October/November/December 2005 Volume XXVIII No. 4

JOIN US!November 12, 2005

5:00 p.m.For the induction of

Paul E. GalantiWilliam Knox MartinJoseph M. Mathias, Jr.

and

John P. “Jack” Reeder

into the

Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame

VIRGINIA EAGLESThe official newsletter of the

VIRGINIA AERONAUTICALHISTORICAL SOCIETY

Officers and Board of DirectorsVan E. Crosby, Richmond, President

John G. Dankos, Mechanicsville, 1st Vice PresidentScott Gross, Williamsburg, 2nd Vice President

Charles J. Williams, Jr., Prince George, SecretaryWilliam David Tyndall, Richmond, Treasurer

Albert M. Orgain IV, Richmond, ChairmanTom Woodburn, Richmond, Vice Chairman

Neilson J. November, Richmond, Chairman EmeritusKimberly W. Boehme, Mechanicsville

Bill Bolger, RichmondRandall Burdette, Richmond

Hartwell F. “Tee” Coke, IV, QuintonNorman L. Crabill, Newport News

Calvin Falwell, LynchburgDewitt L. Freeman, Louisa

Charles Hundley, RichmondJulian Keevil, Richmond

Bill Kelly, RichmondCharles A. Kulp, Sr., Bealeton

Carl M. Lindner, RichmondGenevieve Krimm Orange, Richmond

Claude “Buz” Rich, WilliamsburgKenneth A. Rowe, RichmondDeborah J. Sterling, AshlandMark Sternheimer, Richmond

Ken Strafer, FairfaxH. Ray Tyson, Jr., Ashland

Maxine M. Walker, DeltavilleMarguerite Wonsey, Williamsburg

ChaptersNorthern Neck Middle Peninsula – Ron Lang

Northern Virginia – Weldon C. BrittonWilliamsburg – Bill Schultz

StaffMike Boehme, Mechanicsville, Executive Director

Jennifer H. Melton, Glen Allen, EditorNorman L. Crabill, Newport News, Feature Article Editor

Kimberly W. Boehme, Mechanicsville, Copy Editor

Add your spouse for $15 at any level!

Thanks to the Science Museum of Virginia and the Virginia AviationMuseum, you can now view the Virginia Eagles Newsletter on theWeb.

Visit us on the Web at vahs.smv.orgClick on Virginia Eagles

Contact us by mail at:VAHS5701 Huntsman RoadRichmond International Airport, VA 23250-2416

e-mail us at vahs@smv.orgTelephone (804) 222-8690

Gulf Coast Recovery

Jan and I spent the Labor Day holiday flyingdown to see our oldest son and his family where he isstationed at Pensacola Naval Air Station as a FlightInstructor with VT-4. That was five hours down (nicetailwind) and six hours back (bad headwind) with oneen route re-fueling on each trip. The highest we paidfor fuel was $4.45 per gallon at PNS and we wereglad to get that. Auto fuel was scarce in Pensacolawith many stations closed or out of gas. Our son’shouse was spared significant damage during HurricaneKatrina. Hurricane Dennis had already beat it up alittle bit before they ever moved in. While there wecould not help but notice the destruction in thePensacola area, but that destruction was insignificantcompared with what had happened a few miles westalong the Gulf Coast. The airports in Pensacola werebusy with rescue helicopters and fixed-wing transportsflying supplies and medical personnel to the floodedareas. We attended our son’s church, which washosting many evacuee families. These people wereasked to stand and be recognized. About 10 peoplestood up. It was a very emotional moment for themand us. There was some crying going on. In returnthere was a lot of laying on of hands to let peopleknow that there are others out there who care andwho will help them. The minister at this church, FatherRay Waldon, will be filling up the church van (my sonand his wife have donated the use of their 6x10 footutility trailer) and these vehicles are going to betransporting donated goods or purchased items whichcan used by the Gulf Coast evacuees. Father Ray isgoing to drive these items to a distribution point inLouisiana. Upon leaving the church I told Father Raythat I’d go back to Virginia and try and raise somefunds at my law firm. It occurred to me also that theVAHS family may also like to participate in this effortwhich will deliver 100% of their donations to theevacuees. If you would like to make a donation to

this effort, you can make a check made payable to“Holy Cross Episcopal Church (Hurricane KatrinaRelief)” and send it to me in care of the VAHS or tome at my law firm, or if you wish, you can send itdirectly to:

Father Ray WaldonHoly Cross Episcopal Church

7979 North Ninth AvenuePensacola, Florida 32514

For additional information, you can contactthe church directly at their e-mail addressholycross@pensacola.com or visit the website atwww.holycross.pensacola.com.

I can tell you from the first-hand contact witha few of these devastated people, that they need yoursupport both emotionally and monetarily. If you canafford to do it, please take some action – through theRed Cross or any other appropriate charity.

