HOULTON, Maine — For many years, airplanes filled the skies of the greater Houlton area as amateur aviators spread their wings from the Houlton International Airport as part of the Houlton Flying Club.
But a rise recreational vehicles in the 1980s and 90s, coupled with the aging out of many experienced pilots, caused membership to take a nosedive.
The Houlton Flying Club’s 1968 Piper PA Cherokee 140 has been getting plenty of use since it was acquired. The plane is used by members who do not have a plane, or those who are in training to obtain their pilot’s license.
(Joseph Cyr)
Now, Houlton’s Flying Club has returned and hopes to soar to even greater heights than in its heyday thanks to the efforts of a determined club of aviation enthusiasts.
The club began in the late 1950s, according to Ben Torres, Houlton’s airport manager.
“The records have been a little difficult to find from that era, so we are not exactly sure when the group disbanded,” he said. “But it recently reformed in the past six months and we’ve been meeting regularly. Everyone seems to be very interested in aviation.”
Many people would like to fly, but the cost to enter the market can be very expensive. The Houlton International Flying Club not only breaks this barrier to flight but also provides another benefit — community. Flying for the first time can be overwhelming and club members can provide great insight and support as new pilots develop their skills.
A group of about nine pilots and seven non-flying members currently comprise the club, but Torres hopes to see that number grow in the immediate future. In its heyday, the club boasted about 60 members.
“We are open to pilots, non-pilots; basically anyone who has an interest in aviation is welcome,” he said.
A peek inside the cockpit of the 1968 Piper PA Cherokee 140 airplane owned by the Houlton Flying Club.
(Joseph Cyr)
Houlton’s airport originated as the Houlton Army Air Base. Prior to the United States’ entry into World War II, American army pilots flew planes to the base. Pilots could not fly the planes directly into Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth, because that would violate the official United States position of neutrality at that time. Local farmers used their tractors to tow the planes into Canada, where the Canadians closed the Woodstock highway so that aircraft could use it as a runway.
From October 1944 to May 1946, the air base housed Camp Houlton, a prisoner-of-war camp.
Terry Beals, president of the flying club, has been a member since 1967 and has seen the group through many highs and lows.
“Over the years, the club has waned,” Beals said. “Prior to the mid-1980s, we had more than 40 flying members from both sides of the border. The club just sort of fizzled out, but there has always been an interest in bringing it back.”
Members of the club include Andrew Peabody, Andrew Putnam, Torres, Christopher Bell, Fred Grant, Joshua Henderson, Ken Prescott, Matthew Nightingale and Walter Mosher. Non-flying members include Bert Dunphy, Deborah Beals, Terry Beals, Galen Hogan, Gene Ross, Ken Butler and Wes Tidd.
The club has its own airplane — a 1968 Piper PA Cherokee 140 — available for members of the club who do not have their own plane. People looking to obtain their amateur pilot license use it for training sessions. Members pay $85 per hour (gas included).
Club dues are $600 per year for flying members or $55 if paid monthly. There is a one-time non-refundable $250 fee for first-time flying members. Non-flying member dues are $100 per year.
“I am so happy this opportunity is back in Houlton,” Beals said. “I think it really helps the airport, which also helps the community.”
For more information on the club, call 532-3600.
