Part V - Government, a supplement to the Big Rapids Pioneer Newspaper. Used with permission.

AVIATION IN BIG RAPIDS HAS BEEN A FLIP-FLOP AFFAIR


"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Leonardo da Vinci

From the 5th century BC when the first forms of the flying machine, the kite, were designed to the 13th century understandig from Roger Bacon, an English monk, that the air could support a craft just like water supports a boat, people have dreamed of ways to soar with the birds. In the 16th century Leonardo da Vinci produced the air-crew and the parachute and in the 19th century when Britain's Sir George Cayley designed a combined helicopter and horizontally propelled aircraft.

Francis Herbert Wenham used wind tunnels in his studies and John Stringfellow designed the steam engine aircraft, adding to the knowledge and growth of aviation.

On Dec. 17, 1903 at 10:30 a.m., the Wright Brothers made the first heavier than air, machine powered flight which lasted 12 seconds and spanned 120 feet.

Thirty years later and hundreds of miles to the north another chapter of history unfolded on July 8, 1930 when the Harry K. Kunzie American Legion Post in Big Rapids purchased 77 acres of the Durfey farm to serve as an airfield.

The purchase price for the field just north of Big Rapids was $4000.

On July 27 the new airfield was dedicated with 20 planes entered in "several entertaining events" including speed races before an estimated crowd of 7,500 people.

The field was named after two Big Rapids men, Major Douglas Bennett Roben, squadron commander for the 3rd air squadron of Marines and Lt. Daniel George Hood, attached to the 52nd air squadron. Both men died while in service during World War One.

Roben's mother commented in the July 12, 1930 Pioneer article that "... naming the Roben-Hood Field was fine recognition" and she was glad to have them use the names. Mrs. Hood, Daniel's mother, said she was "unable to express the thrill which the dedication of the field to Lt. Hood had given the members of the family."

Dedication of the airfield was quite the event for the area. The Pioneer carried articles almost daily regarding the activities that would be taking place and the local post of the Legon had a loud-speaker equipped automobile traveling through neighboring cities and towns, advertising the air meet.

An aviators ball was held at the armory on Juky 25 and in the paper that day there was a response to an inquiry abiouth whether women attend. "There are flying women, as well as airmen, to be present and a generous response on the part of Big Rapids wives and daughters is anticipated. There is no extra charge for them to remain at the ball-just the men buy tickets to that.

Also as part of the dedication a circus was brought to town along with an aerial field day with air tours of the city, dead stick landings, wing walking, a looping contest, and the first attempt to complete an outside loops by two well-known stunt fliers, Truman Miller and Lt. Kyle J. Pinney.

Also attending the dedication were famous women fliers like Volaria Blaisdell, Mrs. Connors of Detroit and Miss Evelyn Mathewson, the youngest licensed woman aviatrix in the U.S. (only 16) and Mrs. Peg Malone.

Michigan Governor Fred W. Green was also slated to attend.

And according to the article, Lt. Commander John Phillip Sousa, America's premier march king, stopped in for the celebration on his way from Interlochen.

Just like the men and women who influenced aviation, the history of Roben-Hood airport is filled with people and organizations that has an incredible passon for flight.

Service organizations like the Rotary Club, the American Legon, the Big Rapids Exchange Club and the Big Rapids Board of Trade were involved in making sure that the people of Big Rapids could enjoy the benefits like the Michigan Air Exprerss which provided airline service between Grand Rapids and Harbor Springs.

Mecosta County history buffs will recognize the names of John Bergelin, Ralph Hanchett, D.C. Morrill and R.H. Waters, community members that niot only were involved in the growth of the airport, but in the growth of Big Rapids.

Interestingly enough by December of 1930 the tide had turned on the edxcitement of the air field. The reality of the initial investment was only the beginning and the need of additional hands put the future of the airpost at risk.

In another Pioneer article dated Dec. 13, 1930 Dr. Thomas P. Treynor of the Big Rapids Exchange Club challenged the importance of the airport over other city needs including a water system to replace the existing system he compared to those found in the backward country of Mexico.

It appeared that not much happened until the fall of 1935 when construction on the Big Rapids Airport with WPA funds was authorized in Washington. Work progressed through 1935 and was concluded in 1936 with two runways that were in excess of 2,000 feet each.

Then in 1937, as the climax of the city's Zinnia Festival, Big Rapids rededicated Roben-Hood airport with over 2,000 in attendance.

