Larry Gossett
was enshrined in 2019
was enshrined in 2019
When Dr. Gary Earle submitted the nomination for Larry Gossett, he wrote: I will preface this summary of the nomination of Larry Gossett to be considered to be placed on the Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame ballot by saying that I have known Larry my entire life. We played sports against each other in grade school and together in high school. I can attest that he is a fierce competitor and disciplined individual with remarkable career achievements in aviation.
The number one reason that Larry should be for this nomination is the fact that he represents a Kentuckian born to humble beginnings and through discipline, and hard work has achieved a remarkable life career in both the Air Force and subsequently in commercial aviation with 30 years of service with Federal Express. This statement will be
further supported by the chronological achievements of Larry's career.
Larry's early years were centered around working on his father's farm in rural Harrison County Kentucky. His athletic skills started early in Little League Baseball where he was chosen as an All-Star in the league all five years he was eligible to play. His interest in aviation was sparked by the fact that the local Cynthiana-Harrison County Airport was "just over the hill" from his house. After an initial flight in a Piper Tri-Pacer, costing both he and his brother $2.00 each, at the age of 12 Larry was hooked on flying.
Larry started working at the airport during the summers in high school. His pay at the airport was a 30-minute instructional ride each week in an Aeronca Champ 7 AC. Larry soloed at 16 and at 17 he got his Private Pilot’s License while still in high school. Larry entered the University of Kentucky in 1966 and joined the Air Force ROTC. He also lettered in baseball at UK for three years. In 1970 he graduated from UK and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. and then went to flight school at Laredo AFB in Texas. Larry graduated 2nd in his graduating class of 43 (originally 66); thus, he was able to select the F-4 Phantom jet and he was assigned as front seat Aircraft Commander. He transferred to Homestead AFB in Florida for six months upgrade training and subsequently was assigned to a combat unit with the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Hahn AFB Germany.
At Hahn, Larry quickly rose to a Flight Leader as 1st Lt., one of the first to achieve this goal at such an early age. While at Hahn he was selected by his superiors to go to Nellis AFB Nevada to check out in the latest Laser bombing technology. He then was flight leader of the first Laser Bomb Testing for the Air Force in Europe. After the test was complete, he went to the Pentagon as part of the debrief team. The team debriefed the test results to a 4 Star level in AF Systems Command and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Jones, along with the Secretary of the Air Force.
Larry was also selected as one of a group four pilots to represent the USA in Europe for the bi-annual 11th AFCENT Tactical Weapons Meet. Team USA won the low-level navigational competition against six other European countries competing in the event. While at Hahn AFB Larry competed a Master's Degree in Executive Development for Public Service through Ball State University.
In 1976, Larry was assigned as an F-4 Phantom Instructor Pilot to Luke AFB in Arizona. While at Luke AFB he was selected by his superiors for Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB in Nevada, a most competitive position. However, with a wife and child, Larry decided on a career change: he turned down Fighter Weapons School and elected to go into commercial aviation as a pilot for the then fledging Federal Express Corporation. He served FedEx as a line pilot, simulator instructor pilot and a line check airman. Through the years, he flew the Falcon DA20, Boeing 727 and the DC-IO. Larry flew for FedEx in 4 different decades, saw tremendous growth, and retired as a DC-I 0 Captain after 30 years of service. His total flying career was 46 years.
Larry has established an aviation fund through the Bluegrass Community Foundation for young people interested in aviation as a career. Scholarships through the fund aid people to go to aviation camps or pursue other interest in aviation. Larry has not forgotten his early years of baseball in that he is also helping to start a Harrison County Baseball Alumni Association. Its primary mission is to raise money to encourage HC baseball players to further their education after high school. His roots in Kentucky are indeed very profound.
The number one reason that Larry should be for this nomination is the fact that he represents a Kentuckian born to humble beginnings and through discipline, and hard work has achieved a remarkable life career in both the Air Force and subsequently in commercial aviation with 30 years of service with Federal Express. This statement will be
further supported by the chronological achievements of Larry's career.
Larry's early years were centered around working on his father's farm in rural Harrison County Kentucky. His athletic skills started early in Little League Baseball where he was chosen as an All-Star in the league all five years he was eligible to play. His interest in aviation was sparked by the fact that the local Cynthiana-Harrison County Airport was "just over the hill" from his house. After an initial flight in a Piper Tri-Pacer, costing both he and his brother $2.00 each, at the age of 12 Larry was hooked on flying.
Larry started working at the airport during the summers in high school. His pay at the airport was a 30-minute instructional ride each week in an Aeronca Champ 7 AC. Larry soloed at 16 and at 17 he got his Private Pilot’s License while still in high school. Larry entered the University of Kentucky in 1966 and joined the Air Force ROTC. He also lettered in baseball at UK for three years. In 1970 he graduated from UK and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. and then went to flight school at Laredo AFB in Texas. Larry graduated 2nd in his graduating class of 43 (originally 66); thus, he was able to select the F-4 Phantom jet and he was assigned as front seat Aircraft Commander. He transferred to Homestead AFB in Florida for six months upgrade training and subsequently was assigned to a combat unit with the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Hahn AFB Germany.
At Hahn, Larry quickly rose to a Flight Leader as 1st Lt., one of the first to achieve this goal at such an early age. While at Hahn he was selected by his superiors to go to Nellis AFB Nevada to check out in the latest Laser bombing technology. He then was flight leader of the first Laser Bomb Testing for the Air Force in Europe. After the test was complete, he went to the Pentagon as part of the debrief team. The team debriefed the test results to a 4 Star level in AF Systems Command and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Jones, along with the Secretary of the Air Force.
Larry was also selected as one of a group four pilots to represent the USA in Europe for the bi-annual 11th AFCENT Tactical Weapons Meet. Team USA won the low-level navigational competition against six other European countries competing in the event. While at Hahn AFB Larry competed a Master's Degree in Executive Development for Public Service through Ball State University.
In 1976, Larry was assigned as an F-4 Phantom Instructor Pilot to Luke AFB in Arizona. While at Luke AFB he was selected by his superiors for Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB in Nevada, a most competitive position. However, with a wife and child, Larry decided on a career change: he turned down Fighter Weapons School and elected to go into commercial aviation as a pilot for the then fledging Federal Express Corporation. He served FedEx as a line pilot, simulator instructor pilot and a line check airman. Through the years, he flew the Falcon DA20, Boeing 727 and the DC-IO. Larry flew for FedEx in 4 different decades, saw tremendous growth, and retired as a DC-I 0 Captain after 30 years of service. His total flying career was 46 years.
Larry has established an aviation fund through the Bluegrass Community Foundation for young people interested in aviation as a career. Scholarships through the fund aid people to go to aviation camps or pursue other interest in aviation. Larry has not forgotten his early years of baseball in that he is also helping to start a Harrison County Baseball Alumni Association. Its primary mission is to raise money to encourage HC baseball players to further their education after high school. His roots in Kentucky are indeed very profound.