fantom Posted February 24, 2014 Report Posted February 24, 2014 "The EAA Chapter 534 Hosted the Florida Mooney Lunch group for the awarding of the coveted “Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award” to an EAA pilot on January 11th, 2013 at their Leesburg International Airport Hangar in Leesburg, FL. The recipient was David Taisch of Tavares, Florida who has over 50 years flying experience and 6400 flight hours accumulated over the years in 37 different aircraft. He currently owns and flies a Mooney M20M and a Lake Amphibian. David has been active in the EAA Young Eagles Flight program and has flown 116 Angel Flight missions. He soloed at age 16 and got his private pilot’s license at the age of 17. David is also the founder of the Florida Mooney Lunch Group which celebrated its 10th anniversary at the meeting. This organization is made up of pilots who own Mooney aircraft and fly to different airports for lunch around the state of Florida. Dave and his wife Ruth were recognized by the group for their efforts in keeping the Florida Mooney Lunch Group active for this ten year period. The Wright Brothers “Master Pilot Award” was presented by Mr. Rock Rockcastle, a representative of the Federal Aviation Administration’s FAA Safety Team. Their mission is to improve the Nation’s aviation accident rate by teaching safety principles and practices as a form of continuing education for pilots. The recipients must have accrued fifty years of accident free flying and had no license revocations during that period of time. This award is a way of recognizing those pilots who have demonstrated excellence in flight safety. About seventy people attended the lunch and award ceremony with quite a number of attendees flying into the Leesburg airport in their Mooney planes." 2 Quote
carusoam Posted February 25, 2014 Report Posted February 25, 2014 Mooney pilots are special... Then there are those that rise to the top of this special group! Nice dedication to Aviation David. Nice words, Gary, thanks for sharing. Best regards, -a- Quote
flyboy0681 Posted February 25, 2014 Report Posted February 25, 2014 Dave and Ruth are definitely fixtures down here with the Mooney community and this was a well deserved recognition. 1 Quote
Tony__L Posted February 25, 2014 Report Posted February 25, 2014 I had the privilege of meeting Dave and Ruth at the Leesburg fly in where he was presented with the award. A fantastic couple is all I can say. Ho hum . . . Quote
RocketAviator Posted February 25, 2014 Report Posted February 25, 2014 Great acknowledgment, well done Sir! Quote
fantom Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Posted February 25, 2014 I've counted Dave and Ruth as friends for over ten years and was their meeting back up person several times when we were just getting started. Please note however, that while I agree completely with the sentiments in the announcement above, it was a MAPA Log write up I posted. Quote
fantom Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Posted February 25, 2014 I will convey your congrats to them Quote
fantom Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Posted April 16, 2014 Pilot wins award for 50 years of safe flight April 14, 2014|By Elira Benavari, Correspondent, Orlando Sentinel LEESBURG — Getting a pilot's license and a drivers license back-to-back is a rare occurrence for most young people, but the accomplishment kicked off decades of safe flying for David Taisch, 68. The Tavares retiree recently earned the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot award given for professionalism, skill and aviation expertise over 50 years of safe flying. Since 2003, only about 3,000 U.S pilots have been presented with the award by the Federal Aviation Administration. Taisch said he wanted to buy a boat when he was young, but his parents were against the plan — he had lost his right eye in a boating accident at the age of 5. Earned pilot's license at 16 "I remember when I was 15, I knew I could fly. I am very proud to have received this, but wish I wasn't old enough to have done so," Taisch said. Taisch first soloed at age 16 and earned his pilot's license at 17.Though his career led him into manufacturing clothing in Illinois, he never stopped flying. He has accumulated 6,400 flight hours in 37 different aircraft. Since 2005, Taisch has flown 118 missions for Angel Flight Southeast, based at the Leesburg International Airport and he also is active in the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles flight program. Giving back to community Along with his wife Ruth, 67, who also is a pilot, the two transport those who require repetitive medical treatments or organ transplants elsewhere, or are victims of abuse or natural disasters. The Taisches own a seaplane and a Mooney M-20M Ovation, a single-engine craft. David Taisch also serves with SouthWings, a nonprofit conservation organization that uses pilots to provide aerial education about conservation efforts across the Southeast. "We feel so fortunate to be able to give back to the community in this way and do good work rather than just enjoying it privately," Taisch said. Taisch is the founder of the "Florida Mooney Lunch Group," composed of area pilots who own Mooney aircraft and fly to different Florida airports for lunch. About seventy members celebrated the group's 10th anniversary last month at an awards luncheon in Leesburg. A representative of the FAA safety team presented Taisch with a certificate and a lapel pin. Flying a 'magic carpet ride' "Fifty years of contributing to aviation is an amazing accomplishment," said Steve Purello, CEO of Angel Flight Southeast. "He is very involved and always willing to take missions, even at the last minute and is always willing to take people up for a flight." Taisch said he has flown over most of the United States — he just loves to fly. "It is a magic carpet ride that takes you anywhere you want to go," he said. "It is a tremendous experience and has been a major part of my life." 2 Quote
Noel Taylor Posted November 7 Report Posted November 7 Does anyone know the current status of David Taisch and Ruth Sheeler? They both allowed their FCC licenses in the Amateur Radio Service to expire last month. and a radiogram sent on October 27 has gone unanswered. I'm hoping they are OK... Quote
Rick Junkin Posted November 7 Report Posted November 7 11 minutes ago, Noel Taylor said: Does anyone know the current status of David Taisch and Ruth Sheeler? They both allowed their FCC licenses in the Amateur Radio Service to expire last month. and a radiogram sent on October 27 has gone unanswered. I'm hoping they are OK... They're doing well and still hosting the Florida Mooney Lunch Group. Contact details in this thread, last post. Quote
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