I have written on my university and living memories in Florida, but feels deserves a post of its own just on ERAU=Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University , as the Duke of Edinburgh (husband of Queen Elizabeth II) once said and became our alma matter, Eagles Soar !!! Amen !! I even took my sons in 2009 visit from France ! Let met tell you the story of it and hope you enjoy the post as I.
I was visiting Florida freshly from arriving in the USA in the summer of 1972 from my home state of New Jersey. When it was time to choose my university studies, leaning towards a career in aviation , hopefully with an airline, and by reference from a friend who was going to the US Navy, I heard of ERAU=Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida ,USA. That was , as Ricky said in « Casablanca » the beginning of a beautiful friendship or love with the state of Florida. I was admitted to the school fairly quickly and arrive at Daytona Beach, ERAU campus by August 24th 1977. In time to get me into dormitory No I (later call Doolittle for the general) and began Freshman or 1st year classes A wonderful experience in my life carry on to today !!!
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is a private university offering associate, bachelor, master’s, and PhD degree programs in arts and sciences, aviation, business, engineering, computer programming, cyber security and security and intelligence,etc. It is the largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, and has campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona, and about other 22 locations around the world mostly in US military bases I was on the Aviation Management degree curriculum for a BS=bachelor of science degree, fyi I got it! Graduation came eventually on April 24 1982 at the Peabody Auditorium ,Daytona Beach, where 396 of us graduated with college degrees. What it seems yesterday, it became a reality we were now going into the “real world”. I went back to New Jersey in May 1982 to worked at EWR Newark International Airport, Newark, with an outfit called Butler Aviation an FBO doing ticketing for charter flights from/to England and Greece as well as the UPS second day air delivery contract. I vacationed in Daytona Beach in 1983 Spring Break time for the glories past and eventually moved back permenantly to Florida in January 1984 !!!!
I like to tell you again about the wonderful reputation of the ERAU school, worldwide if you like going in aviation you need try to get in here , period.
Embry-Riddle’s aerospace engineering program is the largest in the nation. Embry-Riddle’s engineering physics program is one of the largest of all such ABET-accredited programs in the nation. Aeronautical science (professional pilot) program is the largest in the nation. The school has won several prizes in aviation flight competition; these are call NIFA/SAFECON, and remain the provider of about 50% of US Air Force pilots the best flyboys in the world!!! More than any other institution in the last decade, and are top performers in the women’s Air Race Classic. The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, and others rank Embry-Riddle highly in the categories of best undergraduate aerospace engineering programs, best graduate engineering programs, best bachelor’s degrees in engineering, best colleges in Arizona and Florida, best regional universities (South), and best college astronomy observatories. U.S. News & World Report, Military Times, Military Advanced Education, U.S. Veterans, and G.I. Jobs publications consistently name Embry-Riddle in the categories of best for veterans, top military-friendly school, top veteran-friendly school, best online bachelor’s programs for veterans, best regional universities (South) for military and veterans, best online MBA programs for veterans, and best online non-MBA graduate business programs for veterans. U.S. News & World Report and College Choice list Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus in the categories of best online bachelor’s programs, best online graduate MBA programs, best online graduate non-MBA programs, and best online engineering degree programs. Embry-Riddle is ranked highly among private colleges for best value, best starting salary, and best return on investment by Forbes, Best Value Colleges, PayScale, SmartAsset, College Choice, and Affordable Colleges Online. Embry-Riddle’s two Air Force ROTC detachments form the largest university-based Air Force commissioning source in the nation. Embry-Riddle’s Air Force ROTC detachments also produce more commissioned officers and more pilots and other rated officers for the Air Force than any other institution in the nation except the Air Force Academy. Embry-Riddle is the nation’s largest supplier of air traffic controllers with bachelor degrees to the FAA. Embry-Riddle was named by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 provider of online bachelor’s degrees programs and undergraduate programs for veterans . ERAU has provided so far 9 former/current astronauts to the Space program over the years.
