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What is the Oldest Active U.S. Flying Club?

Clubs devoted to flight in the U.S. have existed since the late 1800s.

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 10:49 AM ET

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Flying clubs own and operate aircraft like Cessna 172s for use by its members. [Courtesy: Pixabay/jotoya]

Key Takeaways:

The definition of an "active flying club" is crucial, distinguishing between clubs that foster general aviation interest and those that own and operate aircraft for members.
While organizations like the Aero Club of Buffalo (est. 1879) are older and fostered aviation, they didn't initially own flying machines for member use.
The Reading Aero Club, continuously operating since 1929, is recognized as the oldest active flying club in the U.S. that owns and operates aircraft for its members.

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Question: What is the oldest active flying club in the country?

Answer:

Martha Lunken is a lifelong pilot, former FAA inspector and defrocked pilot examiner. She flies a Cessna 180 and anything with a tailwheel, from Cubs to DC-3s.