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Members are expected to provide
time and talent for the operation and maintenance of the facilities,
including mowing grass and snow plowing.
While some MPC members own airplanes and hangars, many do not.
The club was organized in
1948 at the Mishawaka Capital Avenue Airport located at the northeast corner of
Dragoon Trail and Capital Avenue. Most of the men who started the club owned
their own airplanes, some were World War II surplus. One of the founders, Ralph
Emmert, had attended the flight instructors’ school at Kelly Field, Texas and
his enthusiasm for flying and teaching others to fly held the club together
during the early years. After a few years, a real estate
developer bought the land and the club was forced to find another place.
For a short time the club operated from Sportsman’s Park Airport on Day
Road. Then came the opportunity to sublease a piece of land on the
county line south of the St. Joseph River in Elkhart County where a
motorcycle club had failed to prosper. The east-west racing strip served as
the runway. The members erected some hangars and just gotten settled
in when one of the members decided to purchase the land and convert it into
a drag-racing facility (the present Osceola Drag Strip) and informed his
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MPC members to leave his
premises forcing the club to move a third time. At the time, the old
Pancake family farm on Mishawaka Road east of the county line was for sale
at a reasonable price. The MPC members formed the Airport Realty
Corporation to buy this land. The 25 members at this time each
contributed for a down payment and this became the club’s permanent home.
These shareholders of the Airport Realty Corporation have never received
dividends or re-imbursement of any kind. They’ve simply been dedicated
to retaining the land for the airport use, while adding more land as
opportunities have arisen. The members moved the hangars to the
newly acquired land and working together, removed fences, graded fencerows,
leveled the soil and then planted grass seed. Three runways were
originally established to facilitate its use no matter which way the wind
was blowing. Area pilots visited, liked what they saw and joined the
MPC. As membership climbed, more hangars were built. In 1965, a
new mortgage financed a 2,600 foot asphalt runway and other improvements
were made including installation of runway lights for night landings.
To raise money to help pay for this, the MPC held fly-in breakfasts.
This tradition continues on every Father’s Day. |
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During 1969, cash flow
became a problem and an increase in membership was seen as the solution.
Joe Wright, a Mishawaka dentist, purchased a Cessna 172 for the club.
Then Ralph Emmert and Bob Reed, a Mishawaka doctor, gave free flying lessons
to any new member. The club quickly grew and after a short time, the
Mishawaka Air Activities was formed as a satellite of the
MPC as a club
within a club to take responsibility for maintaining this airplane.
Additional airplanes have been added over time. The VFR Flyers,
another satellite of the MPC also owns an airplane. |
Over the years, families have
contributed to the growth and success of the
MPCas it developed into
today’s aviation community. The early spirit of camaraderie of the founders
continues as the club’s members and their families enjoy the excitement of
flying and each other’s company.
Members of the MPC serve
on various committees and maintain the facility in a safe, economical manner.
The main purpose of the MPC, in addition to its duties to operate the
airfield, is to foster a positive image for general aviation, to both its
members and the public at large. |
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Several social activities are held each
year to support this purpose. Included are:
Father's
Day Fly &
Drive-in Pancake Breakfast
Club Picnic
Club Christmas Party |
Throughout the year, it is not uncommon for members to take off on a Saturday
or Sunday morning for breakfast at a nearby airport restaurant. Non-pilots are
encouraged to ride along with aircraft owners for these events. |
