Flying the C-130 Hercules aircraft like the one pictured here will be the topic of a presentation at a future Sun Lakes Aero Club gathering. (Photo courtesy of USAF)
Gary Vacin
The Sun Lakes Aero Club has announced a slate of speakers for its gatherings for 2025-26. The events begin with camaraderie at 6:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 7 p.m. at the Cottonwood Country Club Lecture Hall. The public is invited to attend all gatherings.
The Nov. 17 speaker will be Pete Russo, U.S. Air Force retired, who flew C-130s and later flew with several airlines, including 13 years with JetBlue Airlines.
On Dec. 15 historian Valerie Adams will recount the rise and fall of Pan American Airlines, from its founding in 1927 by Juan Trippe to its heyday during the 1960s to 1970 to its dissolution in 1991.
The Jan. 19 speaker will be Aero Club member Dik Cusveller who will relate many of his experiences while logging thousands of hours flying for KLM Airlines in Europe.
On Feb. 16 the speaker will be George Abernathy, a Sun Lakes resident who served as a torque (scout-door gunner) on helicopters during the Vietnam conflict.
The March 16 speaker will be Admiral (U.S. Navy ret.) James Schear who completed three combat tours. Later he was promoted to Rear Admiral where he served as Vice Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, Deputy Commander of the Second Fleet, Deputy Commander of the Patrol Wings Pacific, and Commander of the Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Four.
The Sun Lakes Aero Club is an official Sun Lakes organization that sponsors programs on the third Monday of each month November through April at the Cottonwood Country Club. The programs are open to all Sun Lakes residents and others interested in aviation.
More information on the club is available from Cannon Hill at 509-539-7857, Gary Vacin at 480-298-7017, on Facebook, or at the club’s website sunlakesaeroclub.org.