April Fool’s Day 2006

From the previous issues of our Newsletter,you know that we have more flexibility now in settingthe date of our annual meeting. Next year’s annualmeeting is set for April 1, 2006. This is probably alittle earlier than what we will ordinarily do in the future,but was necessary because of various conflicts on theBoard. Please mark your calendars and be preparedto come and celebrate our organization, conductbusiness and spend money at our auction.

Hokie Fly-High

Norm Crabill and his Historical MarkerCommittee are working hard on the next historicalmarker to be funded by the Virginia Department ofAviation and sponsored by the VAHS. The plans are

in the works for a marker to be located at the VirginiaTech Airport (BCB) in Blacksburg, Virginia. Thismarker would commemorate the connection theVirginia Tech Airport had with the war effort in WorldWar II when it became involved with the Civilian PilotTraining Program. The CPTP provided initial pilottraining to cadets at VPI and other colleges. TheAirport also hosted a pre-WWII program to trainaircraft mechanics under the National YouthAdministration. I am planning on flying in. We will letyou know what the date is and hope that you can bethere to celebrate this event. Even VMI graduates(such as I) can make a salute to Virginia Tech on thisoccasion.

Hall of Fame

I gave a head’s up in our last issue aboutmaking reservations early for the Hall of Fame onNovember 12, 2005 because it probably will be wellattended. From the last issue you have seen that wehave a notable group of aviators to honor. Make surethat you have a seat.

Al OrgainVAHS Chairman(804) 783-7243AOrgain@SandsAnderson.com

Law Office Address:Sands Anderson Marks & Miller801 East Main StreetPost Office Box 1998Richmond, Virginia 23218-1998

VECTVECTVECTVECTVECTORS BY VORS BY VORS BY VORS BY VORS BY VANANANANAN

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend was wonderful weatherto fly almost anywhere. Al and Jan went south for theweekend while Lynn and I took a couple of the kidsand went north to Buffalo, New York to visit Lynn’sbrother. A large high pressure system gave us the windsthat Al referred to, so it was 3 hours up and 2-1/2hours back. We landed at a public use, privatelyowned airport (Lancaster, KBQR) in the suburbs whichhad a self fueling facility. No one had changed the fuelprices, so we paid $3.62 a gallon. Who would thinkthat you would go north and pay less? (I told mybrother-in-law about the secret in case the gas stationsin town ran out of gas!) We enjoyed the Buffalo wings,a Friday night fish fry and bonfires at night. The Buffaloarea is really a very nice place to visit from July toSeptember. The rest of the year is all one season thatwe call winter. During that period, follow Al’s leadand go south.

Call for Help

I am sure that you were touched like I waswhen Al described the emotions at his son’s church.To be so close to the devastation had to be anunforgettable experience. I would expect that manyof us will find a way to donate to those who lost somuch. This church in Florida is only one way tocontribute. You only have to look around to find away to participate. For example, check with youremployer. Many companies are doing the same asmy office at USI Insurance and matching contributionsdollar for dollar. Monday night football is even havinga double header with a telethon on 9/19/05. Whateverworks for you is the way to go!

Virginia Aviation Foundation

One of the things that I get to do as thePresident of VAHS is to attend the board meetings ofthe VAF. It has been a very rewarding opportunity

and if you are not aware of the VAF, you will be soon,I’m sure.

The Virginia Aviation Foundation is a 501(c)3non-profit corporation dedicated to supporting theefforts of Virginia aviation museums, aviation endeavorsthroughout the Commonwealth of Virginia andscholarships to encourage individuals to pursue careersin the field of aviation.

In the first year of the foundation they haveexpanded their efforts beyond theVAM to becomeinvolved in the fundraising for “Air Quest”, theChesterfield County Aviation Science Center, foundedthe Commonwealth Aero Club, developed ascholarship fund and have been selected by NASA toadminister an Aerospace Educational OutreachProgram.

To find out more and how to get involved,give me a call or contact Pam Hall, President, at (804)249-9366.

Van CrosbyPresident

Meet the Board of Directors

David Tyndall, Treasurer

William David Tyndall was born and raised inRichmond, Virginia. He is 43 years old and marriedwith one son. He has been a life member of the VAHSsince 1986.

Dave is the Aviation Department Manager for UniversalCorporation and is currently flying a Hawker 800XP.He is (and has been for a loooooong time) restoring a1938 Waco EGC-8 Custom Cabin.

The airplane in the photo is a 1936 Luscombe Phantom,the only Phantom currently flying in the world today.

