Huntsville Soaring Club Tow Plane Repair

Hi,
 
My name is Eric Carden (in the back seat below), and I’m fundraising for my local sailplane (glider) soaring club, the Huntsville Soaring Club  near Huntsville, Alabama. Due to unexpected problems found during recent planned maintenance of our club’s only tow plane (a special airplane that’s our only way to get gliders into the air), we’re looking at a large expense to have the plane returned to service. We’re working various fundraising paths, including donations from current and former club members and from other friends of soaring, but we’re still far from raising enough funds to cover the expected $60-80K cost. Any support from you would be greatly appreciated and might help make the difference that helps our small club – and thus sailplane soaring in north Alabama – continue to exist. The club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The Huntsville Soaring Club has been carrying out its mission of advancing and sharing the science, sport, and magic of flying without motors since the 1980s. We have taught multiple generations of pilots and have had members win major contests, set state and national records, and provide various forms of service to the national and international soaring community. And just last year, one "home-grown" member became the second pilot ever to soar a glider in a series of flights from the Pacific to the Atlantic!

Our tow plane, a Piper Pawnee, is a fabric-covered metal-frame plane. The problem we found recently was corrosion and cracking in the frame near the tail. To ensure continued safety, the plane needs to be uncovered, inspected, repaired, and recovered. This is a labor-intensive – and thus expensive – undertaking. The plane was last recovered about 30 years ago and has served us well since we got it (1993). Given that the plane’s engine was recently rebuilt, we expect the needed work to give us a reliable tow plane for many years to come. We have a highly-renowned repair shop picked and are simply waiting to meet our fundraising goal to start the estimated six-month clock on the work.

 

Thank you for helping us continue to share this great sport with future generations of pilots in north Alabama!

 

Eric Carden

Huntsville Soaring Club