For scientific research and design of solar powered and energy sensitive architectural projects, Richard, was invited into the Explores Club in 1977. The most precedent-setting of his scientific work was the design of the largest solar heated and cooled building ever constructed. For the overall scope of their commissions for the next 20 years, his firm was awarded with 19 design award recognitions. Concurrent with his professional practice, for 10 of those years he taught architectural design at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
But he was also a pilot. In 1980, he and his flying-buddy, Pat Epps, flew a single engine, 4 seat airplane from PDK in Atlanta to the Magnetic North Pole. Once over that remote location, they rolled the plane inverted to see what direction the magnetic needle would point. By executing this unlikely experiment, they were the first to know the real answer to this burning question that few ever thought to ask.
During the years between 1981 and 2001, Epps and Taylor led seven expeditions to Greenland to extricate the P-51 Lightning fighter plane, named Glacier Girl. She was buried 250 feet below the glacial icecap. That plane now flies airshows all over the country.
As an author, he has written number of books:
The Epoch of Art Nouveau
Roll the Pole
Ad Lib
Glacier Girl, The Quest, The Prize
Log Book, 15 of the 16 dumbest things I’ve ever done in an airplane
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