Wingtips Summer 1997

Originally published in 1997

Dr. John Donald Hull, affectionately known as “Doc”, founder of Hull Airport, now Sugar Land Municipal Airport, passed away on January 11, 1997.

His love for aviation began in Nashville, Georgia, where he learned to fly at the age of eleven. At age sixteen he ferried WWII fighter aircraft for the war effort.

In 1949, he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he met his wife, Virginia “Jenny” Taylor.

Doc and Jenny moved to Houston in 1949. He completed a teaching fellowship at the University of Texas Dental School in 1950. As an oral surgeon, his practice included providing trauma care at Houston area hospitals and developing the dental program for the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC), Southern Region. He arranged for donations of dental equipment and instruments for TDC while training inmates to be surgical assistants. He spent countless evenings and weekends commuting across Southeast Texas to provide dental care at prison units. Doc donated his services for several years until TDC included dental care in their budget. He continued an eighteen year affiliation with TDC while concurrently serving The Army Dental Corps and Army Reserve, where he attained the rank of Colonel.

During the early years of his dental practice Doc operated aircraft out of South Houston Airport and Sam Houston Airport until the development of Houston forced their closings. It was then that he decided to build an airport that he vowed would never close. One day in 1952 he landed his biplane in a cow pasture near Sugar Land. With a loan from a friend he purchased the property, borrowed a motor grader, and personally built the first runway. To advertise the opening of Hull Field, he offered a prize for the first airplane to land. To further develop the airport, he founded “Hull Aviation”, a fixed base operation that included aircraft sales, refueling, maintenance, a paint shop, and a school of aviation. In addition to managing the business, he was a flight instructor, a Federal Aviation flight examiner, and a licensed aircraft mechanic and inspector. Doc’s oral surgery practice played a major role in supporting the growth of Hull Field.

In his maintenance facility, Doc and his mechanics restored WWII aircraft. His vintage aircraft interest took him to Central America, where he acquired six P-51 Mustang WWII fighter planes from the Guatemalan Air Force and licensed them for civilian use in the United States. Other restoration projects included a Bell P-39, a British Spitfire, and a rare Bell P-63 King Cobra for the Confederate Air Force. Doc was an ardent supporter of the Confederate Air Force (C.A.F.) during its formative years, providing aircraft maintenance support and piloting various aircraft in C.A.F. air shows.

In the late 1970’s Doc traded land with TDC and expanded his runway to 4400 feet. In 1982, after years of negotiations with the State of Texas, he purchased land from TDC and constructed new terminal and hangar facilities. He completed his airport expansion in 1986 with construction of an 8000 ft runway and instrument landing system.

Doc gave his time and financial support to many community organizations. His support of the community extended to law enforcement. He was named Citizen of the Year by the Fort Bend 100 Club. He was a co-founder of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council. His airport expansion in the 1980’s was the deciding factor for many corporations to locate their facilities in Fort Bend County.

Doc sold his airport to the city of Sugar Land and retired in 1990. He continued to spend his afternoons at the airport flying his vintage biplane and visiting with his friends and fellow aviators. Doc loved his airport.

Doctor John Donald Hull is survived by daughters Leilani Gail Hull, Mary Donna Hull, son John Donald Hull, Jr., cousin Marguerite Ostermann Quagliano, and nephews Ronald Colby and Donald Colby.

An inscription on a gift from Colonel Dwight Glen reads, ”To Colonel Don Hull, Aviator and Gentleman of the First Order and One of the Last ‘Good Old Boys’ of the Great State of Texas.”

Don Hull will be missed by many. He has left a great legacy for Texas aviation–not only because of the airport he built and nurtured, but for his love of aviation.

Originally published in 1997

Texas-based aviatrix Linda Finch has ended her three-month recreation of Amelia Earhart’s ill-fated 1937 flight around the world via the equator.

Finch flew an immaculately restored Lockheed Electra 10E – one of only two remaining in the world. Its restoration is an accurate replica of Earhart’s aircraft. She and copilot Lad Doctor departed March 17th from Earhart’s original starting point, Oakland, California, for the 24,557- mile flight. The flight spanned five continents, with more than 30 stops in 20 countries.

In July, Finch will fly the plane to Washington, D.C. To present items carried on the flight to the National Air and Space Museum and the National Geographic Society.

The main sponsor of the “World Flight ’97” is engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies Co., who has contributed about $4 million to the flight. That includes the two 550 hp engines, which have the same serial numbers as those installed on Earhart’s plane.

“Amelia Earhart believed in herself and her dream,” says Finch. ‘World Flight is our way of sharing her message with the world.”

Originally published in 1997

Kim Reniska, an engineer from Austin, Texas, will be part of a five-member team that will compete in September at the first World Air Games, to be held in Antalya, Turkey!

