Todd Storey, Bill Lavers and J B Stokley spoke to the club about the upcoming "Heroes Take Flight" Fly In to benefit the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

Storey first outlined plans to enhance the Auburn/Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport, including plans to install new approach lights that will affect the glide slope. He also discussed plans to double the size of the corporate hangers on the Auburn side of the air field and the plans to relocate the terminal to the other side of the air field. The new terminal will replace the existing terminal that was built in sections during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The new terminal will be located on a new extension of Bent Creek Road north of the I-85 Interstate exit, and should be completed by June 2008.

Lavers talked about the third annual Fly-In. The aviation audience has increased from 2,000 in 2004 to 8,000 last year. Events include: road races of one mile and five kilometers, plus a tot trot; parashooters and about 58 airplanes, including a P-51 Mustang, a B-25 Bomber, a SBD-5 Dauntless, replicas of a Japanese Zero and a Kate torpedo bomber, experimental aircraft, corporate and military aircraft.

Stokley talked about how airplanes saved the world by stopping the Japanese during WWII at Midway Island and bombing Japan and Germany into submission.

Storey (right), Lavers (left) and Stokley (third from left) with Club President Debbie Shaw (second from left)