Texas Chapter
Antique Airplane Association
Last Updated: Jul 18 2010
Texas Chapter ActivitiesRanger Fly-In and Chapter MeetingThe May meeting of the Texas Chapter was held at Ranger Airport in conjunction with the Memorial Day Fly-In and Air Show on May 29th 2010.
Texas Chapter member Jared Calvert organized the Fly-in and Air Show and by all indications it was a huge success with over 125 planes and several hundred people in attendance. I don.t know if anyone got an accurate count of folks, but besides pilots and passengers a large portion of the local population showed up and seemed to really enjoy the planes and the air show.
Thirty members of the Texas Chapter signed in on the meeting list, so by all rights it was a good showing. Phil Cook took photos of Chapter members Jim Hays, Harold Stieber and Jim Putney in front of their planes. Maybe this will become a go to fly-in for that area of Texas, as it seemed everyone indicated they thought it was worth the trip. We hope it will continue and prosper as it helps to create interest in aviation. Dick Ramsey
Betty Mitchell Memorial Service
On 5-22-10 the Family, Friends and Members of Texas Antique Airplane Association gathered at Mike and Lorie Mitchell's Hanger in remembrance of the life of Betty Mitchell. Betty was the Wife of member Louis Mitchell Jr, Mother of Michael, and along with her Husband was a supporter of the Texas Chapter. Mike presented the audio visual service which was a compilation of family photos from remembered times, set to favorite music from times past.
Bob Baas Memorial Service
On May 11th 2010, at 3:00PM, Family, Friends and members of Texas Chapter AAA gathered at Northwest Regional Airport for a Memorial Service for our departed member Bob Baas. His body had previously been donated for medical research and when that was completed his ashes were returned to the Family.
On the morning of the 11th, Military Honors were rendered at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery with internment of part of his ashes there. In accordance with his wishes, his remaining ashes were scattered over the runway at Northwest Regional Airport where he was based for many years. His Widow Joan was in attendance and immediately following the scattering of his ashes, a five ship missing-man formation took place. Afterwards, all gathered in a near-by hangar to toast his memory and wish him strong tail winds and fair skies on his flight west. Dick Ramsey
Texas Chapter Meeting on April 17th, 2010Here are three photos from the Chapter Meeting at New Fairview Airfield on 4/17/2010. 40 Members and 5 Guests showed up despite the constant rain and were treated to an overabundance of great food. Before and after the meeting members spent time visiting with each other or buying Chapter T-Shirts, Caps, Badges etc from our member Shirley Swindle.
Texas Chapter Meeting on March 20th, 2010The day in the Dallas-Ft Worth started with very low ceilings, blowing rain and decreasing temperatures. Not what you expect in Texas, but the forecast was for snow by later in the evening. Despite all that, about 30 hearty souls from the Texas Chapter met at the Pockrus hangar on Clark Field just north of Justin, TX. Tables and chairs were unloaded from our trailer and set up. Portable heaters were brought by Don and Ann Pellegreno and before long it was bearable if you kept your coat on. A great quantity of wonderful food brought by members made the day a success and everyone went away well fed. It did, in fact, snow that evening and night. Terry Wallace photos.
Chapter Meeting February 20, 2010: Meacham FieldMy wife and I attended the February Texas AAA Meeting at Fort Worth's Meacham Field. Our meeting was held at the Vintage Flying Museum. This former World War Two hangar once housed B-29s and is now home to several flying vintage bombers.
The B-17 "Chuckie" makes her home here along with the B-25 "Pacific Prowler." A recent bomber addition flew in just weeks ago is an A/B-26 Invader.
Our hosts Doc and Chuckie Hospers gave a short program that included the history of the museum and their beloved B-17.
Joe Haynes passed on some history of the Texas Chapter and his involvement since the beginnings of the group.
Lynn Hearn also told of his flying history and chapter membership.
As the meeting came to a close members were treated to the sounds of a maintenance run on the B-25 is the crew did an engine run up. About 50 members were in attendance. Dan Linn Chapter Meeting January 16, 2010: Christie's Extreme BurgersThe Texas Chapter meeting at Christie's Extreme Burgers in North Richland Hills was attended by about 50 members. It would appear that most members enjoyed the meal, by the smiling looks in the line. They didn't scrimp on filling their plates either.
2009 Christmas PartyThe Texas Chapter held its Annual Christmas Party on Dec. 19th at the Tomlinson Aviation Hangar at Gainesville, Texas Municipal Airport. Over 80 Chapter members attended and each brought new toys which were donated to the "Littlest Angel Program" of Cooke County, Texas.
One of our members, Randy Nunn provided his own style of singing and musical entertainment.
The Annual .Service Award. for 2009 was presented to Terry Wallace for outstanding service and contributions to the Chapter.
A great time of year, good companionship and food and a greater
purpose served.
Reklaw 2009 Fly-InIt is perhaps the greatest attended grass field fly-in anywhere. Anytime over 500 aircraft of all types and sizes are assembled on a grass field it just can't be beat. This is for the most part because of the efforts of Texas Chapter members David and Marcia Mason who put on this extravaganza each year on their own place at Reklaw, Texas. They and their Army of Volunteers from different Clubs and Organizations really do a marvelous job.
Among those Chapter Members present at this year's fly-in on Saturday the 24th of October were Dennis Price, Terry Wallace, Billy and Jana Copeland, Doug Sockwell, Dick Ramsey, new member Gary Weeks and a couple of past members Jim and Mary Fowler.
A great day for flying in Texas, and a lot of that was done. At the end of the day a 1929 Travel Air Model 6-B NC8112 belonging to Pleasant Aviation LLC of Mount Pleasant, Texas was selected to receive the Texas Chapter Choice Award.
Submitted and Photos by Dick Ramsey Posthumous Award for Patrick ReetzYMCA "Eagle Award" for 2008 Volunteer of the Year Patrick Reetz Patrick was a Lifetime Member of the Antique Airplane Association and a member of the Texas Chapter, until his death at age 49 in September 2008. On Sunday, September 27, 2009, family and friends of Patrick Reetz gathered at the awesome new Northpark YMCA on North Beach Street in Fort Worth, Texas, to witness the presentation of the first Volunteer of the Year "Eagle Award" ceremony. Patrick, the first recipient, had been actively involved in both the former YMCA, beginning in 1993, and the building of this new one which opened in December 2008. Serving on both Boards, he had assisted in all aspects of getting this YMCA constructed and open for use.
During the ceremony, Randy Anderson, a close family friend, told of Patrick's accomplishments and presented the plaque to Patrick's family. Afterwards Joetta Reetz and daughters Schylene and Alexandria shared some reminiscences. The evening was a fitting tribute to a man who had given so much to the community. Submitted by Ann Pellegreno Blakesburg 2009September 2nd through 7th, 2009 our members ventured to the National Antique Fly-In at Blakesburg, Iowa. A group picture was taken on the Library steps on Saturday afternoon.
The Library steps were also the location of the Wedding of two of our members: Cynthia Grant and Howard Hollinger. Both flew their Luscombes to the Fly-In and the planes were appropriately equipped with cans and bottles tied to the tails.
After Cake and Congratulations, the couple made a celebration flight in their planes on Sunday afternoon.
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