Wright-Patterson Aero Club to close

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — The Wright-Patterson Aero Club, a fixture at the base since 1954, is likely to close within several months because it is losing money and its building and its airplanes need costly maintenance, the Air Force said Thursday.

Leadership at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Materiel Command have endorsed the recommendation to close the club, which has lost $229,000 during the past four years and has been unable to return itself to profitability, base officials said. The club is to close within 60 days of final approval from the Air Force, which is still reviewing the recommendation to close, base spokeswoman Laura McGowan wrote in an email response to questions from the Dayton Daily News.

“The recommendation to close was based on several years of financial losses impacting the base’s ability to support other recreational programs on the installation,” base officials said .

The flying club’s membership was informed Tuesday . The club has 321 members. Its anticipated closing would affect seven jobs, including four regular and three part-time positions, according to McGowan.

The club’s building needs repairs estimated to cost at least $1 million, base officials said.

The 10 airplanes owned by the club or Wright-Patterson would be offered for sale to other Air Force aero clubs, or could be sold on the open market if no other clubs are interested, officials said. The aircraft are aging and would require a “significant investment” to be maintained or replaced, according to the base’s statement.

The club is open to all who are approved for base access at Wright-Patterson.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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