Albert Lee Ueltschi

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Albert Lee Ueltschi (born May 15, 1917) was the founder of FlightSafety International. Once personal pilot to Juan Trippe and an associate to Charles Lindbergh, A.L. 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.

[edit] History

Born May 15, 1917 and raised in Franklin County, Kentucky, A.L. Ueltschi 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, A.L. 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.

He spends his winters in Vero Beach, Florida, but works everyday in the warmer months at FlightSafety's headquarters at the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens, New York.