Newspaper Page Text
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
Local Aero Club flying high
By NANCY HAWK
Journal Staff Writer
Through the fence at the
flightline, strapped down
and waiting are, three
Piper Warrior lls, one Piper
Warrior 111 and a Beechcraft
Baron - all part of the Aero
Club on Robins Air Force
Base.
Walking to building 186,
the rumble of nearby C-130
engines is powerful. Hangars
around the club’s building
are active with maintenance
and repair staff. Base busi
ness is in full swing; plenty
of inspiration for the begin
ner.
The Aero Club was founded
in the 1950 s as a private fly
ing club at Lewis B. Wilson
Airport, now Macon Middle
Georgia Regional. The flying
membership owned a Piper
Cub and an Aeronica Champ
at the time. Not until 1968
did the club take off when
it was offered some surplus
T-34 trainers, from the Air
Force.
The club has been steadily
Contributed
Robins FCU volunteers worked with local schools to make valentines for troops over
seas.
jf
Contributed
Robins FCU volunteers fixed up a home through Rebuilding Together, Christmas in
April.
RFCU employees give back to community
Special to the Journal
Robins Federal Credit
Union employees vol
unteered approximately
1,622.50 hours in their 16
county community charter
area in 2006.
According to a release,
more than 200 employees
chose to volunteer their time
with many community pro
#1 Noon
Buffet
vsmMt
1-79 *«M 136 • 997.9977
It's 91 About
cove
Your Guide To Tke Perfect Wedding *
' y
CjEffiSjßuL Hails Journal >»
HP Feb. 17*, 2007
&K& o||o <Ol
'£s%s><> O<>O O O QCggfro O O 0000 ooO<s o o <?%??> oOQ OD o ogfoggs* XJi
a part of services division
ever since.
Many Air Force bases
sponsor the Aero Club as
part of their Morale and
Welfare section. Here the
Aero club is a part of the
Robins AFB’s, Combat
Support and Community
Services Section. There are
several services that provide
income to keep the club run
ning.
Ryan Vinton became the
Aero Club manager in 2004.
Originally from Marietta,
Vinton has come to enjoy
middle Georgia from the
ground and the sky.
Vinton oversees aircraft
assigned to the club and
ensures they are main
tenance ready and FAA
approved.
Currently there are 107
club members. The young
est member flight qualified
is 17. The oldest are in their
70s. Every pilot under 40
must be medically screened
every three years and those
above 40 must be screened
grams and local organiza
tions, and by participating
in public service activities.
Robins Federal, according to
the release, “is pn active
tStO * tl : - Ts& *^^^^^^>tt:ly!
1-800-DQNATE-CARS
AAHeritave
'^forlheßlind
1 “800-PQNATE-CARS n-soo-^sizi
'43273
every two years.
Vinton believes member
ship is down the last two
years, but he added that’s
most likely due to deploy
ments.
“Flying is expensive yet,
we have pretty reasonable
rates,” he said. “Not to men
tion folks on active duty can
use tuition assistance to pay
for the classes and books.
This being (a) job improve
ment factor. The rating on
the aircraft that are here at
the club will even allow you
to qualify for Instrument
landings.”
The club also participates
in the base air show with a
static display.
A new program of club
events will begin as the
weather will permit, Vinton
added. “(The) second
Saturday of every month
will be club events and social
times like BBQ or chicken,”
he said. “(It’s a) way to make
the club a bit more appeal
ing to the public.”
Who is the club for?
partner in our community.
We recognize that practicing
good citizenship supports
the Credit Union Philosophy
of ‘People Helping People.’”
* The donation is tax deductible.
* Pick-up is free
* We take care of all the paperwork.
LOCAL
I v
•Joumal/N*ncy Hawk
Boarding a Piper Warrior 111, Ryan Vinton, Aero Club manager gets ready for more stu
dent training.
Dreamers, who have always
wanted to fly, experienced
who need to certify, or even
those who wish to rent an
aircraft for a weekend or so.
Those eligible for the club
include: Active duty, retired
military, Reserve/National
Guard and DOD employees.
More information can be
found at www.robins.af,mil/
services.
Currently there are eight
certified Instructors, avail
able during the day and
weekends.
The rates of flying depend
on the aircraft. If the plane
Contributed
Robins Federal Credit Union volunteers raised money for The American Cancer
Society’s Relay For Life.
Contributed
Robins FCU volunteers spruced up the Ronald McDonald House in Macon.
'Vcderttiae 4
Ureat your Sweetheart or friend
Ik to our Special hunet!
Special Hours
feb. Featuring:
1 r * And Much I
Reg. Hrs-Mon-Sat
Lunch 11am-4pm
Adults - $6.45
Kids 6-11 $3.99
3-5 - $1.99
1406 Sam Nunn Blvd. Perry, GA
478-988-8838
u*,
chosen is a Piper Warrior 111,
the cost is SB4 wet (“wet”
meaning that the aircraft
has fuel.)
FAA approved courses
include private pilot certifi
cation, instrument airplane
rating and commercial pilot
certification.
Instructor credentials are
also available - certified fly
ing instructor, instrument
flight instructor and multi
engine flight instructor.
Some of the courses that
are needed for flight status
are, airplane systems, air
space rules, aerodynamics
Reg. Hrs-Mon-Thur
Dinner 4pm-10pm
Adults - 810.99
Kids 6-11-85.99
3-5-82.99
We Serve Beer & Wine
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2007 ♦
and FAA regulations.
Another aspect of the club
is that if you have a pilot’s
license, you can use one of
the clubs aircraft to go on
Temporary Duty. While they
may not cover the entire
trip, the flight will also log
some flight time for a pilot.
The club will sponsor an
open house in May, the week
of the 11th through the
17th.
The club operates at near
self-sufficiency. With ground
school, membership dues,
the bills are met.
Reg. Hrs-Fri-Sat
Dinner 4pm-11pm
Adults -810.99
Kids 6-11-85.99
3-5-82.99
Sunday Hours
AH Day
Adults-89.99
Kids 6-11-85.99
syrs&under-
FREE
5A