A Legacy of Flight
Some dreams begin with a single flight. Ours began generations ago.
My grandfather grew up with very little, but through hard work and determination he achieved his dream of aircraft ownership. Standing beside his Beechcraft Bonanza, he wasn’t simply posing with an airplane—he was celebrating what perseverance could accomplish. As a member of the Flying Farmers of Colorado, he found a community united by a shared passion for flight.
My grandmother with the family's Beechcraft Bonanza.
My grandmother with the family's Beechcraft Bonanza.
My grandfather (on the wing) and grandmother with his Beechcraft Bonanza.
My grandfather's Beechcraft Bonanza, N3836B, tied down in the snow.
A Family of Flying Farmers (1963)
In August 1963, my grandfather Elmer R. Cordova flew the family's Beechcraft Bonanza from Littleton, Colorado, to the International Flying Farmers' convention in Rapid City, South Dakota. My dad, Jeffrey, was 6 and along for the ride with his sister Kristine, 8, while his big brother Danny, 16, flew as co-pilot. The convention drew 350 private planes and 1,250 farmers.
The Cordovas had been members for five years. My grandmother was the Colorado Flying Farmers treasurer and the previous year's Colorado queen, and Danny was past Colorado teen president. My grandfather, owner of E & C Metal Corp. and E & C Precast Cement Products, had just become a state director.
My grandmother, crowned Colorado Flying Farmers queen.
Newspaper clipping, Rapid City, 1963. That's my dad, front right.
My father with my brother and me in a Piper.
My father carried that passion into military service aboard the B-52 Stratofortress before earning his private pilot certificate and passing his love of aviation to the next generation.
For many years, life, work, and family responsibilities meant that my own dream of becoming a pilot had to wait. It wasn’t until I was 41 years old that I finally began pursuing my private pilot certificate. That journey would never have started without the unwavering encouragement of my loving wife. She believed in my dream, supported me every step of the way, and reminded me that it is never too late to pursue what truly matters. Her faith in me has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.
Today, that responsibility rests with me.
Cordova Aviation exists to honor that legacy while helping preserve the future of general aviation. Our mission is not centered on airplanes alone. It is about inspiring people, building community, and ensuring that the freedom of flight continues to be experienced by future generations.
One day, I hope my daughters become fourth-generation pilots. If they do, it won’t simply be another family milestone—it will be the continuation of a story that began long before they were born.
Our youngest navigator, sectional chart at the ready.
Ready for a flight with my daughter, Lauren.
Thank you for joining us as we write the next chapter.
Patents
My grandfather’s inventions have outlived the airplanes he flew. According to Google Patents, his two patents have been cited by 14 later patents and patent applications. His Aircraft Hangar patent has been referenced by inventions including a storage structure for sailplanes and small aircraft (2004), aircraft shelters in the U.S. (2016) and the U.K. (2018), and, as recently as 2022, a Saudi Aramco design for docking equipment into a drone. His Wind Tee and Velocity Indicator was cited as recently as 2011 by an illuminated wind speed indicator from the same company.
Elmer R. Cordova, “Wind Tee and Velocity Indicator”, U.S. Patent 3,404,566 (1968)
Elmer Cordova, “Aircraft Hangar”, U.S. Patent 3,823,519 (1974)