Page 21 - Twin & Turbine January 2018

dropping out due to budget reasons. Likewise, a remanufactured yet modernized airplane for 40 to 45 percent of a new aircraft is attractive to f light training organizations and f lying clubs. Our hope is the project invigorates a path for the younger generation to enter the industry.
4. What inspired you to serve on the Board for Doc’s Friends? (Doc is one of two flyable B-29 Superfortresses.)
Jeff Turner, the former CEO of Spirit AeroSystems and chairman of Doc’s Friends is actually a good friend of mine. Back when work had halted on the airplane due to lack of funding, Jeff took me to see the airplane, visit with the volunteers and described his idea to form a nonprofit to complete the restoration. After seeing the B-29 and hearing the volunteers’ heartfelt stories, I was hooked. So, I became the treasurer of Doc’s Friends and a very strong aviation-minded board was put together. “Doc” has since become an icon for the community, taking its first flight in July of 2016. Today, we are working on the second phase of our project, which is securing funding to build a new hangar learning center at Eisenhower National Airport. Construction begins January 2018.
5. TheWichitaAeroClubannouncedthatithadselected you as the recipient of its Aero Club Trophy. How does it feel to now be on that impressive list of those honored?”
I really don’t know how to answer this question, other than I am humbled and surprised. I owe it to a great management team and group of employees. Reconstructing Yingling Aviation
over the last 18 years was not a task completed by me alone. My part was to instill the vision of what we could become, hire the right people and provide the space and resources th•ey need to make it come together. To be added to the recipient list of other people like Velma Wallace, Russ Meyer, Jr., Jeff Turner, John O’Leary, and Paul Bowen is just a sincere and humbling experience. It is clearly an “aw shucks” kind of moment. T&T
January 2018
TWIN & TURBINE • 19
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Rebecca Groom Jacobs can be contacted at rebecca@ groomaviation.com.