The traiing of pilots by the Meceola Flying Club began in May of 1939. Howard Travis, Oxford, provided the instruction and by the fall Ferris Institute had been approved as one of the schools in the state to participate in the civilian pilot training program. Students included Marshall Thurkow, Morley; Emil Schafer, Stanwood; and from Big Rapids, Winona Hansen, Marshall Jablonski, William Lane, Robert L. Miles, Earl Bender (flying club President), Thurston LaFountain, Albert Growe, and Harold Martz. A Cub trainer, a cabin type plane with a Continental 50 horsepower motor was used by the students in completing their solo flights.

Big Rapids was noted as beingideal for a flying school. It was ointed out that the river, woods, hills and open land and buildings surrounding the airfield were great for landmarks.

On Valentine's Day in 1940 the flying club purchased a new flying ship, a black with red trimming1940 Taylorcraft powered with a 65 horse power Lycoming motor. "It is a handsome streamlined job, which flies and handles with ease," according to the Pioneer article.

It was even equipped with skis for winter flying.

Continued city economic issues kept the airport from improving and growing, leading to a decision in the spring of 1941 to transfer the deed (of the airfield) to the Mecosta County Airport for $1.

Earl Bender airport manager at the time, said the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) was still considering the airport as an auxiliary filed with lans for a 3,500 foot runway and navigation and meteorology stations that would require the acquisition of an additional 35 acres to make it a class 3 airport. In, July the county supervisors agreed to the plan, and with the help of the city, acquired additional acreage with $7,000 from city and county funds.

These developments cleared the way for the CAA to propose the expenditure of roughly $30,000 for runway development field drainage, 1 51 foot beacon tower, field shed, 51 boundary lights and 64 feet X 80 feet hanger to house planes, as well as a classroom, office and workshop area. Work was started in October 1941.

Other than a reported visit of 30 Civil Air Patrol airplanes on July 13, 1942, there was little reported activity at the airport until June, 1950 when the county returned the field to the city. Mayor Walter E. Lypps, member of the board, said he " has been very much opposed to switching things back and forth. But the Civil Aeronautics Authority favored the city operation, and for that reason the city wants the the field it once deeded to the county." Supervisory Charles Simon made a motion to give the airport back to the city. The motion carried unanimously.

In another related article from the Pioneer, Howard Travis was given a five-year lease to operate the airpost. He observed that the "future of aviation in the Big Rapids area was not to certain as yet, but on the other hand pointed to increased business traffic to the city." He also disclosed the possibility of a pilot training program similar to the one held in Big Rapids during World War II.

In 1958, the city purchased, or secured options on property at the southeast and northwest corners, with $27,500 donated by W.C. Taggart. These dollars allowed for the expansion and asphalt paving of the 50 feet X 2500 feet northeast to southwest runway, connecting taxiway, apron, fencing, drainage and a parking ramp in front of the hanger.

Over the next couple of years additional renovations included lengthening and widening the reunway ( up to 75 feet by 3,500 feet) as well as adding a new beacon and runway lights.

In 1970 city, county, Ferris State College and the Industrial Development Corp, members made an agreement to look at ways to come together to improve the airpost which would include a 5,000 foot runway. The Brewer Engineering Firm was hired to do a feasibility study, and according to the Pioneer of March 8, 1972 "recommend airpost expansin now." But, opposition arose again citing a greater need for improved roads instead.

By the end of 1990 an additional 5,000 foot east west runway was built on the north end of the airport in which the federal government picked up about 95 percent of the cost.

The following ten years was an extremely challenging time for the airport, fraught with continued economic issues, shifts in management as well as low prioritization from the city. However, the passion of aviation enthusiasts persisted and the Balloon Fests od the 80s turned into the Airfests of the 90s which were sponsored by the Big Rapids Flying Club.

In 1995 a corporate hangar was built to house a private jet and 6 "I" hangars were built by the Flying Club which was soon filled with planes. A new grass strip was built on the southwest side of the field for the use of the ultralight "powered Parachute" pilots. A new terminal building was completed in June 2002 and the city contracted with a FBO (fixed base operator) to manage the airport.

Today the city continues to support the airport. "Improvements have been made ... we have new buildings, runway repairs and a flight school," said airport manager Mike Lafferty. "Nine years ago we had four planes and now we have 16. That is tremendous growth.

(The research for this article was taken from a narrative written in 2002 by Pete Cheesebrough and revised by Lynn Scheible. Pete's resources included articles from the Big Rapids Pioneer, dity of Big Rapids Commission documents, Ferris Torch and other Mecosta County sources.

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