By Bruce Estes
This month’s member spotlight is on Ken Ledwith. Ken’s aviation passion and career started a long time ago. Ken purchased a wrecked 1948 Luscombe in 1962, with his uncle (a former WWII pilot), and restored the Luscombe over a two year period. During this time, Ken decided he should get his pilot’s license, started flying out of San Carlos, and soloed a Tri Pacer. Ken joined the Navy when he was 20, and was in active duty for four years. In the Navy, Ken flew T-34’s, SNJ’s, C-45’s, and C-121 Constellations. After Ken’s active duty stint, he entered the Navy Reserves and then flew a “bunch of helicopters.” He also
attended San Jose State University, getting his bachelor’s degree while majoring in aeronautics and business.
Then, Ken went to work with United Airlines, flying everything from the DC-6 to the Boeing 747-400, from radial engines up through modern jets. Amazing. Ken was with United Airlines for more than 32 years, and flew mostly to Asia and sometimes to Europe towards the end of his career. Ken has now been retired from United for 20 years. Ken has flown a bunch of airplanes but when asked what airplane was the most fun to fly, Ken answers very quickly: “the 727, steam gauges, very responsive to the controls, just a lot of fun to fly.”
Ken still owns the Luscombe, and also owns a Busby Mustang II that he built after his retirement from United. He keeps both airplanes in ONE hangar at Lincoln. Ken got his A&P rating a long time ago and currently uses the rating, working part time for NorCal Flight Center. If you have a mechanical question regarding airplanes, Ken has the answer.
Ken has every reason to be proud of his aviation accomplishments, but now has another. Ken’s son, Kevin, recently graduated from the University of North Dakota, obtaining degrees in business administration and commercial aviation.
Kevin has done the normal commercial pilot progression, getting his Private, IFR, Commercial, CFI, and built hours flying everything he could, including Ken’s Luscombe and Mustang. Kevin prefers the Mustang because of the airplane’s speed. Kevin just took a job offer with Skywest, which is a feeder airline for United, Delta, and Alaska Airlines. Because Kevin is only 22, his ATP rating is “Restricted,” but it will become a unrestricted ATP rating when he turns 23. Way to go Kevin, and congratulations to Ken, the proud papa.