The Club was formed during November, 1958 as a four man partnership. Shortly after formation the decision was made to become a club of ten pilots. The first charter as the 4 – Aces Flying Club was dated 26 January 1959. The officers were President: Roy D Light, Vice – Pres: James S Utley, Sec / Treas: R Stuart Sauber and Maint: Sheldon T Crittenden.
In 1960 – 1961 the membership of the club consisted of 11 members and 4 assoc members. The flying rates were $ 3.00 per hour for members and $ 5.00 for assoc members. The minutes of the meetings at the time spoke of expanding the club but our records do not contain the actual resolution. There is a copy of the DECATUR AERO CLUB bylaws in the file dated March 4, 1962.
The first plane was a 1941 Taylorcraft BC-12, Deluxe Model, with an A65 HP Cont. engine. When they sold the plane in 1960 their ad listed it as having 2980 TT on the airframe, 150 since top overhaul. It had a “FULL” panel with a tachometer, sensitive altimiter, rate of climb and a needle-ball. It also had one (1) L.F. radio, a battery and nav lights. They had a Stinson Station Wagon (108) for a brief period but the Club was too small to support two aircraft. They sold the Taylorcraft and purchased a Tripacer. This was probably the plane in use when the club name was changed to Decatur Aero Club.
Aircraft used by the club:
Date Plane N Number Engine HP
11/58 - 12/60 1941 Taylorcraft BC-12 N33992 Cont. A65
05/59 - 09/59 Stinson 108 Station Wagon
12/60 - 06/63 Tripacer N8265C
06/62 - 11/64 1946 Eroupe 415-C N94098 Cont. 75
06/63 - 08/67 1959 Cessna 172 N6421E Cont. 145
11/64 - 09/65 1957 Piper Tripacer PA-22 N6058D Cont. 150
10/65 - 09/75 1965 Cheorkee PA-28-150 N5889W Lyco. 150
08/67 - 01/69 1962 Skylane C-182D N3395Y Cont. 230
01/69 - 03/88 1968 Skylane C-182L N42919 Cont. 230
09/75 - Skyhawk II C-172M N6557H Cont. 160
09/78 - Sold? 1973 Citabria 7ECA N8578 Lyco. 115
05/81 - 12/82 1978 Skylane RG C-182RG N3666C Cont. 235
10/82 - 07/91 1974 Commuter II C-150M N150HB Cont. 150
09/84 - 09/87 1980 Saratoga PA-32-301 N8199Y Lyco. 300
09/86 - sold? 1979 Skyhawk XP C-172K N758KR Cont. 210
? /86 ATC 510 Simulator
09/94 - sold? 1975 Piper Warrior PA-28 N33745 Lyco. 150
? /98 1998 Cessna Skyhawk 172R N9550Q Lyco. 180
? /02 2002 Cessna Skyhawk 172S N52794 Lyco. 180
In 1960 – 1961 the membership of the club consisted of 11 members and 4 assoc members. The flying rates were $ 3.00 per hour for members and $ 5.00 for assoc members. The minutes of the meetings at the time spoke of expanding the club but our records do not contain the actual resolution. There is a copy of the DECATUR AERO CLUB bylaws in the file dated March 4, 1962.
The first plane was a 1941 Taylorcraft BC-12, Deluxe Model, with an A65 HP Cont. engine. When they sold the plane in 1960 their ad listed it as having 2980 TT on the airframe, 150 since top overhaul. It had a “FULL” panel with a tachometer, sensitive altimiter, rate of climb and a needle-ball. It also had one (1) L.F. radio, a battery and nav lights. They had a Stinson Station Wagon (108) for a brief period but the Club was too small to support two aircraft. They sold the Taylorcraft and purchased a Tripacer. This was probably the plane in use when the club name was changed to Decatur Aero Club.
Aircraft used by the club:
Date Plane N Number Engine HP
11/58 - 12/60 1941 Taylorcraft BC-12 N33992 Cont. A65
05/59 - 09/59 Stinson 108 Station Wagon
12/60 - 06/63 Tripacer N8265C
06/62 - 11/64 1946 Eroupe 415-C N94098 Cont. 75
06/63 - 08/67 1959 Cessna 172 N6421E Cont. 145
11/64 - 09/65 1957 Piper Tripacer PA-22 N6058D Cont. 150
10/65 - 09/75 1965 Cheorkee PA-28-150 N5889W Lyco. 150
08/67 - 01/69 1962 Skylane C-182D N3395Y Cont. 230
01/69 - 03/88 1968 Skylane C-182L N42919 Cont. 230
09/75 - Skyhawk II C-172M N6557H Cont. 160
09/78 - Sold? 1973 Citabria 7ECA N8578 Lyco. 115
05/81 - 12/82 1978 Skylane RG C-182RG N3666C Cont. 235
10/82 - 07/91 1974 Commuter II C-150M N150HB Cont. 150
09/84 - 09/87 1980 Saratoga PA-32-301 N8199Y Lyco. 300
09/86 - sold? 1979 Skyhawk XP C-172K N758KR Cont. 210
? /86 ATC 510 Simulator
09/94 - sold? 1975 Piper Warrior PA-28 N33745 Lyco. 150
? /98 1998 Cessna Skyhawk 172R N9550Q Lyco. 180
? /02 2002 Cessna Skyhawk 172S N52794 Lyco. 180