The history of ERAU is long, but try to condense as much as possible, it is worth reading me think, especially if aviation/Aeronautics fan,
The main founder was John Paul Riddle, which I had the pleasure of meeting couple times! He had admission to both the US Naval Academy and West Point and finally chose the first one. He met later ,one of his former flying student now with some wealth Talon Higbee Embry and with a contract from Waco Aircraft both founded the Embry-Riddle Company in 1925! They only had two Jenny airplanes and a dream. They won several air mail routes and eventually Cincinnati air mail service. By now the service was flawless and by 1927 was the only of two companies that could fly passengers, the other was the Boeing Air Transport Company. On a lead by Gen Doolittle the flying school got to be one of the first instrument flight instruction in the USA. The Aeronautic Board of the Dept of Commerce gave the school the endorsement as a safe flight company, only five in the USA in 1929. As the business grew financing was found by W Averell Harriman and Co and Lehman Brothers to create a financial aviation company, Aviation Corporation of Delaware in March 1929. They purchase several smaller companies and this company later became the famous AVCO. By 1930, a new holding company was founded called American Airways (today still goes on as American Airlines)!!! On December 17, 1925,Talton Higbee Embry and John Paul Riddle founded the Embry-Riddle Company at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati, Ohio. In spring 1926, the company opened the Embry-Riddle School of Aviation. In 1939 Riddle, John Graham McKay and wife Isabel re-established the school in Opa-Locka airport near Miami, Florida. The airport is still there as a general aviation/business airport, webpage : https://www.miami-airport.com/opalocka.asp
While in Florida, he continue his dreams by purchasing other companies in the aviation industry. In 1939, he founded in association with John G Mckay the Embry-Riddle School of Aviation, leaving the name of the original founder on the name of the school. The school flew even seaplanes on the McArthur Causeway in Miami. The school provided help to Great Britain in WWII, they were exposed directly as continental Europe had surrender to Nazi Germany and needed pilots to defend the island. The British were shipped to Jacksonville (now major naval base at Mayport). From there ,they were transported by bus to the now famous fields of Carlstrom, Clewiston (no 5 British flying training school) , Dorr field, and the seaplane base in Miami. ERAU trainers did all the work on them, and later trained American pilots too! they have lease the Old Fritz hotel in Miami as headquarters located at 3240 NW 27 avenue or SR9 (now a courthouse). They trained pilots up to August 6 1945. By the time of the peace treaty more than 26K men and women had graduated their wings by the school. The story as told in official historical book on ERAU that I have, tells that Winston Churchill asked Franklin D Roosevelt for help in WWII to defend Great Britain, The US been neutral at the time could not get involved, However, Gen Henry « Hap » Arnold who was military advisor to Roosevelt told him of an idea, Get civilian aircraft and airfield to train them and he knew who could to this well, John Paul Riddle, Turning to my later university the British began to arrive for training so they could go back and fight over the skies of Great Britain awaiting the American entrance in WWII, earlier thanks to the Japanese !
The ERAU magazine Lift on the No. 5 British Flying Training School (BFTS) : https://lift.erau.edu/a-living-history/
A private site memorial on the No 5 British Flying Training School (BFTS) : http://www.5bfts.org.uk/
I like this epilogue : Where’er the British flag is flown, With the Stars and Stripes above, You’ll find a kindred unity of friendship and of love; Each British heart beneath those flags, Whoever it may be—-Says “Thank you” to America,”For what you’ve been to me.”
In 1944 however, they have created the first flight training school in Brazil under the Escola Tecnica de Aviaçao in the neighborhood of Mooca in Sao Paulo, training 3500 Brazilians on how to flight before turning it over to the government. The School was now called the Embry-Riddle International School of Aviation. It signed contracts for training for advance flight to the Free French Republic pilots. By October 1947, the school finally moved to Opa-Locka. The school contracted with the US Air Force to trained pilots there with more than 1500 graduating. Later, it continue training USAF pilots in the ROTC program ( Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). The school grew internationally training pilots from many countries including Cuba, China, Turkey, Belgium, England, Canada, etc. etc. By 1958 the 1000 students came from 21 countries and 44 US States. By 1963, the facilities at Opa Locka were too small for this growth. While the operations in South Florida the school trained over 40K students!
By 1968, ERAU was accredited to the SACS or Southern Association of Schools and Colleges! In 1968 the first dormitory was built to housed 386 students, this was known as Doolittle Dorm 1 ( later my first dorm)!! three stories high. By 1970, the school was known as the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute earning approval by the FAA =Federal Aviation Administration. The info on the Dorm 1 Doolittle (thats me in front 2009) here for the memories of always and see video nice better looking now lol: ERAU webpage: https://daytonabeach.erau.edu/campus-life/housing/residence-halls/doolittle
By 1972, the school is known as we know it today , Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the one I came in on August 23 1977 to start classes on September after Labor Day USA !!!! By 1979, Times Magazine called us the “Harvard of the sky” And before that in 1978, we purchase Prescott college in Prescott Arizona to serve as our western campus. The International Campus was started ,now call the Extended Campus with over 100 locations many online. Now the Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses have both about 5000 students. During my time there we had a great Naval Commander as President I met him several times as was active in school activities and held parties at his residence on the beach in Ormond Beach which we affectionaly called the Aircraft carrier, President Jack Hunt passed away of cancer in January 7 1984 RIP. He said, ” it may be easy to get in to Embry-Riddle, but it is not easy to get out” Amen.
In 1986 , the school was awarded the management training of the FAA and a specific center was opened in Palm Coast, Florida. Following a short illness, on April 6 1989, John Paul Riddle passed away at his home in Coral Gables, near Miami he was 87 yrs. old. RIP Sir. His last airplane ride took place on April 10th when following funeral services and a memorial service at the University, his ashes were sprinkled over Biscayne Bay and in the Oak Ridge cemetery at Arcadia, Florida.
The ERAU university Daytona Beach campus : https://daytonabeach.erau.edu/
The ERAU Alumni office : https://alumni.erau.edu/s/867/bp20/home.aspx
The official Alumni magazine LIFT : https://lift.erau.edu/
The official student newspaper the AVION : https://campusgroups.erau.edu/avion/home/
There you go folks, an adventure recommended to all, college life is awesome. Those that tried should tell you, a thrill and an experience never to be forgotten. Even after 41 years the memories lingered and a thank you for a great overall educational experience ; it has been good to me, my family, and we never forget ! And more when you are an Eagle, of ERAU you are forever, Eagles Soar !!! Again, hope you enjoy the post as I .
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 