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 Photo courtesy of Yellow Jacket Flying Club |
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| Peter Van Nord (right) turns over the keys of a classic Cessna 310 to former club president Eric Schmeck. |
Georgia Tech's Yellow Jacket Flying Club recently received the gift of a classic twin-engine airplane. The 1960 Cessna 310 was donated by Peter Van Nord, an Atlanta resident with a history of support for Georgia Tech.
Currently, the twin-engine plane is parked at Fulton County Charlie Brown Airport with the Flying Club's other four planes, and has been sold to benefit educational and maintenance programs in the club.
The Cessna 310 has been in Mr. Van Nord's possession for the last 25 years.
He was motivated to donate the plane to the flying club because of a desire to support more young people's entry into aviation as well as the respectable reputation of the Yellow Jacket Flying Club in the aviation community.
With the help of Dr. Berry Crouse, the Flying Club's faculty advisor, and Patrick McKenna of the Georgia Tech Foundation, Mr. Van Nord turned over the plane to Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jacket Flying Club already owns four single engine Cessna aircraft: two Cessna 152s used for primary training and two Cessna 172s (one with retractable gear) for use by club members in more advanced training and for recreational flying.
Though members of YJFC were excited about the possibilities of owning the twin-engine Cessna, it quickly became apparent that such a plane was not practical for the club.
According to flying club president Matt Baumgarth, "The Flying Club cannot expect to retain possession of the twin [engined plane] for long. A multi-engine airplane is an exciting addition to the club, but is simply out of the cost range of our target audience, the students of Georgia Tech." More than 80 percent of the club's flying is for the purpose of flight training, mostly geared to first-time students working on their private pilot licenses.
After speaking with Mr. Van Nord about his wishes for the gift, YJFC decided to sell the plane. The proceeds of the sale were directly allocated to two specific club programs.
Half of the sale was invested for the purpose of a pre-solo scholarship.
The scholarship will provide finances for Georgia Tech students with little or no flight experience to reach the first major milestone in their flight training—their first solo flight, the first flight without an instructor in the airplane.
The first scholarship will be awarded in fall, 1998, and the club expects to give a scholarship annually to a deserving Tech students.
The remaining money will be used to upgrade the club's two primary trainers.
Both single engine, two-seated Cessna 152s are the "workhorses of the club" according to flight instructor Ian Dutton. The planes have spent much time exposed to the elements.
Because of this, the flying club will use the money to finance what former club president and executive committee member Eric Schmeck terms "a long overdue" paint job, which will both enhance their appearance and help ensure long life
Of the donation, YJFC President Baumgarth says "In every way, this contribution was a wonderful thing for the club and will greatly contribute to the long tradition (50 years) and continued success of the Yellow Jacket Flying Club."
YJFC has already helped hundreds of members of the Georgia Tech community receive their pilots' licenses in an economic and efficient way, in addition to organizing both social and educational programs for its members.
For more information on this donation or flying club activities, YJFC can be reached by e-mail at ec@yjfc.gatech.edu.