C.G. “Hank” Henry, the long-time chief pilot for West Houston Airport who has flown dignitaries such as Charles Lindbergh and Glenn Curtiss, died on August 7. He was 94. A renowned flight instructor who was involved in aviation throughout his life, Henry amassed more than 35,000 hours of flight time and flew more than 300 models of aircraft, according to the West Houston Airport.

Born on Jan. 10, 1925 in Crossville, Tennessee, Henry learned to fly at an early age and joined a B-24 crew flying missions over the English Channel during World War II. Later, he managed flight operations for an FBO in Galveston, Texas, and then served as the chief pilot/test pilot for Navion Aircraft and mechanic and pilot for Guinn Flying Service in Pearland, Texas. 

His five-decade tenure with West Houston Airport began in 1973. Over the years, he held positions with the airport that including maintenance supervisor, charter pilot, certified flight instructor, chief pilot, and FAA-designated pilot examiner. Henry held numerous ratings and was a recipient of both the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award and the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Awards. Along with Lindbergh and Curtiss, he further has flown T. Claude Ryan, Dwane Wallace, and Gene Cernan, among numerous others.

“Hank is an aviation legend teaching generations of pilots. He has students who are now professional pilots at probably every airline around the world,” said Woody Lesikar, airport manager of West Houston Airport. “I’ve known him for 60 years; he taught me to fly in the ’60s.”