Albert Ueltschi
Encyclopedia
Albert Lee Ueltschi was the founder of FlightSafety International
. Once personal pilot to Juan Trippe
and an associate to Charles Lindbergh
, Ueltschi is considered the father of modern aviation training. On July 21, 2001, Ueltschi was enshrined at Dayton, Ohio
, in the National Aviation Hall of Fame
class of 2001, along with test pilot
Joe Engle, United States Marine Corps
ace Marion Carl, and USAF ace Robin Olds
.
, Kentucky
. He was the youngest of seven children to Robert and Lena Ueltschi. At age 16, Ueltschi opened a hamburger stand named "Little Hawk" across from a White Castle
near his high school in Frankfort, Kentucky
to pay for flying lessons. He began his career with Pan Am in 1941 as Juan Trippe
's private pilot and didn't retire unil 1968 at the age of 50.
While employeed with Pan Am, Ueltschi married his wife Eileen in June 1944, and founded FlightSafety International
in 1951. He stepped down as President of FlightSafety in 2003, yet remained Chairman. The motto he started with still remains with FlightSafety today: "The best safety device in any aircraft is a well-trained crew."
He spends his winters in Vero Beach, Florida
, but works daily in the warmer months at FlightSafety's headquarters at the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport
in Flushing, Queens
, New York
. He remains actively involved with ORBIS International
, a nonprofit, global development organization whose mission is to eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries.
FlightSafety International
FlightSafety International is a provider of professional aviation training, simulation equipment and software, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, who has owned the company since 1996....
. Once personal pilot to Juan Trippe
Juan Trippe
Juan Terry Trippe was an American airline entrepreneur and pioneer, and the founder of Pan American World Airways, one of the world's most prominent airlines of the twentieth century.-Early years:...
and an associate to Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
, Ueltschi is considered the father of modern aviation training. On July 21, 2001, Ueltschi was enshrined at Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, in the National Aviation Hall of Fame
National Aviation Hall of Fame
The American National Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, east Dayton, Ohio...
class of 2001, along with test pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
Joe Engle, United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
ace Marion Carl, and USAF ace Robin Olds
Robin Olds
Robin Olds was an American fighter pilot and general officer in the U.S. Air Force. He was a "triple ace", with a combined total of 16 victories in World War II and the Vietnam War. He retired in 1973 as a brigadier general....
.
History
Ueltschi was born and raised in Franklin CountyFranklin County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,687 people, 19,907 households, and 12,840 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 21,409 housing units at an average density of...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He was the youngest of seven children to Robert and Lena Ueltschi. At age 16, Ueltschi opened a hamburger stand named "Little Hawk" across from a White Castle
White Castle (restaurant)
White Castle is an American regional fast food hamburger restaurant chain in the Midwestern United States and in the New York metropolitan area, and the first of its kind in the US. It is known for its small, square hamburgers. Sometimes referred to as "sliders", the burgers were priced at five...
near his high school in Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
to pay for flying lessons. He began his career with Pan Am in 1941 as Juan Trippe
Juan Trippe
Juan Terry Trippe was an American airline entrepreneur and pioneer, and the founder of Pan American World Airways, one of the world's most prominent airlines of the twentieth century.-Early years:...
's private pilot and didn't retire unil 1968 at the age of 50.
While employeed with Pan Am, Ueltschi married his wife Eileen in June 1944, and founded FlightSafety International
FlightSafety International
FlightSafety International is a provider of professional aviation training, simulation equipment and software, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, who has owned the company since 1996....
in 1951. He stepped down as President of FlightSafety in 2003, yet remained Chairman. The motto he started with still remains with FlightSafety today: "The best safety device in any aircraft is a well-trained crew."
He spends his winters in Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
, but works daily in the warmer months at FlightSafety's headquarters at the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
in Flushing, Queens
Flushing, Queens
Flushing, founded in 1645, is a neighborhood in the north central part of the City of New York borough of Queens, east of Manhattan.Flushing was one of the first Dutch settlements on Long Island. Today, it is one of the largest and most diverse neighborhoods in New York City...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He remains actively involved with ORBIS International
ORBIS International
Orbis International is an international non-profit non-governmental organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Orbis programs focus on the prevention of blindness and the treatment of blinding eye diseases in developing countries...
, a nonprofit, global development organization whose mission is to eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries.