Lake
Lake Missoula Flight Club Celebrates Milestone as Three Hundredth AOPA Club
A new flying club in Montana has reached a national milestone by becoming the three hundredth organization formed through an industry foundation program.
According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Lake Missoula Flight Club achieved the landmark status as part of the organization's Flying Clubs Initiative. Representatives from the association traveled to Missoula Montana Airport on October eighth to present a banner commemorating the achievement. Katie Pribyl, acting co-president of the association, highlighted the dedication required to establish such a group during the presentation.
Pribyl explained that forming a flying club involves considerable effort, but provides great advantages for pilots by distributing fixed expenses among multiple members. Costs such as hangars, insurance, and annual inspections remain constant regardless of annual flight hours. Dividing these expenditures makes shared operation an economical approach to aircraft access.
Local aviators had discussed establishing the organization for upwards of five years prior to its formation. Member Gus Turner noted that community presence remains a priority for the group, pointing out that applicant questionnaires frequently cite the desire for an aviation community as a primary motivation. The thirty members range in age from twenty-two to seventy-five and include both men and women.
The Montana-based fleet comprises five aircraft: a Piper Tri-Pacer, a Grumman AA-1C Lynx, two Cessna 150s named Sunshine and Dimples, and a Cessna 182. The Grumman American Aviation AA-1C is a certified two-seat single-engine aircraft with a wingspan of 7.46 meters, a maximum take-off weight of 680.0 kilograms, an engine power of 80.6 kilowatts, a cruise speed of 201.0 kilometers per hour, and a range of 785.0 kilometers. The Cessna 182 provides a four-seat cabin configuration with a wingspan of 10.97 meters, a maximum take-off weight of 1406.14 kilograms, 171.51 kilowatts of engine power, a cruise speed of 268.54 kilometers per hour, and a range of 1722.36 kilometers.
The overarching foundation initiative began in 2015 and has successfully assisted in establishing clubs across forty-five states. Association officials noted that shared ownership helps pilots maintain active flying habits through pooled resources and mutual friendships.
PlaneFile currently lists 417 Cessna 182 aircraft and 2 Grumman American Aviation AA-1C aircraft for sale.
Sources: AOPA