||| FROM ROBERT WAUNCH for AIRHAWKS FLYING CLUB |||
The Airhawks Flying Club continues to spread its wings. We have added a second Beachcraft ‘Sundowner’ named Katie. The aircraft was generously donated by Orcas residents Jack and Robin Becker.
With the increasing demand from new students plus existing Club pilots our first Sundowner ‘Bugs’ was flying over 400 hours a year, and the demand for flight hours was continuing to increase. We were in desperate need of another aircraft when the Beckers stepped up to resolve our problem. Thank you, Jack and Robin!
Like all industries, Covid severely affected the manufacturing and aircraft parts supply pipeline as well as the lead times for aircraft engine overhaul. To address this challenge, Board President Rick Fant located another Sundowner in Alabama that had been stored for several years. Rick and our Aviation Mechanic flew to Alabama, thoroughly inspected the aircraft (it was in parts), loaded it into a U-Haul van and brought it back to Orcas. Airhawks now has a complete spare parts store on-site to keep both Bugs and Katie flying.
Recently we announced our 2025 Youth High School Scholarship recipients Knox Key, Jack Carson and Sophia Mahony-Jauregui. They are currently in ground school and will take to the air when Spring weather arrives.
They will now be joined by three adults: Billy Marrone, Conner Pamatian and Ronan Rankin, who received their Adult Scholarships from the Orcas Aviation Association (OAA). Within a year they will be available to participate in the Mercy Flight (MF)program for Orcas residents when they complete their training, receive their PrivatePilot Certicates as well as additional MF training.
With six new scholarship students plus regular Airhawks Club members and several pilots training for their Instrument Rating, Airhawks elected to completely overhaul the Simulator with new features so it will better serve the training requirements.
Airhawks truly is soaring higher and we, and OAA, appreciate the financial support we receive from the community, the patients who have received Mercy Flights and the Orcas Island Community Foundation who coordinates donations. We could not support our Scholarship programs without your donations.
Both Airhawks and OAA are qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Additional information can be found at Airhawks.org.
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