine that powered the famous aircraft
Charles E. Taylor, Wright Brothers engine maker
Charles E. Taylor took just 36 days to build the engine that powered the Wright Flyer on its famous first flight on Dec. 17, 1903. © Wright State Special Collection and Archives

May 24 marks Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Day, which celebrates the 1868 birthday of Charles Taylor, the Wright Brothers’ mechanic and the man who built the engine used to power the Wright Flyer.

Known as the father of aviation maintenance, Taylor gained notoriety in 2008 with a congressional resolution in his honor.