SUPPORT THESUPPORT THESUPPORT THESUPPORT THESUPPORT THE SOCIETY SOCIETY SOCIETY SOCIETY SOCIETYSupport the VAHS…. Buy aSupport the VAHS…. Buy aSupport the VAHS…. Buy aSupport the VAHS…. Buy aSupport the VAHS…. Buy aT-shirt or Polo shirt withT-shirt or Polo shirt withT-shirt or Polo shirt withT-shirt or Polo shirt withT-shirt or Polo shirt withthe VAHS logo on itthe VAHS logo on itthe VAHS logo on itthe VAHS logo on itthe VAHS logo on it

T-shirt: $5.00T-shirt: $5.00T-shirt: $5.00T-shirt: $5.00T-shirt: $5.00polo shirt: $10.00polo shirt: $10.00polo shirt: $10.00polo shirt: $10.00polo shirt: $10.00

Contact: Jen MeltonContact: Jen MeltonContact: Jen MeltonContact: Jen MeltonContact: Jen Melton(804) 222-8690(804) 222-8690(804) 222-8690(804) 222-8690(804) 222-8690

e-mail: e-mail: e-mail: e-mail: e-mail: vahs@smv.org

Dear VAHS Member:

Mark your calendars for Saturday evening, April 1, 2006 when the Virginia Aeronautical Historical

Society will hold its annual Spring get together at the Virginia Aviation Museum. Come and enjoy a fun

filled evening with other Society members, guests and aviation enthusiasts for some hangar flying (tall tales),

hors d’oeuvres and adult beverages. Included in the evening will be the exciting and entertaining 4th annual

VAHS fundraising auction. There will also be a short business meeting held prior to the voice auction.

Do you remember the fun we had last May at the auction? We plan to do it again and the same as last

year, your help is needed in soliciting or providing donations for the auction. Aviation related donations are

great, but we also need non aviation-related items to provide more excitement. How about a gift certificate for

dinner at a local restaurant? A round of golf? An umbrella for a rainy day on the links? Last year we raised

over $6,000 and with your imagination and enthusiasm, we can raise even more money to support our Historical

Society and its many projects.

We are elated to announce that, after much arm twisting and threats of bodily harm, “Fast Tongue Al”

has once again agreed to serve as auctioneer. Folks, he is a sight to behold so come out and have some fun at

this great event.

Contacts for auction donations or questions are:Scott Gross: j3cub@cox.netDavid Tyndall: wacoc8@aol.comCharlie Williams: cw4cjw2@aol.comTom Woodburn: wacoc5@comcast.net

If you prefer, you may leave a message at the VAHS office 804-222-8690. Also give us a call if you

need help transporting a donated item. It is requested that all donated items be at theSociety office by March

15, 2006. All donations are tax deductible. Receipts will be provided.

Thank you for supporting The Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society.

Van CrosbyPresident

CCCCCALENDALENDALENDALENDALENDAR OFAR OFAR OFAR OFAR OFEVENTSEVENTSEVENTSEVENTSEVENTS

SR-71 ForumOctober 1Will be held at the Virginia Aviation Museum, 9:30a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Once highly classified, the secrets ofthe legendary SR-71 Blackbird are revealed. Forumis included with regular museum admission. Call (804)236-3620 to make reservations.

Virginia State EAA Fly-InOctober 1 - 2Ninth Annual Virginia State EAA Fly-In at DinwiddieCounty Airport.

Culpeper Regional Airport Airfest 2005October 8Will be held at the Culpeper Regional Airport. Foradditional information contact Tanya Woodward at(540) 825-8280 or visit www.culpepercounty.gov.

Wings Over Chesterfield AirshowOctober 15 – 16Will be held at the Chesterfield County Airport. Moredetails to follow!

Hangar DanceOctober 29Will be held at the Virginia Aviation Museum. Call(804) 236-3620 to make reservations.

Ongoing Events:Flying Circus AirshowsIncludes precision aerobatic flying, wing walking, hotair ballooning, skydiving, and antique open cockpitairplanes. Biplane rides are available before and afterevery show. Concession stand, picnic grounds. EverySunday May thru October. Gates open at 11:00 a.m.$10.00 for adults and $3.00 for kids. The Flying CircusAerodrome is located at Rte. 17 and Rte. 644 (RichieRoad) in Bealeton, Virginia.For more information contact (540) 439-8661 or visitwww.flyingcircusairshows.com.

Northern Neck/Middle PeninsulaChapter

Contact:Ron Lang – PresidentP.O. Box 399Kilmarnock, Virginia 22482 (804) 435-2231

Meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of each month atthe Pilot House Restaurant in Topping, Virginia at 12:00p.m.

Northern Virginia Chapter

Contact:Weldon C. Britton – President 3511 Mill Creek RoadHaymarket, Virginia 20169-1915 (703) 754-9838e-mail: britmar@comcast.net

Meeting locations and times to be announced.

Williamsburg “Eagles” Chapter

Contact:Bill Schultz – President222 Cherwell CourtWilliamsburg, Virginia 23188 (757) 258-8875e-mail: sbill@wans.net

Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at10:00 a.m. at the Williamsburg Airport.

CHAPTER NEWS

Committee ReportsCommittee ReportsCommittee ReportsCommittee ReportsCommittee Reports

Historical Marker CommitteeReport

Norm Crabill – Chair

The text and historical documentation for the markersproposed for the Virginia Tech Airport and theYorktown Flying Field have been submitted to theVirginia Departments of Historic Resources andAviation for review. Approval is expected sometimethis fall or winter.

