Ted Mathews Named Indiana Aviator Of The Year
Each year, the Indianapolis Air Show awards one individual Hoosier pilot with the Aviator of the Year Award. This award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to Indiana Aviation and who also has made significant contributions to the citizens of Indiana. This year, it is nothing short of an honor to present this award to Ted Mathews.
Ted Mathews is a private flying instructor who flies out of Mt. Comfort Airport. He has over 18,000 flying hours and has taught more students than he could possibly put a number on. His devotion to aviation has been a life long love, “It’s all I ever wanted to do” said Ted. He is beloved and respected by all who have trained under him.
He has trained more primary and instrument Indiana pilots to fly safely than any instructor, most aviation enthusiasts would agree. “I can not even begin to count the number of Hoosier lives undoubtedly saved because of his aviation knowledge” commented Rod Taylor, fellow pilot and former student. He is known as Captain Ted or Mr. Taildragger. He has provided tail dragger endorsements for just about every Hoosier that flies in Central Indiana and a majority of those outside of Central Indiana. With over 12,000 hours flying tail wheel planes, he is one of the best oriented with this specialty type aircraft in the region.
Ted grew up in Fairfield, IL and has lived in Indiana for the past 40 or so years. He has spent all of his working hours flying. He started his aviation career at 19 as an owner of a Piper Cub, which he purchased for $375. From there he went on to fly the King of Taildraggers—the Beech 18, flying freight for Indiana companies. Ted has spent most of his life in Indiana aviation serving Indiana citizens. He is now 74 years old and holds just about every FAA license issued. “Most everything but the ATP, I never did get that,” commented Ted. He was even a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army, which he served for 3 years.
As a child, all Ted can remember wanting to do was fly. As a small child, no older than 6 or 7, he would spend his time flying cardboard cut out airplanes, which he had purchased with cereal box tops, all over the living room. Ted was in grade school during WWII and he can remember hearing the war birds flying overhead. In an attempt to keep the entire class from flocking to the window, Ted was asked to look out of window to identify the aircraft for the teacher, who would then show the other students a photo of the plane. “I knew them all” he said. When older, he would ride his bike to the airport for his flying lesson, as he did not yet have his driver’s license. “I could fly before I could drive,” mentioned Ted.
Ted currently flies almost daily and carries a full schedule of students, all from personal referral of former students mostly. He and his wife Josephine reside on the East side of Indianapolis and have been blessed during their lifetime with 6 children and numerous grandchildren. He has been flying out of Mt. Comfort Airport since it was under construction. In fact, he was probably one of the first pilots to land on the runway as he had an emergency during a crop dusting flight and had to land to adjust a fan. “It was just a strip of concrete back then” he commented.
As to Ted’s contribution to the citizens of Indiana, he was a moving force along with his wife Josephine, in helping start the Indianapolis Air Show. He provided encouragement at a time when all thought an air show would not succeed. Without Ted’s contribution and encouragement, the air show would not have gotten off the ground. Since it’s inception, the Indianapolis Air Show has provided a showcase for the U.S. Navy, Army, Marines and Air Force to recruit our young Hoosiers into serving their country. One of the most patriotic activities that you can do today, besides serving in the military, is supporting an air show and the U.S. Armed Forces including the aviators that are presented at that event. Ted helped create that showcase. Ted has spent countless hours in the cockpit of an airplane. He truly is living the life of a Hoosier Aviator.
Ted joins a distinctive list of previous Aviators of the Year, including:
- Dr. Worthe Holt, vice president of St Vincent Health, U.S. Air Force colonel
- Walter Best, owner, Best Locke
- Tom Wood, owner, Tom Wood Automotive Group
- Bill Cook, medical innovator and philanthropist
- Dick Ervin (deceased), one-time president, Warbirds of America
- Andre Lacy, president & CEO, FinishMaster, and chairman, Lacy Distribution Inc.
- Margaret Ray Ringenberg, WWII pilot for the Women’s Air Force Service
- Bob Thomas, owner, Capitol City Ford
- Martin Fall
- George Mikelsons, founder, ATA
- Dr. David Wolf, astronaut and Purdue University graduate
Ted Mathews will officially receive the Aviator of the Year award during the 2008 Indianapolis Air Show at Mt. Comfort Airport, Aug. 23 and 24.
Net proceeds from the Indianapolis Air Show go to the Central Indiana Community Foundation fund. Since it’s inception in 1997, the Indianapolis Air Show has contributed more than $1 million dollars to central Indiana charities.
Media Contact:
Kerrie Henderson, (317) 813-0180
Tina Noel, (317) 709-3103
NOTE for reporters and editors: Dr. Holt and all of the previous winners of the Aviator of the Year recognition can be made available for interviews. Please contact Kerrie Henderson or Tina Noel with interview requests.
