Aero-Linx!

Scouring the information super airways can sometimes be a tough, if educational, task for the Aero-News staff... but it also allows us to check out some truly neat and exciting sites, so it's not that bad a gig. On any given day, we may check dozens (and often hundreds) of different sources for story ideas, and facts confirmation. And, as is the nature of our business, much of this is done on the Internet.

The ANN gang decided we probably shouldn't keep some of the neat sites, info resources, and organizations we've discovered to ourselves... so we decided to bring you Aero-Linx. These are the sites that WE check out -- when we need added perspective, a new spin on a day's topic... or just want to escape into cyber-aero-space for awhile.

Look for some of our favorite sites, coming each day to ANN via Aero-Linx. Suggestions for future Aero-Linx segments are always welcome, as well.

Aero Linx: Duke Flyers Association

The first talk of an association started with Ellett Lawrence, P-538 when we (Jim and Marge Gorman) were at Duke School in Wichita, KS prior to taking delivery of N410G P-596 on April 10, 1983. We procrastinated until we met Bill Passey at Mesa, AZ airport. Like a lot of us he noticed our landing and came over to see another Duke. Over dinner that evening we thought it might be worth a try to form some sort of a loose organization with the purpose of helping each other fly and maintain this great airplane. Upon returning home an owners list was secured from AOPA and a first mailing went out in June 1988. 80 people replied in the affirmative and with dues of $25.00 we were on our way. By the time of our first fly-in at Mansfield, OH we had 165 members and $3,400 in the bank. 22 Dukes arrived for that first fly-in.
Ellett Lawrence our first President designed our letterhead and membership cards (both still in use). Bill Passey, Vice President; Marge Gorman, Secretary and Treasurer; Jim Gorman, Newsletter were also elected. Interesting enough both Ellett and Bill later bought King Airs. We have issued over 1000 memberships and average over 300 members on a yearly basis. Of the first 100 members, 20 are still members 23 years later.

FMI: www.dukeflyers.org