Charles Edward "Charlie" Taylor (May 24, 1868 - January 30, 1956) built the engine used by the Wright brothers in their early aircraft, the Flyer. Taylor also built the wind tunnel used by the Wrights to test models of their designs. May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Wright Brothers, Orville Wright (August 19, 1871 - January 30, 1948) and Wilbur Wright (April 16, 1867 - May 30, 1912), are sometimes credited with the design and construction of the first practical aeroplane, and making the first controllable, powered heavier-than-air flight along with many other aviation milestones. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Initially Taylor was hired to fix bicycles, but increasingly took over the running of the bicycle side of the business as the Wright brothers spent more and more time on their inventions.

When it became clear that an off-the-shelf engine with the required power-to-weight ratio was not available in the USA, the Wrights turned to Taylor to design and construct one. Taylor built the aluminum, water-cooled engine from scratch and without drawings in only six weeks.

When Calbraith Perry Rodgers made his trip from Long Island to California in 1911 in his newly-bought Wright aircraft, he paid Taylor $70 a week (a large sum at the time) to be his mechanic. Taylor followed the flight by train, frequently arriving at the next rendezvous before Perry Rodgers, to make any required repairs and prepare the aircraft for the next day's flight. Calbraith Perry Rodgers (1879-1912) Calbraith Perry Rodgers (1879 - April 3, 1912) was a pioneer American aviator who died in a crash Family Rodgers was related to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ...

Taylor saved enough money from his adventures to buy several hundred acres of farmland near Salton Sea. However the economic climate of the time eventually brought him to poverty. He died penniless and alone in hospital in 1956. The Salton Sea (with local/regional cities) The Salton Sea and the Imperial Valley as seen from the Space shuttle. ...

Although largely ignored by history, it would be wrong to think the Wright Brothers exploited Taylor or took credit for his achievements. All three of these early pioneers were close friends and Taylor remained in close contact with the last surviving Wright brother, Orville, until Orville's death in 1948. 1948 (MCMXLVIII) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Charlie Taylor is buried at the Portal of the Folded Wings in Burbank, CA, a shrine to aviation history.