"Love flying? Own an airport"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Love flying? Own an airport
81-year-old still relishes chance to be rider when ultralight buffs meet at
his strip
By Kim Hone-McMahan
The Akron (OH) Beacon Journal


Bob May gripped the walker and edged forward. Tilting his head ever so
slightly, he examined an ultralight aircraft parked in the grassy field in
front of his home. A grin slowly emerged. Parkinson's disease has left his
voice barely above a whisper, but hasn't stolen his smile.

After World War II, his late father, Clarence, decided to build an airport
on some of the 78 acres he bought in Springfield Township. Mind you,
Clarence, a lawyer, didn't fly, or even have an interest in earning a
pilot's license. Nevertheless, for a reason that still escapes his family,
he loved aviation.

``He heard about old Bill Piper (the man often referred to as the Henry Ford
of aviation) say -- `for aviation to prosper, we need a lot of small
airports,' '' Bob May said of his father.

And that was that.

Clarence and four of his sons dynamited the land, pushed the hills away and
filled in the meadows to construct a grassy airstrip, appropriately named
Mayfield. Bob May, the only surviving son, still owns the airport.

On a recent afternoon when the blue skies were filled with scarcely a cloud,
the North Coast Lite Flyers, a group of folks who enjoy fun, friendship and
flying ultralight aircraft, gathered at Mayfield. The 81-year-old inched his
way between the light sport aircraft, which can carry two people, and
colorful single-seat ultralights.

Flying an ultralight does not require a pilot's license, but it can be
dangerous without the proper training.

``It would be like someone trying to ride a bicycle for the first time,''
said North Coast Lite Flyers Vice President Don James of Brimfield Township.
``They are going to fall.''

Mike Baker, who lives in one of the seven homes bordering the secluded
airstrip, was hosting a picnic for the fliers. His homemade Savannah was in
the side yard. Others who had gathered brought craft ranging from a handsome
1939 Dart airplane to a Chinook light sport aircraft.

For some, flying is apparently an inherited gene that can carry from one
generation to the next. Since the first aircraft departed from Mayfield in
1957, a dozen of Clarence's children, grandchildren and extended family
members have received their pilot's licenses, including a few who fly
commercially.

Truth is, Bob May loved aviation even as a child. In third grade, a teacher
told him he needed to read more. ``What should I read?'' he asked.

``Something you are interested in. What would that be?''

``Aviation,'' he told her.

The teacher bought the small boy a book in the subject, and he was hooked.

Though it has been years since May has piloted an aircraft, he was quick to
accept an invitation from Portage Lakes' Gary Aman to climb into his Kolb
Mark II Classic, a round-nosed machine that sounds like a fine-tuned
weed-eater.

``The next generation of growth of aviation are the ultralights,'' May said,
making his way to the aircraft. ``They are relatively inexpensive and can
fly out of these small grass strips.''

When May reached the Kolb, he placed his rump in first. A fellow group
member lifted May's legs and tucked them in the cockpit.

As he was settling in, Clinton Sheppard of Streetsboro watched. At 91, he
claims to be the oldest ultralight flyer in the state.

Someone helped May with the harness and fitted the retired lawyer with a
headset.

The aircraft rolled forward for takeoff. May looked out the window and gave
a thumbs-up.

Parkinson's has slowed his gait, but it hasn't stolen his sense of
adventure.

Click or paste the link to view the video:

Fly, Fly Away
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/17409929.htm

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