Master Mechanic John Flynn

John Flynn has been honored by the Federal Aviation Administration for having worked in aviation maintenance for more than 50 years. The award is named in honor of Charles Taylor (1868-1956), the first true aviation mechanic, working with the Wright brothers on their first successful powered flight. The award recognizes individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years in the aircraft maintenance profession, as “master mechanics.”
​
Col. John Flynn, born in England, began his aviation career with Pan American World Airways at John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1960. Serving as a heavy modification crew member, John attended evening classes at the Aviation High School for his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certificates. He was assigned as foreman in PanAm’s machine shop, servicing the extensive fleet, which included DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, Boeing 707 and Boeing 747 aircraft.

After a five-year stint with Sir Freddie Laker’s long-haul charter and cargo operation out of London Gatwick, John returned to the United States and began a nine-year stint with Western Airlines, which operated Boeing 737s, 727s, and DC-10s. The merger with Delta Air Lines in 1986 brought John and his family to Atlanta, where he served as lead mechanic and technical analyst at Delta’s global Maintenance Control Center until his retirement in 1999. Read more here.