My Father's Passion for Aviation
By Larry Siefken

My father grew up in the Germantown Section of Philadelphia, PA. As a young boy, he would ride his bike to Wings Field in Blue Bell, PA to enjoy the planes and the airfield environment. His marching orders from his parents were that of being home before dark. Clearly a sign of the times! Can you imagine making that bike ride today.

In 1938, at the age of 16, my father began to take flying lessons. However, that process was halted by WW II, as well as establishing himself in a career and raising a family. However, he never lost his passion for flight.

In the 1970's, dad began to take flying lessons again, this time at the Quakertown Airport in Quakertown, PA. He would learn to fly and obtain his license in a Piper Cherokee. In 1974, he obtained his license.

In 1975, he bought a Cessna 172 Skyhawk and kept his plane at the Pennridge Airport in Perkasie, PA. The Skyhawk was a 1964 model year ? tail number N5711T. I recently googled this plane and find that it is still flying and located in Georgia!

After a few years of flying his Cessna, dad decided to sell the plane and purchase an interest in the Warrington Flying Club, which enabled him to have access to several different planes, which were hangered at the Doylestown Airport.

My father retired from Sun Oil Company after a very long career. After 30 years with Sun, he retired in 1981. His passion continued with flying as upon retirement, he became the manager of the Doylestown Airport. However, even though associated with aviation, he said it "felt too much like work" and decided full retirement was a better fit, and left that position shortly after taking on such.

In 1987, my dad became a QB a/k/a Quiet Birdman in which his group met at the Trenton Airport and was known as the Trenton Hanger.

As you know, my father loved anything to do with flying and aviation, being involved with the Aero Club of Pennsylvania and the Aviation Council of PA. One of his happiest times, however, was his involvement with the Wright Brothers' 75th Anniversary of Flight celebration at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA. My father was involved with the planning of this event in which Jimmy Doolittle was the guest speaker. My father had Mr. Doolittle sign the program booklet for the evening. He cherished this experience and often spoke of such, displaying the document on his book shelf. I gratefully now display this item on my shelf.

In 1992, the Aero Club of Pennsylvania presented my father with the Wright Brothers Award in recognition of his service to the organization.

Edward A. Siefken, Sr.

1922 to 2018

The following are remembrances of my father from members of the Aero Club of Pennsylvania:

I remember Ed talking about how, as a kid, he would stand as close to the runway as the fence would allow in those days at Wings Field, clutching it in eager anticipation of the take-offs and landings. For as long as I remember, he was the consummate aviation enthusiast. He worked as a public relations professional and volunteered PR for the Aero Club. He had a great memory for the early years of aviation in the Philadelphia area.
Nancy Kyle, Board Member

I joined the Aero Club sometime in 1980. Ed was an ardent member of the Aero Club, involved in recruiting, helping with the newsletter and working with various individuals and companies to build the scholarship fund. Ed also developed a new "modern" logo for the Aero Club that was accepted and used for a while. He is remembered as the idea man in the Aero Club, frequently trying advertising techniques to improve our recruitment.
Al Schnur, Past President

Ed is the reason that I joined the Aero Club. He handed me an application at a Trenton QB meeting. I filled it out and handed him a 20-dollar bill. Ed invited me to participate in the interviews for Aero Club scholarships in the early 90's. We did them in the old office attached to Hangar 4 at Wings. Some interviewees flew in. He was a great guy who will be sorely missed.
Tim Boyle,
Past Scholarship Chair

Ed was a retired board member when I came on, and had done work as scholarship committee member. He invited me to his new home where he gave me his rough drafts and notes from his time on the scholarship committee. I didn't have the heart to dispense with them. I still have it all. He was to me a most kind and gentle man. And his influence made me want even more to participate in the club.
Debbie Harding,
Scholarship Chair

Image: early 1980's dad doing his thing around planes