GADSDEN AL- How many times have you looked up to see a private plane roar through the sky above you and think, "Man, if only...!"
Well, three local Gadsden pilots have come up with an idea to help realize your dreams for affordable flying with the inception of the Sun Dance Flying Club. The heart of the Sun Dance Flying Club project is to provide affordable flying: No expensive-to-maintain aircraft or hard-to-deal-with flight scheduling. And best of all, enough people committed to co-owning an aircraft to make it possible to fly. The idea of the flying club is to offer affordable, low-maintenance flying through co-ownership.
An Ideal Location- Carved out in the hills at the base of the Appalachians near Gadsden Alabama, Northeast Alabama Regional Airport, is a great jumping-off point to surrounding areas. Boasting miles of perfect runways, lights, three types of navigational approaches, low traffic periods and a friendly environment; the airport provides everything a pilot could want with one big exception; truly affordable flight time.
Meet the Visionaries:
Dave Coss- I grew up flying my father's Cessna 172 and can vividly remember putting telephone books on the seat so I could see over the dashboard. Today, I work at the Gadsden airport refurbishing jet aircraft. The drone of airplanes flying overhead without me is something I simply can't resist anymore.
My greatest desire is to build up flight hours. Through co-ownership of a plane via The Sundance Flying Club, I'll be able to realize my goal of affordable flying.
Jay Gamblin- I'm looking for something that will offer the opportunity to take my wife on vacation or friends sightseeing. I'm also looking for something affordable to begin my instrument and commercial training. The Sundance Flying Club is the perfect solution for meeting these needs.
Tom Deal- I personally know many people who will be interested in learning to fly if we find a way to cut down on the costs. The Sun Dance Flying Club is the perfect answer! What a joy it will be to form a flying club and host weekend fly-ins and pancake breakfasts.
A personal goal of mine is to finish my CFI, start instructing and really ‘learning to fly', as the old guys say it. Long term goal from the club, to become the club CFI and make lifelong friends.
Sun Dance Flying Club invites those interested in airplane co-ownership to attend a monthly meeting on the first day of each month at 6:00 pm in the terminal of the Gadsden airport. Contact: David Coss, 256 295 0785 or email l39technician@yahoo.com . Special Report to Alabama Aviator