The 75th anniversary of the SPIRIT OF GOOD WILL flight of the ECUADOR

In March 2006, the skies over the Americas witnessed a historic bridging of generations as Theodore Gildred Jr. completed the 75th-anniversary recreation of the "Spirit of Goodwill" flight. 

Piloting a modern Pilatus PC-12 turboprop named "Ecuador III," Gildred Jr. touched down in Quito on March 31 at exactly 10:52 a.m.—precisely 75 years to the minute after his father, 

Theodore Gildred Sr., first landed his Ryan B-5 Brougham in 1931. This mission was a true family legacy, as Gildred Jr. was accompanied by his sons, Ted III and Stephen, and even joined by Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of the legendary Charles Lindbergh. 

The 4,200-mile journey from San Diego to Ecuador served not just as a commemorative act, but as a symbolic "passing of the baton" to a third generation committed to the Pan-American spirit.

This milestone resonates deeply with those of us who have spent decades fostering the growth of the tropical produce trade between the Americas. 

Much like the aviation pioneers who opened these routes, the early exporters of mangoes and pineapples had to navigate a landscape defined by daring logistics and a commitment to international cooperation. 

By the time of the 75th-anniversary flight in 2006, the infrastructure that Gildred’s father helped spark had matured into a sophisticated network.

These flights remind us that the trust and diplomatic ties forged through such "Goodwill" missions are the same foundations upon which our multibillion-dollar agricultural trade stands today.

As the industry looks forward, the Gildred family has already set its sights on the future, with the younger generation pledging to recreate the flight once more for the centennial in 2031. 

This enduring commitment to regional partnership mirrors the long-term stewardship required in tropical agriculture, where success is measured in decades rather than seasons. 

The 2006 flight remains a highlight in the annals of aviation and a powerful reminder of how individual vision can cultivate lasting relationships across the hemisphere.