Was Leader When SCAA Acquired Spruce Goose

Nissen Davis, a 30-year veteran of the aerospace industry, has been elected president of the Southern California Aeronautic Association (SCAA) for 2005. He succeeds Keith Mew, PhD, Professor of Computer Science & Technology, College of Engineering at California State University, Los Angeles.

Founded in 1925 as the Aero Club of Southern California, SCAA is best known for its ownership of the Hughes Flying Boat (The Spruce Goose), the annual Howard Hughes Memorial Award and student scholarship programs.

Davis, who was president when SCAA acquired the Flying Boat more than 20 years ago, said he was particularly pleased to lead the organization in 2005, the 100th anniversary of Howard Hughes' birth.

Davis spent 30 years with Flying Tiger Line, McDonnell Douglas and Hughes Electronics, before founding Davis & Chang Communications International.

SCAA officers elected include past president Agnes Huff, PhD as vice president, Raymond Wolfe as secretary and Richard Moon as treasurer.

The next SCAA event is the annual Howard Hughes Memorial Award dinner, which will be held at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles on January 27, 2005. This year's honoree is Torrance helicopter manufacturer Frank Robinson, who will receive his award from last year's honoree, astronaut Neil Armstrong.

The Southern California Aeronautic Association was founded in 1925 as the local chapter of the National Aeronautic Association. In 1981, the organization mounted a campaign to save the Hughes Flying Boat from destruction and arranged for it to be displayed alongside the Queen Mary in Long Beach. When that facility closed in 1992, the organization arranged for the plane to be transferred to McMinnville, OR, where it is the centerpiece of the major new AirVenture Museum.

FMI: www.aeroclubsocal.org