The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators has inducted Capt. Joe Grant as its first honorary member.
Grant, 101, started his flying career in 1927 as a barnstormer and stunt pilot prior to being hired by TWA just before World War II. During the war, he flew C-54s for the Air Transport Command in the Middle East. During his career, Grant has flown everything from World War I Jennies to the Boeing 707!
At the end of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt presented Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz llbn-Saud with the latest in American aviation technology, a DC-3, as a symbol of friendship. Grant served as that DC-3’s captain for two years before going back to TWA.
“When you were a pilot in those early days, it was your duty to pass along this gift to others,” Grant said. “It was also your duty to create safe pilots through thorough and continuous education. In fact, education was the key to training safe pilots.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Capt. Grant as our first honorary member,” said SAFE Chairman Doug Stewart. “We should all be blessed to enjoy such an interesting and, above all, safe flying career.”
For more information: SafePilots.org.
