Beaver Island Flying Club (1971)

Summary

The Beaver Island Flying Club was a 15-member group of teenage boys and girls reported in January 1971. It met Tuesday evenings at the school under the leadership of Bill Welke, a licensed flying instructor. Members were studying aviation, raising money for study materials, and hoped to log monthly flight time; several went aloft in Welke’s plane on the weekend of January 16.

The reported officers were Dan Gillespie, Frank Solle, Audrey Wojan, James Wojan, Karen McCafferty, and Julie Gillespie. Other members named by the source were Jeff McGlocklin, Mark Welke, Richard Gillespie, Jim McCafferty, Carl Welke, Laurie McGlocklin, Doris Kenwabi-kese, Tom McDonough, and Mike Green.

Evidence and limits

This is a source-qualified community organization record. The article does not establish a legal charter, aircraft ownership beyond the reference to Welke’s plane, pilot certificates for the teenagers, a school facility identity, or the club’s later history. The printed spelling “Doris Kenwabi-kese” is retained as reported rather than silently normalized.

Open questions

• Did the club continue beyond the 1971 report, and did any members solo?
• What aircraft and instructor records document the reported January flights?
• Are school, club, or newspaper records available for the full membership?

See also

• Formation and first flights of the Beaver Island Flying Club (1971)
• Beaver Island Airport
• Beaver Island