Airfield Letter September 2024

Improvements to the airfield are continuing at the speed of life … meaning we get to things as we can while keeping the essentials of airfield ownership going. The renovated restroom is ready, at last, and is open as of Tuesday, September 3. We have a facility that is a very welcome addition for our Airfield tenants and Airfield guests. A huge thank-you to our volunteers and especially to our construction supervisor, Member Daryl Habit, and faithful co-conspirators, Tim Higgins, Mark Cigal, Bill Kemper, Sid Tolchin, Gene Letourneau, Leo Dringoli, Todd Jacobus, Dennis Carlson and others for bringing this project to fruition. The keypad combo is the same as the Hendersonville runway orientation – 1533 (which we also use).

Labor Day … the promise of fall … a goodbye to summer … life in the mountains is good!

Apple Festival has come and gone for another year. **SPECIAL INVITATION AT THE END OF THIS NOTE**

EAA Chapter 1016 generously donated toward the cost of materials for the restroom project. After their contribution of $5,000 to buy the tractor and batwing runway mower from Mrs. Johnson in December, this makes a significant total donated to the Museum by the Chapter over the past year! It is a real boost to us that the EAA Chapter decided to continue holding their monthly meetings at the Museum and their enthusiasm for the airfield is contagious. The word is getting out about our family friendly facility and inquiries are coming in from pilots who want to fly in for a visit.

The Asheville Civil Air Patrol chapter met at the Museum on July 18th. Their meeting hangar at AVL is slated for demolition to make way for another “aviation” activity (a PARKING GARAGE FOR AIRLINE CUSTOMERS)

Don’t you know how much of an improvement a parking garage will be for the future of General Aviation? Imagine what a great benefit it would be for CAP to come back to Hendersonville! Those young people are truly motivated.

Members Jerry Moore and Glenn Gordon finished moving the old drainpipe from below the maintenance hangar to the recycler’s, netting the museum a “whopping” $700 or so (which was, likely, less than the cost to Jerry to move it) … It certainly cleaned up that area and will eventually give Glenn and his crew something else to mow! Another burr under the saddle has been eliminated by the restoration of electrical power to the Museum hangar.

Thanks again to Jerry for arm wrestling the electrician to come out, find the break in the line and fix it!

The removal and cleanup of the old fuel shed is coming along but not fast enough to suit us. It’s a matter of just doing it. The idea is to cut the posts and move the building to another spot (to be determined). If you want to pitch in with that project, please let us know.

Members Jeff Moore, his son, Andrew, and Mark Cigal drove (!) to Triple Tree Aerodrome on Friday, August 23, to sit down for their weekly stah meeting and learn what makes Triple Tree such a success. They came back full of enthusiasm for the reception they received and ohers to help us develop Johnson Field further. There are limits to what we can do in the flood plain where the airfield lies but we can certainly improve the condition of the runway and facilities. More on this as we learn more, but Pat Hartness, the founder of Triple Tree, has offered not only their expertise but their assistance as well.

Bill Kemper and Alex Nelon flew the Glastar down to Triple Tree for the South Carolina Breakfast Club on Sunday, August 18th. This is a great group that has met every 2 weeks for breakfast at various locations around South Carolina since the 1930s! They did take a break during the unpleasantness of the 1940s, but have been continuous the rest of the time.

The 17th Annual Triple Tree Fly-In is set for September 23-29 and is not to be missed! Go to their website: tta.aero to sign up!

Lori and Isaiah Burch operate the Robinson R44 helicopter that gave rides during the Apple Festival. CAP Cadets escorted passengers to and from the helicopter (they had to do it in civilian clothes as volunteers) and everything went oh without a hitch. We’ve invited Lori and Isaiah back and may have them conduct one of the programs for the Museum membership or EAA. Helicopters and other flying machines can operate safely together – once we learn each other’s language there’s room for all

The hangar waitlist is unchanged from last month. View Status here.

**SPECIAL NOTICE! LUNCH ON WEDNESDAY, 9/3, FOR AIRFIELDERS!! Mark and I are inviting you for lunch Wednesday at our hangar at the South end, starting at 11:30 to 12 and going for as long as you want to stay . . . we’ll supply burgers and brats, cole slaw and potato salad, water and tea. BILL KEMPER will be boiling corn on the cob! Last of the season! Reply with a yea or nay so we might have a fair idea for food planning . . . not required but nice to know . . . Hope to see you!

Thanks to all for your support over this last almost-year . . . the Airfield is looking great and there are good things coming, such as smoothing out the runway and more general refurbishment. As always, there’s plenty to do to go around if you want to pitch in.

Mark: 860-930-5453

Alex: 828-595-5950