Robert L. Taylor (aviator)

Robert Leo Taylor
BornJuly 2, 1924
Ottumwa, Iowa
DiedJune 20, 2020
Occupationaviator
Known forAntique Airplane Association

Robert Leo Taylor (July 2, 1924 – June 20, 2020) was an American aviation pioneer who was the founder and president of the Antique Airplane Association Inc. He was also co-founder and Chairman of the Board of the Airpower Museum[1][2] with which organization he shared ownership of Antique Airfield in Blakesburg, Iowa.[3]

Taylor was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, in July 1924.

For the majority of Taylor's life, he was involved in aviation. In 1941 he soloed and then served in both World War II (US Army Air Forces)[4] and the Korean War. He worked as an aircraft mechanic and airport manager in addition to buying and selling airplanes and restoring them.[1]

In 1994, Taylor was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Museum's Aviation Hall of Fame for his establishment of the Antique Airplane Association in 1953 for providing a place and a purpose to fly, to preserve, to share and to promote the early flying machines.[1]

Taylor still resided in Ottumwa during his latter years,[3] where he published a national and international magazine featuring articles and stories about antique airplanes.[1] He died in June 2020 at the age of 95.[5]

  1. ^ a b c d "Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame: Inductees - 1994 - Robert L. Taylor". Iowa Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  2. ^ "What's the difference between the AAA and the APM?". Antique Airfield. December 3, 2007. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "AirNav: IA27 - Antique Airfield". AirNav. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  4. ^ Fisher, Scott M. (2011). Eastern Iowa's Aviation Heritage. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439625590. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  5. ^ "ANTIQUE AIRPLANE ASSOCIATION FOUNDER ROBERT L. 'BOB' TAYLOR WAS 95 HELPED CELEBRATE AVIATION'S GOLDEN AGE FOR MORE THAN 65 YEARS". AOPA. June 25, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.