Golden Gate airfields

Air Classics, Apr 2000 by Donahue, Ben L

A small team of American Aviation Historical Society members is currently working on a project startec by William T. Larkins. Our project is to locate all past and present airfields within a 75-mile circle of the center of Golden Gate Bridge. This includes the military; private, commercial; helicopter, and agricultural fields.

Your readers may be interested in knowing that the number has reached 600 with an ongoing increase. The nine counties included are a gold mine in past and present fields. The very first documented field is the 1913 Selfridge Field West in San Bruno. The very latest is Byron Air Field.

Unfortunately, many cities did not keep records of city activities much before World War Two. San Bruno wa: one such city.. The Mattley Aircraft and Motor Company advertised their gliders and aircraft in national magazines from their San Bruno base. We have established that there was a small strip from which the company tested their aircraft.

Finding people who remember these early fields is becoming more anc more difficult. The San Bruno address in old magazines has now been covered by homes and businesses.

We are hoping Air Classics readers can help out in our project and we would welcome hearing from anyone with information, photos, etc. Ben L. Donahue

POB 610518

Sari Jose, CA

95161-0518

Tel: (408) 251-5936.

TEXAN ACCIDENT

Texan N7701C mentioned in "Accidents and Incidents" is an SNJ4: The aircraft has been obtained by my father and 1. It arrived by truck on 29 December 1999. While reported as substantially damaged, the damage is not really all that bad. The plane went over on its back in soft mud. After removing the propeller, damaged canopies, and washing out lots of mud, the plane really doesn't look too bad. The engine will be removed not due to damage but because it is in need of overhaul We already have a fresh prop ready Other areas will be spiffed up just because, at this stage, it's a good time to do it. We hope to have the Texan back up and flying this summer.

Troy Westrum

twestrum@dsm.xroads.net

YAK CLUB

The Yak Pilots' Club has over 450 members in 21 countries: The year 2000 is our eighth year serving pilots and owners of Yakovlev and Nanchang designed aircraft. Our new internet site can be found of www. yakpilotsclub@earthlink.net.

We are supporters of FAST; the Formation And Safety Training organization, with over 60 certified formation pilots. Our annual formation clinic and seminar, YAK 2000 Attack, or Y2A, is scheduled for 21-25 July of Manitowoc County Airport (MTW), Wisconsin, in preparation for formation flights into Oshkosh far the annual EAA Convention.

Clayton Harrell

POB 16456

Rochester, NY

14616