ABOUT OUR FAMILY BUSINESS
Where does the ESSCO in Essco Kids Crew come from?
Ernie Stadvec started Essco Aircraft in 1954, mail order business was just getting popular, and he had a whole library of aviation manuals from his years as a pilot he wanted to scan and sell. He named the company using the first letter of his first, middle, and last name and viola! The acronym ESSCO was born.
All of the Stadvec children (there's 5) have worked at the business at some point or another, currently it's owned by Ernie's son (Michael) and operated by his daughter (Marjorie) and granddaughter (Emily).
MEET THE CREW BEHIND THE CREW!
EMILY : THE ILLUSTRATOR
Hi! I’m Emily, third generation here at Essco Aircraft. I grew up in the shop, spending time hiding in the floor to ceiling stacks filled with old aviation manuals, curled up in an old airplane seat with a book or my crayons. While I always thought it would be great fun being a pilot, like my grandpa, I gravitated towards art instead. Over time, I’ve learned that I can have the best of both worlds - aviation and drawing! I hope you love the crew + their adventures as much as I loved creating them! When I'm not designing, drawing, or putting together manuals; I love to hang out with my two pups Lola and Bella, and two cats Pea B + Jay. I also love to travel, almost as much as the kids crew, and my favorite place so far has been Japan!
ERNIE : THE FOUNDER
Ernie may have started Essco in the 1950's, but his career in aviation spans much farther back. Before Essco, he and his wife Elizabeth started Shawnee Airways, in Akron, where they mainly chartered flights. He also flew air ambulance, taught flight school, broadcasted the weather from the sky, and even had his very own tv show: Captain Ernie's Flying Club. His latest flying achievement? He was recently awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award! Ernie JUST retired from Essco (at 95!) and now spends his time writing and compiling stories he's written all about his adventures in the air. He's always the first to review every product for Essco Kids, and is a great help with the rhyming. Oh, and he also loves singing WWII songs - karaoke style!