Noted aviation expert helped make skies safer
Asa teenage lifeguardin Daytona Beach in the early 1930s, Joseph Manning watched as airplanes took off fromthe shore.
He began working with a pilot who flew banners along the beach — and whoalso gave the teen free airplane rides.
Manning’s time in the aircraft sparked his love of aviation, and he would eventually devote his career to the field.
After spending decades studying and working in flight safety, Manning and his wife retired to Central Florida in1980.
On May 9, at age 100, Manning died of natural causes.
Manning was born in New York, but his father, who was in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum& Bailey Circus, moved the family to Sarasota when hewas a child.
Manning eventually moved with his mother and siblings to Daytona Beach. After graduating from Mainland High School, Manning joined theU.S. Navy.
HeservedontheUSSSaratoga for sixyears and trained in the field of airplane mechanics, said daughter Jenny Orr of Longwood.
Thoughhedidn’t earnanadvanceddegree, Manning took college courses throughout the years and studied aerodynamics, gas-turbine engines, drafting and other topics. Orr said her father studied manuals and tried to absorb all the information he could.
Manningwent on towork at aU.S. Marine air station in Quantico, Va., where he developed a manual for training airplane mechanics.
While living in Quantico, Manning met his future wife, Virginia Carolyn Woodard Ray. They were married for 62 years, until her death in 2003.
In the 1940s, Manning became involved in the production of the Chance Vought F4U Corsairandwasrecognizedforhelpingdevise a method to produce the aircraft quickly.
Manning then beganworking for the Civil Aeronautics Administration — the agency that later became known as the Federal AviationAdministration.
Manning moved throughout the country and ultimately landed in Oklahoma City, where the flight-safety division headquarters was located. He retired in 1972 but didn’t stay away fromwork long.
Manning joined the International Civil Aviation Organization, where he helped emerging countries develop flight-safety standards.
In that role, Manning and his wife lived in several countries, including Jordan and Indonesia.
“They loved it,” Orr said. “They loved the new experience and cultures.”
Colleagues praised Manning for his patience, dedication to his job and sense of humor. Manning was humble, meticulous and methodical.
When Manning officially retired, he and his wifemoved to theApopka area.
He enjoyed golfing, traveling, spending time with family and gardening. He also liked baseball, learning about baseball legend Ted Williams and aviator Charles Lindbergh.
Manning is also survived by sons Robert Manning ofReno, Nev., andRichardManning of Oklahoma City; daughters Susan Montgomery of Longwood, Sheree Holloway of Edmond, Okla., JoAnn Blood of Oklahoma City and Joyce Dowd of Winter Park; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Loomis Family Funeral Home, Apopka, is handling arrangements.