Kim earned her team position by being one of the five highest scoring pilots at the previous year’s U.S. National Glider Aerobatic Competition.

Between September 9th and 21st, teams from more than 25 countries will take to the sky once per day to determine the next World Team and Individual Glider Champions. Each team will fly five flights in the world competition: two known routines, two unknown flights and one freestyle, with the possible addition of an extra unknown flight.

Originally published in 1997

The father of British Aviation was an American. Samuel F. Cody. His real name was Cowdery, and he was born in Texas.

Cody devised and built Britain’s first practical aeroplane. On the great Farnborough Airfield near London is a cast reproduction of the gnarled old pine tree where in 1908, he tethered his flying machine (Army Aeroplane No. 1) and measured the thrust before taking to the air. Crowds watched in awe as he reached a height of 1,390 feet and covered a distance of over a quarter of a mile – an epic journey that made him the first man to fly an aeroplane over British soil.

Sam Cody was not related to Buffalo Bill Cody, but he could have been cloned as the great Wild West pioneer. Sam had an extraordinary look – long hair, goatee, waxed mustache, cowboy jacket and Stetson. He was a star of Wild West shows in England, billed as “Klondyke Nuggett,” a sharpshooting act.

Cody was fascinated with kites, and he dreamed of building one that could carry a man. With his showmanship and his interest in kites, the British Army gave him the job as chief kite instructor, then commissioned him to build a powered dirigible. It flew in 1907. Cody, who migrated from Texas to Britain, “flew” a kite-driven collapsible boat across the English Channel in 13 hours in 1903.

Cody’s first aeroplane was called “The Flying Cathedral,” and he is in the record books, citing endurance and size.

John Cody, great-grandson of Sam, said, “He was an amazing man. He had the ability to steer a plane as if he were riding a horse – it was a live thing, and he was part of it.”

Samuel Cody died in an airplane crash in 1913. Some 50,000 people attended the funeral. King George V sent a telegram: “I always appreciated his dogged determination and his dauntless courage.”

It is hard to believe that the Texas man who was the father of British aviation was the forerunner of the great Spitfires, Wellingtons, Hurricanes and all the rest in the Royal Flying Corps.

-Quotations from the Cody Archive, 1997

Originally published in 1997

Angel Flight of Texas, Inc., is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the free air transportation of medical patients, family members, blood, and organs for those who cannot access such transportation by ordinary commercial means. Their sole purpose is to serve the community by sharing a unique service for which there is often no substitute. Patients and traveling companions are referred and certified by social workers, case workers, physicians, and ministers. Angel Flight is composed of volunteer pilots and others whose time, efforts, money, and aircraft usage are donated free of charge. Approximately 450 pilots in 7 states are currently listed in their active and reserve rosters. In addition to Texas, they frequently serve patients in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Tennessee.

In addition to numerous individual doctors and hospitals throughout this nine state area, some of the major organizations and facilities they serve are The Bloodcare Center in Dallas, M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Scott & White Hospital of Temple, Cancer Therapy & Research Center of San Antonio, University of Texas Medical Branch of Galveston, High Plains Hospital of Amarillo, Mayo Hospital in Minnesota, the Shrine Hospital in Chicago, and Children’s Hospital.

Originally published in 1997

McGregor Municipal Airport is the first general aviation airport in the nation to be awarded the designation of “Clean Airport” by the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE). USDOE’s “Clean Airport” program goal is to encourage aviation use of clean burning alternative fuels such as ethanol to help keep the air we breathe as clean as possible. Since McGregor Municipal Airport was the site at which ethanol as an aviation fuel was first used, it is most appropriate that the honor of this designation goes to them.

The Texas Alternative Fuels Council recently awarded a $1 million grant to Baylor University’s Renewable Aviation Fuels Development Center to develop renewable turbine engine fuels. The grant will expand Baylor’s research on ethanol-based fuels. With this grant, the school will test various blends of renewable fuels with Jet-A fuel. Part of the grant purchased a twin-turboprop aircraft outfitted with state-of-the-art instrumentation to monitor pollution-causing emissions during the test. ”This grant will allow our current research, which has been directed at furthering the use of ethanol as an aviation fuel, to expand significantly,” says Dr. Max Shauck, Chair of the Aviation Sciences Department. The USDOE has appointed Dr. Shauck as the national coordinator of the Renewable Aviation Fuels Development Center at Baylor University.

Originally published in 1997

The award for Most Improved Airport went to Dimmit County Airport in Carrizo Springs. “This airport’s full-time manager, Ernest Martinez, and the entire community take pride in their airport. Due to tremendous community support, this airport will continue to contribute significantly to the economy by attracting businesses and accommodating the area’s tourism. And it will continue to provide vital medical transport needs for a remote community,” said Mr. Fulton. State Representative Tracy O. King presented Mr. Martinez with a Resolution passed by the Texas House of Representatives. Mr. Martinez also received a Resolution passed by the Texas Senate.