Membership Committee Report

This year the Society welcomed many new members:

Isabelle Amann – Stafford, Va.Lorraine Binford – Glen Allen, Va.Evelyn Black – Roanoke, Va.Paul Black – Roanoke, Va.Mrs. J.S. Bland, Jr. – Water View, Va.Virginia Bloxsom – White Stone, Va.Gordon M. Bowers – Midlothian, Va.Hazel Burchette – Williamsburg, Va.Jackson Cartwright – Williamsburg, Va.Barbara Christensen – Newport News, Va.Dale Christensen – Newport News, Va.Lonzo Cornett - Rockville, Va.Mary W. Daley – Colorado Springs, Co.Skip Degan – Ruckersville, Va.Arthur G. Dorsey, Jr. – Williamsburg, Va.Carol Lee Ferro – Williamsburg, Va.George A. Galo – Lancaster, Va.Katie Hale – Hartfield, Va.Elizabeth B. Harris – Beaverdam, Va.Michael J. Kenna – Wicomico Church, Va.Peter Knauth – Kilmarnock, Va.Olivia Martin Korringa – Old Tappan, NJJohn Long – Salem, Va.Ernest Martin – Altadena, CAWilliam Knox Martin, Jr. – New York, NYJohn H. Miller – White Stone, Va.Temple Moore – Alexandria, Va.Jeanne Ohlrich – Virginia Beach, Va.Jacquelyn Orgain – Manakin-Sabot, Va.Edwin Powell – Williamsburg, Va.Ralph Randolph – Hampton, Va.Doyle Sutherland – Hardyville, Va.Eva Tashjian-Brown – Manakin-Sabot, Va.

As this year comes to a close, we begin to thinkabout next year and the mission of the Society. Wehave many committees that help the Society realizeits mission and goals. If you see a committee youwould like to be part of, please contact the Societyoffice.

Finance – Dave Tyndall, ChairChapter Development – Bill Schultz, ChairMembership – Scott Gross, ChairAudio/Visual Aviation History – Marguerite Wonsey,ChairNominating – Ken Rowe, ChairNewsletter – Jennifer Melton, ChairArchives Preservation – Ray Tyson, ChairHistorical Marker – Norm Crabill, ChairAnnual Meeting/Auction – Scott Gross, ChairHall of Fame Selection – Witt Freeman, ChairMarketing & Public Affairs – Bill Kelly, Chair

A Unique Museum VisitorNorm Crabill

One of the visitors to the Virginia Aviation Museum in July has a unique relationship to one of the airplanes onexhibit here. The visitor, Martha Esch-Sand, of Courtland, California, hand-lettered the name of the owner,Allen H. Watkins, on the sides of the cockpit of our 1936 Curtiss-Wright Speedwing A-14D in Florida in1988. Martha was and is a restless soul and among other things, made her living as an itinerant artist, hand-lettering signs and names on boats and airplanes wherever she went. One of the airplanes was this Curtiss-Wright biplane, when it was tied down in an open shed at Bob White Airfield, “a grass field forever”, inZellwood, Florida. She also did a photographic aerial tour of the lower 48 states in 1988, hitchhiking fromairport to airport in airplanes older than she, dressed in goggles, helmet, flying jacket, jodhpurs and boots asdescribed in Gordon Baxter’s article Have Goggles Will Travel in Flying, May 1989 and shown in the photobelow. She maintains the Air Adventurers Club, which had its roots in the old Air Trails magazine in the1930s. The other picture below shows her administering the Air Adventurers pledge to the latest member ofthat club – our own David Hahn – as Martha’s 10-year-old daughter Mary looks on. The Air AdventurersClub pledge is:

To the best of my abilityI pledge to support

the ideals and principlesof Air Adventurers

and will do all in my powerto further the advance of aviation.

You too can become a member by contacting Martha at <aeroplane88@hotmail.com>

Martha Esch-Sand with the 1936Curtiss-Wright Speedwing A-14Din Florida in 1988 on which shehand-lettered the owner’s name

Martha Esch-Sand inducting David Hahninto the Air Adventurers Club. Martha’sdaughter Mary looks on (?) on the left.

Nor

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Virginia Aviation HistoryProject Report

Norm Crabill

The role of private initiatives in the development of aerospace technology has come to the fore with the recentsuccess of Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne. A significant earlier initiative was the Guggenheim family’s successfulefforts in the late 1920s and early 1930s, as given in Richard P. Hallion’s 1977 book Legacy of Flight – TheGuggenheim Contribution to American Aviation. Our lead article below gives a detailed account of one oftheir initiatives, the West Coast Model Airline, and its effect on the development of safe and reliable airlineflying through the application of new advances in meteorological observations and forecasting, along with radiocommunications and improved maintenance techniques which we take for granted today. These techniqueswere rapidly copied on a national scale and, as Hallion says, with the emergence of the fast and efficient DC-2 and later the DC-3, set the pattern for profit-making airline operations.

