Loving, Neal V., 1916-

Neal V. Loving was born in Detroit, Michigan, on February 4, 1916. His passion for aviation began at the early age of ten and never subsided. Neal Loving's life has come to symbolize the true human spirit for he arose out of disastrous life events to become recognized as one of the "African American Pioneers in Aviation."

Loving's interest in aviation started as a young boy and was fueled even farther by the success of Charles A. Lindbergh. Lindbergh's influence in Loving's life as apparent as Loving makes similarities in both their lives in his book, Loving's Love: A Black American's Experience in Aviation. Despite the hardships of the Depression and racism, Loving's early interest in aviation never subsided and hints of his future career were brought forward with his successful completion of training at Cass Technical High School, Detroit, Michigan, in 1934. This training included an aircraft mechanics class which helped set into motion Loving's professional career.

By 1941, Loving was the co-owner of the Wayne Aircraft Company, a glider manufacturing firm located in Detroit, Michigan. Shortly after the United States entered World War II, Loving helped form an all-black Civil Air Patrol Squadron (CAP) in Detroit. The purpose of CAP was to provide pre-military training, sea-air rescues, and coastal submarine hunting. Loving's group trained in preflight inspections, glider assembly (of Loving's design), and parachute training. It was during one of these CAP training missions that Neal Loving's life changed forever. On Sunday, July 30, 1944, Loving, flying a Wayne S-1 glider, crashed. The resulting accident eventually cost Neal Loving both his legs. To add to Loving's despair, during his lengthy hospital stay, his fiancee broke off their engagement and his mother passed away. However, out of these lows, Neal Loving arose to new challenges and established himself as one of the leading African American influences in aviation. Loving first fought through the racism in post-war America to establish and become co-owner of the Wayne School of Aeronautics from March 1946 to October 1956. It was during this time that Loving designed and built a midget racer, the WR-1, or better known as "Loving's Love," This plane became internationally recognized as an outstanding plane in its category and was eventually donated to the Experimental Aircraft Association Museum in 1964.

With new desire to marry and in an effort to provide financial security, Loving entered Wayne State University as an engineering student. In 1961, at the age of 45, Loving graduated as the oldest full-time engineering student in the university's history at that time. During this time, Loving designed another plane, a car-towable plane, the WR-2. However, due to certain design characteristics, Loving scrapped this plane and concentrated on his next project, the successful roadable aircraft, the WR-3.

Loving's new career path took him to the Flight Dynamics Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Dayton, Ohio. Loving's first responsibility from August 1961 to February 1966, was to work as the Project Engineer on the High Altitude Clear Air Turbulence (HICAT) project. This program helped Loving to become established internationally in HICAT research. As his career as an aerospace engineer moved forward, Loving then worked on and researched the structural aspects of aircraft. Loving retired from his civil service career with the United States Air Force on January 9, 1982. During his civil service career, Loving received and earned numerous awards and commendations for his outstanding ability and dedication.

During retirement, Loving continued to follow his passion for flying and maintained an active flying schedule until October 17, 1992, when the FAA medical Center revoked his pilot's medical certificate. However, Loving maintained an active stance in the aviation field and continued to receive recognition for his remarkable life. Loving also embarked on a speaking career. Loving lectured about his life and aviation at schools, civic organizations, museums, and aviation clubs. Neal Loving was the author of Loving's Love: A Black American's Experience in Aviation, the first book published in the African American Pioneers in Aviation group in the Smithsonian History of Aviation Series.

Neal Loving passed away on December 19, 1998 at the age of 82.

From the guide to the Neal V. Loving Collection, 1930-1998, (Wright State University, Special Collections and Archives)