AOPA Member Highlight: Veteran's Day Edition

Veterans and active members of The United States Armed Forces are not just an important part of our society, but a staple in the aviation community. Without them, the aviation world would not be where it is today. We at AOPA are so grateful and humbled by those who have served and sacrificed for our country in the name of freedom.

In honor of the amazing Veterans that have served in The United States Armed Forces, we are highlighting a phenomenal, driven, and selfless AOPA member that has done more in a lifetime than any of us could imagine.

This month, we had the privilege of speaking with George. George is a former member of the United States Army who bravely served during the Vietnam war. George is a Sport Pilot who helped save his local airport. We are pleased to share with you our interview with George!

AOPA: Why did you join the United States Army and what was it like?

In 1968 I had finished 2 years of tech school training in sheet metal construction. The Viet Nam war was raging, and I knew about the G.I. Bill. I could not afford to attend a 4-year college so I decided to volunteer for the Army and hoped that would make it possible for me to attend college when I got out.

Once in the Army, I managed to get into the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 68G20, Airframe Repair, which would allow me to capitalize on my civilian sheet metal training. This was not easy as the Army has many reasons against something that makes sense. After military Airframe Repair training I was immediately given orders for Vietnam. In Vietnam I was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division E. Company, 704th Maintenance Battalion in Pleiku and later An Khe in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam. I was an SGT and put in charge of a 22-man airframe repair shop; we did repairs on all kinds of Army choppers.

Viet Nam was hot most of the time and during the monsoons (May – November) you could count on midafternoon downpours. In the huge aircraft hangar where we worked the rain would be so loud you could not hear yourself think. Life there was hectic, and the sound of choppers overhead was constant. We could all identify every make and model from the sound of the rotors long before they came into sight.

AOPA: Why did you choose the United States Army?

Not really sure, except I knew I did not want to be on the open sea.

AOPA: Tell us about your most memorable experiences while in the Army.

While on guard duty one night we could see some Viet Cong beginning to penetrate the perimeter in the darkness with our night vision binoculars. We called for artillery to drop some parachute flairs over the area and then we eliminated the threat.

AOPA: Why did you decide to become a pilot?

After being so involved with aviation in the Army I got the flying bug and always planned to learn to fly at some point. I finally got the opportunity, 30 years later, at the age of 52 after surviving cancer caused by exposure to Agent Orange in Viet Nam.

AOPA: What has been your favorite thing about being a part of the aviation community?

Meeting and spending time with so many great people. Pilots have an immediate connection with each other, and many great stories begin to flow.

AOPA: Why is flying and being a pilot important to you?

As a pilot I have gotten to give free introductory flights to over 100 people. The best part was hearing them all say what a blast the flight had been. I only had one person who, once we got up there, say “can we go back?  I’m not feeling well.” By the way, that person was in the United States Air Force. Each flight was special.

AOPA: Can you tell us how you became the AOPA Airport Support Network Volunteer and what you did for the Arcadia Municipal Airport in S.W. Florida?

Arcadia Airport, X06, is a small city-owned GA airport. It had long been neglected with an FBO that wanted a private field for personal use. When I found out we had no AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer listed I offered to serve.

Four other local pilots and I formed Friends of Arcadia Airport Inc. and made it a 501-c-3 charitable organization with the sole purpose of supporting and promoting the airport. We began by hosting fly-in pancake breakfasts which turned out to be very successful. We managed to get the city to take back control of the airport and that set us up for more success.

The “Friends” group developed a plan to build an “on-airport” campground to attract pilots to visit our airport and the community. This turned into a multiyear project, but we got it all done with donations and hundreds of volunteer hours of labor. We built a 3-acre campground with two circular taxiways through the trees with a pilot shelter, fire pit, picnic tables, running water and electricity. Later we added two restrooms and showers for the visiting pilots as well as a courtesy van which completed the project. All this was done with no tax dollars. You may find our “How we did it” document on the Airport Support Network website for free download. It gives guidance on how you can follow in our footsteps to do a similar project at your airport.

The Fly-In/Camp-Out Center we call “Aviation City” has turned the airport around as pilots and their families enjoy camping in the woods with their airplanes while visiting local attractions and restaurants.

The airport is now a well-maintained, small yet busy, GA airport that compliments the community and is fully self-supporting.