In my article Epilogue, I look at other private initiatives in the aerospace world, and its relevance to today’sdevelopments in the government’s diminishing role in the aerospace research and development programs.

Sharon Dillon has a story on the 35 years of operation of the Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport (JGG), and ofcourse, we have the Mystery Plane and Acronomion features, together with a new one, Aeronautica.

* * * * *

* * * * *EPILOGUE

Norm Crabill

Don’t wait for somebody else to do it!

If you see a need, get busy and do it yourself, as the Guggenheims so aptly did for aviation in the late 1920’s.They were not the only ones; individual initiatives in aerospace technology have made many significantcontributions to aviation, e.g. the Wright Brothers, the Orteg Prize that motivated Lindbergh, the National AirRaces, the light plane industry that has morphed into business jets, and more recently the Burt Rutan“StarShipOne”, the first all-civilian foray into space and the winner of the $10 M Ansari X Prize backed byMicrosoft cofounder Paul Allen.

We can’t always depend on the government to unfailingly anticipate future directions for aerospace researchand development. Case in point - the development of jet engines and swept wings was totally ignored in thiscountry in the late 30’s and early 40’s. These “break-through” technologies showed up in operational Germanaircraft in the last year of WW II, and the US had no comparable technology, but luckily our productionresources turned the tide. Again, despite the work of Robert Goddard with liquid fueled rockets in the 1920sand 1930s, the US was only the second nation to put a satellite into orbit in the 1950s after the RussianSputnik.

In the late 30’s, NACA engineer Fred Weick developed his own ideas for a safe and easy-to-fly GA aircraft.After he left NACA, his Ercoupe appeared just before WW II, and was in mass production after WW II. Hewent on to develop safer and more efficient agricultural airplanes, and improved pesticide application technology,and initiated the design of the Piper Cherokee series of aircraft.

The two recent government programs for improving general aviation, the Advanced General Aviation TechnologyExperiments and the Small Airplane Transportation System, were the result of the initiative of a single individual,NASA engineer Dr. Bruce Holmes, and were a welcome change to government policy. These programs haveshown a path that has already influenced several state-of-the-art new aircraft, e.g. Cirrus, Columbia, andDiamond, and the Eclipse, Adams, and Honda Jets. The recent SATS demonstration at Danville points theway to the development of a comprehensive infrastructure to support these types of aircraft; it will be up to theGA industry to capitalize on these developments.

_________ .. ________

The Weatherman and the Millionaire by David Laskin is reprinted from Weatherwise, July/August 2005,Volume 58, Number 4, pages 28 through 33 with permission of the Helen Dwight Reid Educational Foundation,published by Heldref Publications, 1319 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1802, www.heldref.org,copyright 2005.

Websites: http://www.heldref.org http://www.heldref.org/ww.php

So, whether in the government or outside, the influence of individual initiative on the development of aviationtechnology has been significant, and will continue to be so, as long as we have a system that recognizes goodideas when they come along. But history shows that you can’t count on the government to do it all, and theprivate initiative system of philanthropy and venture capitalist has and can provide a back-up. In view of thenew national program for manned space flight to the moon and Mars, and the drastic redirection of funding ofaeronautical programs, these private initiatives may become more important than ever for the US to maintain itslead in aeronautical technology, Philanthropists and venture capitalists – pay attention!

* * * * *JGG – A 35 Year History

By Sharon D. Dillon

The Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport’s story is one of struggle and triumph. It all began in 1967 whenLarry Waltrip first asked his parents, Dudley and Mary Waltrip, who owned a construction company, to taketheir bulldozers and carve a little airstrip on their 200 acres of clay off of Lake Powell Road so he could learnto fly. Larry, his father Dudley C., and his brother Dudley S. (Timmy), began to do just that – carve the runwaywith their bulldozers. In the middle of all this, friends told them “You have to get permits from the State and theFAA to build and operate an airport”. This they did, and on July 10, 1969 the senior Waltrips did receivepermission to establish and operate the Jamestown Airport by both the State and the FAA. Ironically, Larrydid get his private certificate in 1970, but he did his flying at Fort Eustis since he was a member of the VirginiaAir National Guard.

As construction began and word got around, a few neighbors were up in arms. They thought theairport would not meet safety standards, especially considering the airport approach flew over their neighborhoodand near the Rawls Byrd Elementary School. Some were also fearful that the Waltrips would run a substandardoperation, using the airport as a business loss to decrease their tax burden.

The neighbors formed a committee and filed legal suits to prevent the construction, even going so far asthe Virginia Supreme Court. When that august body found in the Waltrips’ favor, construction continued andon September 20, 1970 the airport, with a new name, officially opened with a grand dedication ceremony.

Eugene Marlin, of the Peninsula Airport Commission and manager of the Patrick Henry Airport (nowNewport News-Williamsburg International Airport), dedicated the airport and said the Williamsburg-JamestownAirport had “nowhere to go but up.”

