Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / Sept. 25, 1958, edition 1 / Page 11
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MEET YOUR MERCHANTS I Macon County Airport, Inc. 'PAN' WORKING AT AIRPORT For several weeks, this earth -moving "pan" has been hauling dirt on the main runway at the Macon County Airport. In addi tion to filling low spots In the runway with dirt, airport officials have cleared the north approach to the field's auxiliary strip. Other work is programmed later in the year. Also planned in the near future is a sale of airport stock to private individuals and firms in a move to raise additional fund's for improving the facility, which is considered an important asset in terms of in dustrial expansion in tke county. (Staff Photo) Construction Of Airport An Ambitious Undertaking Corporation Leased With Option In 1956 A tract of 57.2 acres between the Little Tennessee River and U.S. 64 was purchased in Decem ber, 1944, from Harry Thomas. The next April instead cf turnips growing up near the road there was under construction a ganger and a service shop, and instead of corp and wheat on the south end of the tract there was grad ing started for a runway 2.800 feet in length, and 200 leet wide. Diagonally, southeast to north west another 2,000 foot runway was taking shape. Three tee hangers were added. The main hanger, 60x60'. was built to accommodate 12 planes. A tremendous earth-jnoving job involving some $20,000 was under taken to build the thiee foot crown up on the runways. The airport was built and op erated by Oscar Meyer of Hender sonville and Grant Zickgraf of Franklin. It was called Meyer Flying Service until Mr. Zickgraf bought out his partner in 1947 renaming the airport Macon Fly ing Service. In 1949 "Red" Nichols of Nichols' Flying Service in Black Mountain purchased the entire installation, and in 1950 he sold out to E. V. Bonham of Asheville. Mr. Bonham currently leases (with an option to buy) the air port to Macon County Airport, Inc. This corporation, was founded in 1956. Present officers are Steve Bundy, president; Grant Zickgraf. vice-president: Frank Plvl^r, sec retary-treasurer; Bill Phillips, air port manager. Other members of the board of directors are Manson Stiles and John Archer, Jr. Eventually the corporation hopes to turn the airport over to the county as a municipal facility. Hold No-Injury Record On Field Macon County Airport holds a no-injury1, no-death safety record for its thirteen years of operation. In This Series . . . YOU WILL MEET Franklin Hosiery Company Zickgraf Hardwood Company Nantahala Lumber Company Franklin Machine Shop Burrell Motor Company The Carolina Pharmacy People's Department Store Conley Motor Company Reeves Hardware Company Macon County Supply Company Macon Theatre Franklin Indoor-Outdoor Theatre The Fashion Shop Franklin Gem Shop The Twin's Shop YOU HAVE MET Belk's Department Store Franklin Hardware Company Franklin 5 & 10c Store Our Mountain Home Gift Shop Shown above are some of the planes that came to Franklin for the "Ruby Fly-In" snugly tied down out on the line. Stage Is Set For Progress; Airport's Future Assured Urear 1 rathe Increase Noted By Norman B. Smith A curtain was lifted last week from around a valuable asset possessed by Macon County. It's an asset that lay dormant in i canty iux several, years, aiiu when it did begin to come back to life two years ago it was with out publicity or fanfare leaving the people still oblivious of its value. The curtain was lifted last week from around th? Macon County Airport when nearly 50 Florida pilots with friends and families landed here to dig for Cowee Valley rubies. It was a curtain that fell when a two dollar plane ride was no longer a novelty, when one side cf tne hanger almost collapsed for lack of repair', when annual air shows were curtailed by fed eral regulations, when the Air port Gillie closed, w;hen the G.I. bill ended and flight students came no longer to train. It was a curtain that remained closed when a corporation called Macon County Airport, Inc., took a lease and an option to buy from the airport's Asheville owner, when an earthen dike was erected to keep the river from washing out the runway, when perma nent electric field lights were in stalled. Now the curtain is lifted for good. And this time the Macon Airport will not have to depend on the novelty of a two dollar flight or ex-G. I.'s taking advan tage of flight training. Now the future of the airport rests on a solid foundation For businessmen have found It convenient and economic to use planes. Executives of Rabun Mills. Mead Corporation, Burlington Industries, and other industries of the area fly regularly into the Macon Airport. Several own their own property. Vacationers and sportsmen