It’s not every house that has an airplane hangar and private landing strip, but when aviation legend Jack Greiner was building his house he made sure to include everything he needed to pursue his passion of restoring and flying antique planes. Now, almost four years after his death his descendants have decided to sell the Longmont home steeped in aviation history.
Deborah Fowler, the Realtor selling the home, said, “(Greiner) was a real character and a very talented man. He built and designed the house … and incorporated the airplane hangar so he could build airplanes.” The house at 8195 N. 81st St. is being sold for $2 million.
Greiner, who died at age 96 in 2016, became interested in aviation in 1933 at 13, when his father took him and his sister to John Wayne Airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Barnstormers (pilots who flew throughout the country selling airplane rides and performing stunts) were selling rides at the airport. His father could only afford one plane ride, which was given to his sister, but Greiner, in enterprising fashion, offered to sell tickets for the barnstormers in exchange for a small commission and free airplane rides.
From there, his passion for aviation was stoked. He soloed for three hours when he turned 16, and he had a total of 50 hours' flight time when he flew his first air show. He continued to fly in airshows, performing stunts such as wingwalking, which involves walking along the wings of biplanes.
Greiner attributed his passion for flying and early flying experiences to those barnstormers at John Wayne Airport. Those early experiences also would define the rest of his aviation career.
Inducted into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame in 2012, Greiner left behind a legacy in aviation. Greiner was a flight instructor for the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war he began flying for American Airlines at 21. He flew for over 12 years before a bout of polio in 1950 cut his commercial career short.
After moving to Longmont in 1958 and pursuing a career as a Realtor, Greiner joined the Antique Airplane Association of Colorado. The association works to restore and fly antique tube-and-fabric airplanes, and during his time in Longmont Greiner helped restore 11 antique planes and build three others from scratch.
Richard Hawley, former newsletter editor of the Colorado Antique Airplane Association, recounted one of his friend’s stories: “(Greiner) was 88 years old when he announced to everyone that he was going to get a Pietenpol kit (a type of antique plane) and build it and fly it to Brodhead, Wisconsin, to the annual Pietenpol convention. And we all thought at 88 years old, right, this isn't gonna happen. Well, at 90 it did. So at 90 years old, he got into that Pietenpol and flew to Brodhead.”
Hawley said it was harrowing to fly 800-plus miles with the 90-year-old Greiner in the small Pietenpol plane.
“(Greiner) is one of a kind and we all miss him very much,” Hawley said.
Greiner also inspired new generations to pursue aviation in Longmont and around the country. Hawley described how Greiner invited kids to help repair a 1946 Taylorcraft and gave them free flights, believing that experience was the best learning.
“(Greiner) was like the North Star, he was a beacon because he had such a passion for aviation,” Hawley said.
Greiner tutored generations of Longmont kids in aviation, leading to some impressive results. Some of his protégés have gone on the fly for Continental Airlines, earn their private pilot licenses, work for NASA, attend West Point, and fly in the Air Force.
Greiner also flew as a barnstormer, giving free rides to an estimated 3,000 kids around the country and spreading his passion for aviation.
In describing Greiner’s impact, Hawley said, “So it's like a stone dropped into a pond. And his stone is more like a boulder, it has really made the waves go in all directions.”
Video courtesy of Jim Thurman. Thurman told reporters that this video was made for the memorial service for Greiner.