Richard Coakley, chair of the James City County Board of Supervisors and a former opponent of theproject, said the airport was “one good example of the type of progress James City County has made in thepast 15 years.” Then he and Miss Williamsburg, Mary Lou Bloxom, cut the ribbon to officially open the airportdesignated W-70, now JGG.

Master of Ceremonies was Williamsburg City Council member Charles H. Forbes III and the Rev.Sam Hart of Jamestown Presbyterian Church gave the invocation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)even contributed a temporary control tower to facilitate the guests attending the event.

Even though it was not yet open to business, Governor Linwood Holton landed at the airport in June1970. He was the first of many celebrities to pass through JGG.

As time passed many of the neighbors who opposed the airport became some of its most ardentsupporters. However, some remained opposed and from time to time contacted the FAA or wrote letters tothe editor of The Virginia Gazette complaining of noise and safety concerns.

For example, after the April 1971 airshow, Dr. George W. Grayson, candidate for the Virginia Houseof Delegates, called the airshow “a reckless affair that threw all safety precautions to the winds.” He also saidthe airport was “ill conceived” and “subsidized by tax monies.”

His comments were rebutted by a Virginia Gazette editorial opinion that said Grayson had picked thisissue to make a favorable impression on the airport’s neighbors. “As candidates for public office sometimes doin the heat of a campaign, he also appears to have got himself slightly out on a limb. We couldn’t resist pickingup a saw.” Later a citizen wrote to support Grayson’s contentions.

In 1978 a neighbor wrote, “I have, however, suffered the agonies of living in the vicinity of it, along withother lowly groundlings…. I have a frightening image of several pilots flying in formation over my neighborhood,a half mile or so from sacred airport property, with flour bombs handing out their doors, when suddenly abomb goes poof, blinding one of the pilots.” He included a copy of a letter he sent to the FAA and finished bystating his dissatisfaction with the FAA’s response.

Put into the context of the current dispute over the desirability of Oceana Naval Air Station thesecomplaints were minor. However, they did result in the Waltrips applying for and receiving permission for aright hand traffic pattern on Runway 13. The most amazing aspect of JGG is that the Waltrip family whollyowns the airport and opens the facility to all who wish to use it.

The airport has received some grants and loans to maintain the runways and aprons, but the hangarshave been constructed at the Waltrip’s expense. Over the past 35 years the Waltrips have received no incomefrom the airport operations. All revenue is cycled back into airport development.

Despite these inconveniences the Waltrips have built the airport into a going concern that providesvaluable services to this area of the Peninsula.

In 1971 they added a 60’ by 80’ hangar and a Cessna dealership, opened an aircraft maintenanceshop, and a flight school; and for the next four years taught flying as a Cessna Pilot Center. On May 17, 1974they leased the airport to Colonial Airlines for six months. At the end of that time the Waltrips resumed managementbecause Colonial did not meet its financial obligations, so they leased the flight school to Tom Johnson, theirchief flight instructor, and their maintenance shop to Carl (Mac) MacConnel, and to others through the years.

By 1977 they added a VOR instrument approach. 1984 saw the addition of their first set of T-hangars.One of the airport’s most popular attractions is Charly’s Airport Restaurant, which opened in 1990, with

home-made breads and desserts, whose aromas demand instant gratification to those who enter. A GlobalPositioning System (GPS) overlay of the VOR was added in 1995, a GCO in 2001, and an AWOS in 2002.In September 1990 they dedicated a new terminal building. The following year the Waltrips added the largethree-bay hangar. Nearly coincident with this, on September 19, 1990 Patrick Henry Airport changed itsname to Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport and JGG started getting requests for informationon flights to Atlanta, Memphis, New York…, desperate calls for lost baggage…. These calls continue to thisday.

Their 20-year airport master plan was approved in 1997. This allows them to make plannedimprovements over a period of time, taking each step in order. Part of that plan included installing a straight-inGPS approach (GPS SIAP) for Runway 13 with a height minimum of 671 feet. Some neighbors opposed theplan, thinking that the Waltrips would extend the current runway or add another, thus encouraging larger,noisier planes to land at JGG. However, they were able to convince their neighbors that they had no plans toenlarge, just to improve what is already there. Because of the dispute the James City County Board of Supervisorstabled the GPS SIAP.

Two other big events occurred at JGG in 1998. The first event was a newly formed airport advisorygroup. Even though it is unusual for a privately owned airport to have an advisory board, the Waltrips thoughtit would be another step in fostering good-neighbor relationships with the surrounding neighborhoods. TheWaltrips want the facility to stay as it is, a hometown airport for general aviation pilots and aircraft.

On April 1, 1998 Tucker Edmonds opened the Jamestown Flight Center offering a flight school,maintenance facilities, and took over Mitch Bowman’s already established Historic Air Tours using a Cessna152, a Cessna 172 and a 177 Cardinal.

And, in October 1999 the Waltrip’s new fuel farm went into operation, serving Jet A and 100LL.Within the last year, they doubled the ramp space with an extension to the north.

