Wilbur Wright said, “The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space, at full speed, above all obstacles, on the infinite highway of the air.”
Sun City has its share of residents that have a background in aviation or just a love of flying. The Aviation Interest Group is inviting those residents to join their group.
Sun City Flyers Club/Aviation Interest Group started in 2004 with eight members. In four years, the club grew to 25 members, which is the number required to become a Charter Club in Sun City.
Allen Pollack, Club member, and Sun City resident said, “The Flyers Club from its start consisted of an ideal mix of retired airline and military pilots, retired commercial pilots, private pilots, flight attendants, and non-pilots simply interested in the art and science of aviation. Drawing upon this exceptional blend of aviation-related talent, experience, and aviation backgrounds, much was learned and enjoyed during the Flyers’ regularly scheduled monthly meetings in the Sun City Prairie Lodge.”
Pollack’s interest in aviation started as a young teenager, as a member of the Civil Air Patrol, a civilian auxiliary to the U.S. Air Force. In college, Pollack was enrolled in Reserved Officers’ Training Corps and had student pilot training and eventually became a Private Pilot and continues to fly.
The club grew, drawing in residents who had a keen interest in aviation reaching 68 members in 2008. The Flyers Club members along with family members had opportunities as passengers to experience unique forms of flying in various types of aircraft including small fixed-wing aircraft, gliders, and other forms of noncommercial aircraft. The Flyers Club was involved in numerous learning and fun-type activities and experiences.
In 2010, the club faced an obstacle put in its path by the Sun City Community Association of Huntley.
Pollack said, “In the process of auditing a list of Sun City Charter Clubs, a question was raised. ‘Does the SC Flyers Club participate in flying events?’ The association’s response was that based on recent newspaper feature stories and photos, the club does participate. Shortly afterward, representatives of the Sun City Board requested that I meet with them as the president of the Flyers Club. They informed me that due to the excessive insurance risk to the SCCAH, our club could no longer continue as a charter club unless our club was willing to cover a yearly insurance premium of $10,000.”
Liability insurance is required of all pilots, covering bodily injury, property damage, and aircraft damage during flying activities. So, the Sun City Flyers Club had no choice but to be reorganized as the Aviation Interest Group of Sun City. The group could no longer meet in space at the lodge, and as a special interest group, is not included in weekly communications from the association.
Pollack said, “We are hoping to reach out to residents with the energy and enthusiasm to become actively involved in our group. In addition to its monthly meetings, the Flyers Club holds numerous picnics and other family gatherings and has trips to numerous aviation museums and airshows.”
Gene Rothert has been in the club since shortly after it was founded by Pollack. Rothert said, “I’ve loved aviation all my life. My one uncle was a pilot in WWII. Most of us are former private pilots We get together every Thursday morning at the Village Inn Restaurant in downtown Huntley. We have breakfast at 9 a.m., and we are usually finished by 10:30. We talk about upcoming aviation events in the area. Right now, the EAA convention at Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the main subject. Who is going, and who is driving or flying there? It’s just great to get together and talk with people with the same interests.”
The group’s meetings typically include a guest speaker that brings a unique perspective to aviation history, aviation regulatory requirements, or personal aviation experience in the military and/or commercial aviation. If you are interested in joining this fun group of flyers, you can contact Allen Pollack, Membership Director of the Aviation Interest Group of SC, at 847-271-6648 or at scflyer01@comcast.net.
