master mechanic Gregory Werking

If 10,00 hours of practice could make a master airline mechanic, what do 50 years make?

Five decades of work can add up to a nationally recognized Charles Taylor Master Mechanic, a Federal Aviation Administration award named for the Wright Brothers’ mechanic and a “blue package” of personal aviation history documented by the FAA. Even rarer than receiving one master airman award is to receive the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award at the same time – like a Moon Township resident, one of three awardees, did on March 25.
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For the first time, the FAA safety team visited the Air Heritage Museum adjacent to the Beaver County Airport in Chippewa Township, not to peruse vintage planes and artifacts, but to honor these three elite airmen: Gregory Werking of Ohioville, Raymond Dougherty of Moon and double-award recipient Donald Mueller of Moon.

“Everybody’s seen (the Tom Cruise film) 'Maverick,' but they can’t tell you about the people who keep them flying, who are trusted with their lives, literally,” remarked FAA safety team member and evening emcee Steven Steele before sharing the awardees’ life highlights.

Werking, a 35-year Air Heritage member, also has the distinction of serving as the Air Heritage hangar chief, keeping the building and its equipment going while chasing down or making parts that he and other volunteers install in vintage planes. His current projects include the “Thunder Pig,” a C-123 used to transport troops and supplies in Vietnam, a behemoth whose wings almost stretch the walls of the hangar’s width.

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