Currently the airport offers 15 T-hangars and three small, four large and 3 extra large corporatehangars. They will be adding 36 more T-hangars this year. Other services include runway lights, rotatingbeacon, fuel, maintenance, communications, navigation aids and approach lighting.

Additionally, they host two or three WINGS safety programs and numerous youth events each year.Students come from local schools and as far away as Isle of Wight County to participate in these events. Theyhave sponsored Air Explorer groups and facilitated others such as Civil Air Patrol, Girl Scouts and BoyScouts.

Many aviation-based groups have chosen to meet at JGG because in addition to its fine services itoffers a close proximity to Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Jamestown and Yorktown historic sites.The Flying Farmers met at JGG in 1973 and 1978. Herbert O’Berry of Windsor explained that he used hisCherokee 140 to keep track of his 600 acres of peanuts, corn and soybeans as well as his animals. He said, “Ifelt the need for the use of aircraft. I have cattle on four different farms and I can fly over them and tell whetherall the cattle are there or not. It’s a timesaver.”

The Flying Dentist Association brought 119 aircraft to the facility in 1972. In 1973 the SoutheastBonanza Society met here. Each month the Williamsburg Chapter of the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Societymeets in the second-floor conference room that looks over the runway, as do many local organizations and

civic groups. The Eastern Region of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Aviation Directors ofthe six states in the Eastern Region met at JGG in 1992, and again at a later date. Then in 1999, the FlyingPhysicians and the Lawyers Bar Association convened here at the same time and there were many twin engineaircraft on the line.

Jean and Larry have facilitated flights for many famous people and have collected many stories andphotos. Their daughter, Michelle, has a fat autograph book, willingly signed by most. Among their famousguests are every Virginia governor since Gov. Linwood Holton who landed at the airport before it was officiallyopen. Other famous politicians include Senator John Warner, President Bill Clinton, Attorney General JanetReno, the President of Venezuela, Queen Noor of Jordan, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, VicePresident Spiro T. Agnew and Vice President Al Gore.

Some of other famous personalities who have stopped at JGG include Elizabeth Taylor, Merv Griffin,Arnold Palmer, Mickey Gilley, Eric Severied, Roger Penske, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the DuPont familywho loved to shop at the Williamsburg Pottery.

Notable aviators have spent time at JGG as well. Some are Russian Navy pilots, and Dick Rutan andJeana Yeager, and four astronauts. Don Eiseley, Steve Robinson and Frank Borman all had aircraft based here.David Brown learned to fly at JGG.

A favorite story involves Vice President Hubert Humphrey who was hungry when he landed. Spyingthe vending machines he dropped in some coins and nothing happened. Like so many of us he began to kickthe machine to no result. An airport employee explained that he needed to push the select button. Uponpushing the button Humphrey promptly received his snack. (We can only imagine how red his face was!)

When Robert Redford visited Jean Waltrip kept the news quiet until he had left the area. One of herfriends said, “You mean to tell me that Robert Redford was in town and you didn’t even tell me about it? Whatkind of friend are you?”

Another time Walter Cronkite stopped by unexpectedly and a customer noticed him and asked, “Aren’tyou the one I see on television every night?” “Yes, that’s me,” Cronkite replied politely. The response? “Ithought so. I knew I’d seen you on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

JGG offers car rental service and Jean goes out of her way to assure that groups and individuals findlodging close-by. On some occasions she has made as many as 20 phone calls to find lodging. One time shewas unable to find lodging for a newly wed couple and offered them lodging in the Waltrip home. This couplestill remains in contact. Other amenities include limousine and taxi service, bicycles, historic air tours andaircraft rentals.

In 1978 Jean talked to a reporter about the increasing numbers of aircraft landing at JGG. She said, “Inthe eight years we’ve been open, we’ve only had to turn away two airplanes because of not available motelaccommodations.” This record still stands today. She also said, “When you offer this kind of personal service,the good word gets around the country.”

Over the years the Waltrips’ efforts have been recognized by their peers. Here are some of the awardsthey have received:

1970 – Staff Sergeant Larry Waltrip was named Outstanding NCO for September by the 192nd CivilEngineer Squadron, Virginia Air National Guard.

1982 – Larry was presented a Certificate of Recognition by the Virginia Department of Aviation. Jeanreceived the same honor in 1992.

1989 – Certificate of Appreciation for significant contributions to the economic development of JamesCity County.

1990 – Award of Excellence by the James City County Planning Commission.

1994 – Dudley C. Waltrip was honored posthumously by the Commonwealth of Virginia GeneralAssembly with House Resolution 118 for his foresight and work in James City County andWilliamsburg.

1995 – Phil Boyer Award presented by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association at a Holiday Inn inNorfolk.

1998 – Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport was named the Chamber of Commerce Corporate Citizenof the Year.

2003 – Award of Excellence by the Junior Women’s Club.The Waltrips were inducted into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame of the Virginia AeronauticalHistorical Society.

