History of the Mishawaka Pilot’s Club
The Mishawaka Pilots Club Airport (3C1) located 8 miles north
of the Goshen VOR on the 360 degree radial was established in 1957.
The field is at the edge of the city of Elkhart, in Elkhart County.
This is a privately owned, public use facility that was started
by 25 members pooling their resources ($200 each), buying a 65
acre farm, building the runways, a club house, drilling a well
for water, installing gas pumps and building hangars.
The original members incorporated as the Airport Realty Corporation
and issued 25 shares of stock to each member. A stipulation stated
that the most shares of stock one member could own would be 45.
As the airport needed more cash, additional shares were sold to
finance needed improvements. Eventually, 750 shares were sold
to pilots interested in building and keeping this property an airport.
At the present time there are 65 shareholders. The shareholders have
never received a dividend from their stock and many shareholders
who have moved out of the area or are no longer flying, but still keep
their stock. They are just interested in seeing that the property
remains an airport.
Several acquisitions of property adjacent to the airport were
made over the years. In 1967 we acquired 7.1 acres; 1970 - 12.3
acres; 1972-3.5 acres; 1991- 7.8 acres; 1997-25 acres. This
year we have negotiated the purchase of another 13 acres bringing
our total holdings to well over 100 acres.
In 1967 we re-mortgaged the property and installed a hard surfaced
runway; had the electric and telephone lines buried at the north
end of the field; and installed runway lights. Our paved runway (21-03)
is 2600 feet with a parallel grass runway for tail-dragger aircraft.
There is also 3000 foot grass runway (30-12) at right angles to
the paved runway.
In 1969 a flying club was established on the field as a means
of getting more members for the Mishawaka Pilots Club. This club
’within the club’ is called the Mishawaka Air Activities. It was
started with one aircraft. The club now has six airplanes and over
eighty members. Another club was also started on the field, called
the VFR flyers. They have one aircraft and twenty members.
The Airport Realty Corporation, owners of the airport property,
leases the land to the Mishawaka Pilots Club for a monthly fee.
The Club meets monthly in the clubhouse to conduct the business
pertaining to the operations of the airport. The Mishawaka
Pilots Club sponsors a yearly Christmas party. Invitations are
extended to other aviation organizations. The club also has a yearly
fly-in breakfast on Fathers Day. This function is mostly for generating
good-will in the neighborhood of the airport.
At the present time the Mishawaka Pilots Club has 230 members. There are 5
8 aircraft based on the field.
ALL OF THE ABOVE WAS CREATED WITHOUT THE HELP OF GOVERNMENT AID !!!
