Fairfield Flying Club takes off

A group of aviation enthusiasts has started the Fairfield Flying Club.

Rene Holmberg, one of the founders, said this is technically the second iteration of the flying club. One started in the mid-1950s but later went defunct.

Just last weekend, the club purchased an airplane and brought it back to Fairfield. The airplane will be owned by club member and fellow founder Jim Masterson, who will lease it to the club to offer rides and training for other club members.

Holmberg said seven people have committed to be in the club thus far. The club was incorporated last week.

'Our intention is to provide the community with something a bit more structured as far as learning to fly a plane,” Holmberg said. 'Right now, we don't have a flying school apart from the work of Bob Lyons, who does flight training. This flying club will provide opportunities for those who want to fly.”

Holmberg said residents do not need to have a pilot's license to join the club. In fact, three of the members do not yet have one. Holmberg hopes that, as the club grows, the burden of paying for a plane will lessen as the cost is spread among many members.

'You need to pay for insurance, hangar space, fuel and an annual inspection,” he said. 'If we can spread that out over multiple individuals, it will drive the cost down for each person.”

To learn more about the club, email Holmberg at retroren@gmail.com or visit Fairfield Aviators on Facebook.