Dale Crane (1923 - 2010). Dale Crane was involved in aviation for more than 50 years. His credentials included Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, Designated Mechanic Examiner, Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor (airplanes), and Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor. He received the FAA's Charles Taylor "Master Mechanic" Award for 50 years of service in and contributions to the aviation maintenance industry, and the recognition of his peers for his excellence in aircraft maintenance as a leader, educator, and aviation safety advocate.

Dale began his career in the U.S. Navy as a mechanic and flight engineer in PBYs. After World War II, he attended Parks Air College. After college, he worked as an instrument overhaul mechanic, instrument shop manager, and flight test instrumentation engineer. He spent the following 16 years as an instructor, and then became director of an aviation maintenance school.

For the past 30 years, Dale was active as a writer of aviation technical materials and a consultant in developing aviation training programs. He participated with the FAA in the "Aviation Mechanic Occupation Study" in the 1970s, which was key to the major revision of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 147, and the Aviation Mechanic Textbook Study. ATEC presented to Dale Crane their special recognition award for "his contribution to the development of aviation technicians as a prolific author of specialized maintenance publications."