fly In to Franklin dur ing the summer months, some Just for a few rounds of golf In Highlands. Chartered planes are beginning to do business here; Just a call to the Macon Airport will arrange a flight anywhere anytime. Possibilities of carrying truck garden produce and poultry from our county to market cities are being Investigated. Traffic at the airport has picked up 90% per year in the last two years. What this solid foundation will bring In the future of the air port has -almost no limit. People with sharp vision are seeing the days of regularly scheduled shut tle flights to Ashevllle's planned multi-million dollar airport, more and more "fly-Ins" like the one last week for the area's famed "rubles, rest, and recreation", a booming enterprise with longer, hard-surfaced runways, excellent repaid facilities, more hanger space, a complete radio installa tion. And they s?e these days coming not in the Indefinite far off but witrun the next ten years. Airport Offers Stock For Sale Additional stock in Macon County Airport, lncM is now offered for sale. The original value of the stock has gained at least 25% in the corpora tion's two year life. As yet no dividends have been paid because profits have been re-invested in airport improve ments. For further information call Secretary-treasurer Frank Plyler. SEARCH, RESCUE GROUP ACTIVE IN MACON NOW 'i The Macon County Search and Rescue Squadron bases its opera tions at the Macon County Air port. This Civil Defense unit is made up of local men, half of them licensed pilots, who donate both time and money for the equipping and training of their unit. Organized only last June the aim of this Squadron is to begin a county fire system of two or three trucks, to keep an ambu lance ready, and be able to effect search and rescue operations by air, land, or water on a moment's notice. The squadron got its first trial last August when two youths' drowned in Nantahala Lake. Ef forts of members of this organi zation resulted in both bodies being found on the day of the drowning. Officers include Sid Carter, county director of Civil Defense; Frank Plyler, squadron com mander; Carl Tysinger, director of air operations; Jimmy Conley. director of ground operations; Earl Slagle director of water operations. Interested Maconians are re quested to attend one of the meet ings at 7 30 every Tuesday even ing. The Search and Rescue Squad ron supercedes the local unit of Civil Air Patrol, which was dis banded because adequate ma terials for operations couldn't be I acquired through the CAP pro ?ram. Main Administration Building And Lounge "Gas Up" operations are handled as a routine raatler at the Franklin airport by trained service personnel. Shown above (asstag up a plane is Frank Jones, airport supervisor. Flyers Find The Facilities Here Suitable, Convenient Has Landing Lights, Phone, Fuel, Hangers The Macon County Airport has many facilities to offer both the local and transient flyer. il) Hanger space for approxi mately 19 planes is provided in the main hanger shop .and tee hangers. Additional unlimited space is provided by outside tie downs. <2> Eighty and 91 octane aviation fuel and aviation oil is' available 24 hours a day from the resident attendant. <3) Field lights are tu*ied on for night flying. <4> Temporary radio facilities are provided. Soon a permanent radio service may be installed. < 5 > Emergency repairs and servicing are d6ne at any time by the well-equipped Franklin Machine Shop. (6) Telephone is provided 24 hours a day. ? 7 > Convenient location ? only one mile from the center of Franklin. Easy drive to nearby Highlands. Sylva. Clayton 'Ga.i, Bryson City, and other points. 1 8 1 Two well-kept runways, one 2.800 feet, the other 2.000 feet. Charter Plane Makes Travel Easy, Quick 50 Pilots Have Gotten Licenses Flying Here By just calling 655 you can ar range to fly anywhere in the world at any time. The number is Maeon County Airport. In minutes a charter plane can be here from one of the three flyins services connected with the local airport ? Oscar Meyer Flying Service of Hendersonville, Woods Flying Service of Andrews-Murphy Air Park, and Roger Thompson of toccoa, Georgia. Charter flight is often the most convenient and sometimes the most economic means of making a trip. Ambulance flights may be arranged also. At the Maeon County Airport pilot instruction is offered. Since the airport was established, at least 65 local people have learned to fly. through the training pro gram. Buy Stock In . . . MACON COUNTY'S FUTURE Buy Stock In . . . FRANKLIN AIRPORT. INC $10 Per Share
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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Sept. 25, 1958, edition 1
11
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