Other achievement awards presented at the Texas Airport Operators Conference include the 1997 Outstanding Airport of the Year Award which went to Lufkin’s Angelina County Airport. “This airport has the facilities and maintains the standards that we are striving to obtain for all of the airports in Texas. The airport accommodates corporate business and pilots, as well as those flying just for fun. This airport is one of the best airports in Texas,” stated Dave Fulton, TxDOT’s Aviation Division Director. Barley Lenderman, Airport Manager of Angelina County Airport and Angelina County Judge Joe Berry accepted the award on behalf of the community.

A new award this year for Personal Achievement was presented to Ray Davis, Airport Coordinator of Jacksonville’s Cherokee County Airport. During the presentation, Mr. Fulton acknowledged the central role Mr. Davis has played in the success of the airport stating, “This individual is persistent, dedicated, conscientious, and effective in everything he does for the airport. He is an outstanding example of what a difference one individual’s personal commitment can make.”

Doyle Dobbins of Grayson County Airport (Sherman-Denison), was named 1997 Airport Manager of the Year. During the presentation Mr. Fulton remarked, ”This manager has very high standards concerning the airport’s appearance, services and safety. His professionalism and friendly manner make him a person who is respected and well liked. Whoever said, ‘You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear’, hasn’t seen what this airport manager has made out of the former Perrin Air Force Base after it was conveyed to Grayson County as surplus property 26 years ago!” Due to this manager’s resourcefulness in generating income and acting responsibly with the airport funds, the airport is able to sustain all airport costs including the roads, terminal building expenses, and all airport upkeep and maintenance.

Originally published in 1997

Thousands of school children from across the United States submitted artwork for the 1997 International Aviation Art Contest. Children in three age groups, 6-9, 10-13, and 14-17, were invited to submit artwork depicting their own aviation/space-themed postage stamp for the imaginary country, Aeromania. The Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division received over 2,400 entries. First, second and third place winners in each age group were selected for Texas.

First place state winners were:

Category I – Ages 6-9
Jonathan Johnson
Hanna Springs Intermediate
Lampasas, TX

Category II – Ages 10-13
Alan Nguyen
West Memorial Elementary
Katy, TX

Category II – Ages 14-17
Catherine Choi Clear
Brook High School
Friendswood, TX

The first place winners from all the states were forwarded to the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) Office in Silver Springs, Maryland for national competition.

Two of our first place Texas students also won national awards for their aviation artwork!

Seventeen-year-old Catherine Choi won Second Place in the national competition for her age category. Ten-year old Alan Nguyen won Third Place in his category. Both of these students and their families were invited to the National Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., where they received a certificate, ribbon, framed photograph of their entry and a professional work of art from the American Society of Aviation Artists.

Texas Has International Winner!

The artwork of these national winners was forwarded to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Paris, France where competition for international awards took place June 4-6 in Fion, Switzerland.

Our second-place national winner in Category 111, Catherine Choi, also won first place in the international aviation artwork competition! This is the first time Texas has had an international winner! She will receive the Federation Aeronautique Internationale’s (FAI) highest art contest honor, the Gold Medal.

State Judges were: Mel Brown, Texas Aviation Artists; Michelle Hannah, Aviation Division, TxDOT & Susan Hodgson, Public Information Office, TxDOT.

Originally published in 1997

Temple Municipal’s fixed-based operator (FBO) won a silver award in the Exxon USA’s Tiger Spirit Program, marking the local business as one of the outstanding aviation FBOs in the country. Sharon Rostovich manages the FBO that serves the general aviation community in Temple and the surrounding area.

FBOs earn points in customer service and image based on survey responses received from independent pilots who visit the FBOs. The competition rates participating Exxon aviation dealers in the areas of customer service, image, quality assurance and business promotion.

Originally published in 1997

Many publicly owned airports are eligible for federal funding for improvements under terms of the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Projects such as runway repair or extension, terminal building additions, or navigation aid and lighting upgrades are examples of improvements which may be funded in large part with federal dollars. In fact, most eligible projects are 90 percent financed with federal money.

This money, however, comes with a few strings attached in that airports which accept federal funding agree to certain obligations. Each federal airport grant includes the following five basic conditions:

• The airport must be maintained and kept open for at least twenty years.
• The airport must be open to all types and classes of aeronautical activity. There are, however, provisions for exceptions for safety reasons.
• The airport management must charge “fair, reasonable and not unjustly discriminatory rates.”
• The airport management may not grant exclusive rights.
• Revenues generated by the airport must be used for airport purposes.