Both Jean and Larry are locally born and raised. Jean, from Providence Forge, graduated from NewKent High School. Larry graduated from James Blair High School in Williamsburg.

Larry opened Larry’s Marine when he was only 17. They met at an event sponsored by Larry’sMarine in 1967. They were married in 1968. Jean said she feels like she married the airport because it was inthe planning stages when they began dating. Their two children, Larry and Michelle, kept them involved incommunity affairs for many years.

Even though the children are now adults Larry and Jean continue to be active in Williamsburg andJames City County organizations by supporting the ballet and cancer research. Jean is well-known for herbeautifully decorated cakes. Her biggest cake served 800 people. They both speak at various communitymeetings and do what they can to encourage youth to follow their dreams.

__________ .. __________Norm’s Notes: This is Sharon Dillon’s third Eagles story. In our January/February/March issue we ran herstory on Buz Rich. Last time, it was her story on the Rogallos. Sharon is a free-lance writer who lives inWilliamsburg. Her sources for this story are on file at the VAHS.

The Waltrips are celebrating the 35th anniversary of JGG with an Open House on Saturday, October8, 2005 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The EAA will provide a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. The ceremoniesbegin at 10 a.m. and go through 4 p.m. Jean and Larry invite you to attend and will be there to personally greetyou all.

Larry Waltrip

Larry Waltrip

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* * * * *Mystery Plane

Yet again, three-time winner, Bill Schultz, VAHS-JGG president, was the first responder in identifying theprevious Mystery Airplane and is the winner of two free tickets to the November Hall of Fame meeting.

On July 14, he wrote:

Norm,

The mystery aircraft is a UAV built by Martin Aircraft, Model 845 and was used by the USAF in the CompassDwell program. First flight was April 1972.

Interestingly there is a Grumman connection (you know me and my loyalty to my old company). The wingswere based on the Schweizer glider design. (Schweizer was a subsidiary of Grumman then) and the landinggear based on the Grumman AgCat.

The rest of the story is that there were two built. LTV was also in the competition with the XQM-93A.

Regards,

Bill

Norm’s Note: This airplane was the last airplane configuration built by the Martin Company at their MiddleRiver, Maryland plant.

* * * * *

Here’s our new mystery plane:

The first correct responder will get two free tickets to our Hall of Fame Dinner meeting at the VAM onSaturday, November 12, 2005.

If you think you know this one, please e-mail me at:

<ncrabill@vigyan.com>

See if you can beat out Bill Schultz.

Acronomions

The last one was:

METARA

Richard Halstead, VAHS member of Chesapeake, Virginia, responded on July 26, 2005 with:

More Entertaining Tales At Richmond Airportand

More Exciting Tales at Richmond Airport

The next one is:

VHFY

Let me know what pops up into your mind at <ncrabill@vigyan.com>

* * * * *Aeronautica

Q: When were the first radio transmissions made between an airplane in flight and a station on the ground?

A: On August 27, 1910 when Canadian pilot James McCurdy flew a Curtiss biplane on a round-trip flightbetween New York and Philadelphia. As he flew over Sheephead Bay, New York, he used an H.M. Hortonwireless set to both send and receive messages with a ground station. This was not Mr. McCurdy’s onlyaviation first. On January 30, 1911 he was involved in the first air-sea rescue operation when he had to ditchhis plane in the ocean about 10 miles from Havana, Cuba. He was picked up by the crew of the US Navydestroyer Terry.

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Perry F. Crabill, W3HQXWinchester, Virginia

VIRGINIA AIRPORTS Vera Foster Rollo & Norman L. Crabill. THE most in-depth historical survey ofour Virginia airports, aeronautical events, and the people that make it happen, from the earliest days of aviationin the Old Dominion. Extensively researched and detailed with many never-before-seen aerial maps of air-ports from the beautiful Shenandoah Valley to the Tidewater area of Virginia. 8 1/2 by 11 paperback. 244pages and is packed with b/w photos and illustrations. It can be purchased from the publisher for $25 percopy (U.S.) which includes shipping and handling. Order at Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society, 5701Huntsman Road, Richmond, Virginia 23250-2416 or call (804)222-8690 or email vahs@smv.org.

Order your copy today!Makes a great gift!

Non-Profit OrganizationUS Postage PaidRichmond, Virginia 23232Permit No. 120

Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society5701 Huntsman RoadRichmond International Airport, Virginia 23250

October/November/December 2005Address Correction Requested

The Virginia Aviation Museum is acquiring a Vietnam-era Navy A-4Csoon. It will be arriving at RIC around Thanksgiving. The Navy folksat NAS Oceana will be using a Virginia Air National Guard hangar torepaint the aircraft -- interservice support. When complete theMuseum’s A-4C will support the paint scheme of one of our very ownheroes, Paul Galanti. If you would like to support this project pleasesend your contribution to either the Virginia Aviation Museum or theVirginia Aeronautical Historical Society, both at 5701 Huntsman Road,Richmond, Va. 23250.