It has been a year since anyone could fly out of the Gators Field. Vandals in cars did wheelies and ruined the runway. The members decided to renew and put in a sprinkler system and even extend by two hundred feet. A major task for a Volunteer force. 

Before even beginning, The Gators lawn mowing system was in a state of disrepair the equipment being old and second or more hand.

After a year of dedicated hard work, along comes the day we have been waiting for the reopening. And what a day, the weather was perfect and the turning out outstanding

Ninety aircraft visited the field, planes from all over and every type you can think of, the minority was the Ultralights of the last thirty years though we did have some.

The Gators started the day with a pancake breakfast served by a local E.A.A.Chapter, this was well attended and good crowd of spectators set themselves up with a good breakfast

Charles Cantrill, Fred Griffith, and Alan Resnick got things going, competition wise Charles in radio control with all incomers and out goers. The ladies got cracking in the canteen great food was had by all.

There were Trikes lots of them, General Aviation so many different types it’s difficult to remember, so many types, a lot of the newer composite airplanes. Some old ones, a Beautiful WACO stagger wing 1936, owned by John Le Blance from Deland, Charles his wife Fran and I, finished a wonderful day with a flight in it, Charles actually flying it and was complemented on his performance.

The usual fun and games, Bomb Drop, Precision Landing, Wiffle ball, and finally Dead Stick landing, (performed by only the Ultralights) the two great friends of The Flying Gators in their Helicopters, a Robinson two, and a Hughes; they always turn up and always perform such great guys.

The tractor has been overhauled and it looks beautiful, and a new roller was made, we are very grateful to Dennis Day for the amazing job he did on the tractor and Howard Webb who built the Roller.

Main stays for getting all the work done are Alan Resnick, Fred Griffith, Scott and Janis Garrett, Charlie Almond, and Charles Cantrill .I am sure there were many others and I beg your forgiveness, I have found to my regret when you thank people ALWAYS someone gets left out, So please put that down to my ole age, the club is very grateful to everyone’s effort.

We are most grateful to Cindy Butler for putting the whole thing together and a great job at it. The club did make a few bucks thanks to many people like the wonderful lady who won the fifty-fifty and donated her share back to the club, Janis Garrett did a fabulous job selling Raffle tickets even so with all her efforts there’s a hell of a dent in the finances’ and the club does need help still, and we have a row of hangers that need refurbislisation, so more cash and workers, how about sending in a Christmas present to help the cause.  

There were a lot of old timers turned up first person I saw was Jeff Montgomery. Then George Green who was responsible of getting us this land to fly off and First President, back in 1983. Barry Sterner, he and I shared a Challenger in those early day. Page Lynette flew in with the latest Searey one you buy and fly right from the factory. Steve Bensinger in his Hawk and Steve and Barbara Flynn in another Hawk. An Excalibur I didn’t find out from whence that came,  Buddy Babcock and his Trike Trikes attracted many others.

 The Main runway is now open to all.