Olds Forge Flyers History
More than eight decades of flying together.
Olds Forge Flyers, Inc. traces its roots to January 25, 1945, when ten employees of the Oldsmobile Forge Plant turned a shared interest in aviation into a flying club that continues today.
1945–1950s
The club takes flight
Olds Forge Flyers, Inc. began with a charter issued by the State of Michigan on January 25, 1945. The club was organized through the efforts of ten employees of the Oldsmobile Forge Plant who shared a common interest in flying.
The club’s first airplane was an Aeronca L-3B purchased as Army surplus in the spring of 1945. Members soon discovered that the aircraft was not airworthy until one of its wings was rebuilt. In 1947, the club added a 1946 Ercoupe.
During the 1950s, membership grew to approximately 40 members, laying the foundation for a larger and more active club.
1960s–1970s
Growth, new airplanes, and rising costs
By the 1960s, the Aeronca and Ercoupe had been traded for a Piper Tri-Pacer and a Piper Colt. Membership reached approximately 50 by the end of the decade.
Aviation was changing quickly. Fuel costs doubled and liability and damage insurance costs tripled, pushing aircraft rental rates from about $3.50 to $18.00 per hour.
By 1975, the club had grown to 62 members and operated a Piper Arrow along with two Cessna 172s. The club also developed optional membership arrangements to encourage trial memberships and provide reduced rates for family members of existing members.
1980s–1990s
The fleet takes a familiar shape
In 1983, the Piper Arrow was sold and replaced by an Archer. Three years later, the club purchased Cessna 172P N52267 — an airplane that remains part of the Olds Forge Flyers fleet today.
The club also owned a Cherokee Six during this era. After the aircraft was stolen from its hangar and later crashed in Georgia, repairs proved unsatisfactory and the airplane eventually fell out of use. It was replaced by a Saratoga that had previously flown in both Alaska and California.
The Archer purchased in 1983 experienced a fire after landing in Traverse City on its first flight following a major overhaul. A missing carburetor float pin was found to have caused the engine to flood. The club later replaced that aircraft with Piper Archer N6917D, which became one of the club’s most frequently flown airplanes.
2000s–Today
A club that keeps evolving
The Saratoga remained a cherished part of the fleet until 2005, when increasing maintenance and insurance costs led the club to sell it. At the time, the cost of insuring the Saratoga exceeded the combined insurance cost of the Archer and Cessna 172.
Over the years, Olds Forge Flyers moved from the airport’s T-hangars to facilities at Avflight Lansing. The club continues to operate at Capital Region International Airport (KLAN), where generations of members have shared airplanes, instruction, experience, and a love of flying.
The club marked its 55th anniversary in 2000, its 60th in 2005, and its 65th in 2010 — milestones in a story that began more than eight decades ago and continues today.
The story continues
Olds Forge Flyers remains a member-owned flying club built around shared access to aircraft and a common enthusiasm for aviation.