Flavio Madariaga — the Fla in Flabob — has passed away, but the airport he worked for 40 years to build has risen again after an eleventh-hour rescue from under the tip of the developer's shovel.
Historic Flabob Airport was founded in 1925 and was recognized throughout the country as one of the incubators of grass-roots aviation. After Madariaga passed away 20 years ago the airport slid slowly downhill until Tom Wathen purchased it in late 1999. Wathen has since established a foundation that is dedicated to aviation education and the preservation of general aviation, and Flabob Airport is again incubating, only this time its progeny are aviation-minded young people instead of ingenious and innovative airplane designs.
Not more than two generations ago, airports had a magic about them. The magic was there because respectful kids were welcomed by the pilots who flew the airplanes, and because kids soon learned that they could trade a few hours of airplane washing or cleaning for a ride around the patch.
Thanks to a dedicated, organized group of volunteers at this small airport (with a single 3,200-by-50-foot runway), 58 young people and interested parents sat together one sunny Saturday morning as a lively 20-year-old instructor pulled them through 45 minutes of ground school, then watched attentively as a 16-year-old mentor walked them around the preflight of a Cessna 150, and then were rewarded with what they had all come for — a real ride in a real airplane.
Tiffany and Chris Felton
Tiffany "Tiff" and Chris Felton, respectively, are the 20- and 16-year-olds mentioned. They are sister and brother. Tiff teaches ground school by painting word pictures that California kids relate to — such as comparing the forces that act on a surfboard with those that act on an airplane wing — as she explains basic aerodynamics. The kids eat it up.
Outside, Chris is cleaning the nose gear of Andy Anderson's polished Cessna 150 as he waits to explain preflight techniques. "He takes me flying so I clean his airplane," explains Chris. "I started as a Young Eagle — the same way the 58 kids in this group will start — and I just started flight school. I should have my certificate on my next birthday," says Chris.
After the volunteers have flown the kids, and the benches, cold drinks, and airplanes have been put away, everyone heads down to the airport café for lunch. Chris grabs a seat at the long table in the middle of the café, and soaks up the flying and airplane maintenance stories that are filling the air.
The Thomas Wathen Foundation
Although Wathen bought the airport less than seven years ago, remarkable changes have taken place. The grounds have been cleaned up, the runway's in good shape again, hangars have been built, and the place looks a lot better. Today Flabob Airport calls itself "a working airport, a school campus, a business site, a community, and a favorite gathering place." The Thomas Wathen Foundation was formed to inspire, educate, and tap the potential of area youth.
Students in various programs are mentored by experienced airplane buffs. An Aeronca Chief was rebuilt by young people and flown to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh earlier this year. Another is being refurbished. A Stinson 108-3 also is being restored. One of the very popular programs is the EAA Air Academy, a week-long program for middle and high school students. There are eight Air Academy classes slated for 2006.
The Youth Intervention program was started as a tool to tap the potential of at-risk kids. Introducing these young people to an aviation-based education while insisting they perform to high standards of quality, integrity, and self-discipline proved so successful that the first group went on to form a for-profit company called West Side Aviation.
The San Bernardino Valley College Aeronautics department has plans to move its airframe and powerplant (A&P) certification program to the airport.
Eventually a full education center and museum/conference complex and additional hangars will be built.
Flabob's First Fridays
Flabob devotees call themselves "Flabobians," and they gather on the first Friday of each month for flying flicks and pizza. On July 7, for example, Jimmy Stewart, June Allyson, and Frank Lovejoy starred in Strategic Air Command, a stirring saga filled with in-flight images of B-36 and B-47 bombers.
EAA Young Eagle flights take place on the second Saturday of each month; the third Saturday — from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — is set aside for an aircraft display and car show with the following exceptions. The third Saturday in September is also an EAA Chapter 1 open house. The November aircraft-display and car-show day will move to Sunday to combine it with Flabob's well-known Veteran's Day Celebration on Sunday, November 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The NCO club will have live music and the chow hall will serve Spam and SOS — if you don't know what SOS is, make plans to attend and ask any veteran — it's universal to all branches of service.
Flabob and Mount Rubidoux
Because Mount Rubidoux crowds the downwind leg on left traffic to Runway 24, the airport features an unusual pattern. Pattern altitude is only 700 feet agl. One of the stories around Flabob — and there are many — quotes Flavio Madariaga as saying that the correct way to fly the pattern is to fly directly toward the cross on top of Mount Rubidoux. When it fills the windshield, turn left onto the base leg to 24.
The airport is nontowered and there may be airplanes in the pattern without radios. Class C airspace for the March Air Force Base to the southeast and for Ontario International Airport to the northwest and the Class D airspace of Riverside Municipal Airport must be contended with. A Los Angeles Terminal Area Chart is invaluable. The tower (121.00 MHz) at Riverside is very helpful and should be contacted to set up a descent when arriving from the west.
Airport living
When it is finished, the Masterpiece Skypark at Flabob Airport will be the only fly-in community in the Los Angeles Basin. Ninety-seven hangars are to be built on the south side of the existing runway. Home layouts are being planned in conjunction with Mastercraft Development, the builders. Plans feature homes from 2,200 to 2,800 square feet in size. Homebuyers will be able to rent one of the new hangars and enjoy all the benefits of living with their airplane. Flabob Airport has been reborn; fly down and join in.
E-mail the author at [email protected].
Links to additional information about Flabob Airport may be found on AOPA Online.
