Ghan
Honored
By Henny Christensen
Mountain Grove, MO
William Ghan of Mansfield (MO) has been selected as
the recipient of the 2004 Experimental Aircraft Association Major
Achievement Award in honor of his dedication and continuous efforts to
further recreational aviation. The prestigious award will be presented
on stage at the Theater in the Woods, Wednesday, July 28, 2004 during
the annual EAA AirVenture air show at Oshkosh, Wisconsin,.
Ghan, who retired from teaching Industrial
Technology at the high school and college level, built the replica of
the Wright Flyer that made its 290 foot maiden voyage at Willow Springs,
Missouri on January 10, 2004.
Bill Ghan began flying in college in 1956, earned
his license as a Private Pilot in 1961, and has maintained interest and
enthusiasm for aviation ever since. He started building his first home
built aircraft in 1960, completing it in 1966.
Ghan originated the idea for construction classes
for teachers, and convinced the University of Wisconsin to implement a
new curriculum. As a teacher at Stout, Ghan spread his knowledge like a
spider web into other public schools and universities, as his students
started up their own classes in aircraft construction. Ghan then taught
Industrial Technology at the high school level in Norwood and Cabool,
Missouri, incorporating aircraft building and flying technology in his
classes, even producing an unusual Hovercraft as well as twenty
conventional winged single engine airplanes.
A portable life-size plywood flight simulator with
computer, yoke and rudder pedals was Ghan’s final teaching project
before retiring from Mansfield High School. The popular mobile simulator
has been towed to several south central Missouri schools for career days
and demonstrations in 2004. Matt Cardin, Hartville Missouri High School
teacher commented about the Flight Sim, “It’s the single coolest thing
I’ve ever seen at career days”.
As a retiree, Ghan’s latest venture was building
the Wright Flyer replica, for his own experience at first, involving EAA
Chapter 1218 members for their education and experience. After five
years of building, the Flyer was ready for testing on December 17, 2003
at Willow Springs Airport, with the local schools busing in five loads
of kids and the public invited to witness and celebrate the one
hundredth anniversary of flight. More than 1,000 people attended, and
even a bald eagle soared overhead, watching Ghan coax the Flyer off the
ground for a few seconds. The replica’s flight attempt was featured in
newspapers and on television, and the story was picked up by state and
national publications.
After repairs and more tests, Don Nevels, retired
airline captain from Everton, Missouri, and former Ghan student, coaxed
the Flyer into the air for its first and only sustained flight on
January 10, 2004. Ghan then donated the Flyer to the Springfield Branson
Regional Airport. The Flyer can be viewed overhead in the ticketing
area.
Bill Ghan has shared his expertise and knowledge
with many of his fellow EAA members on their aircraft projects, and with
public and private schools, guiding students in building projects such
as full sets of wings. Other accolades his 36 years of teaching have
brought him include Missouri Teacher of the Year, Missouri Industrial
Arts Teacher of the Year, Who’s Who Among American Teachers,
Congressional Record, Missouri House of Representatives Resolution, and
EAA Aircraft Homebuilders Hall of Fame.
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