After I had gotten out of the Air Force, finished college, and had saved a little money, I bought a…read moreplane.
But I hadn't flown in about 13 years and I was in serious need of instructed flight time. Coming from a family of pilots and aviation enthusiasts I had been around many of the airports in the southwest Ohio area since I was a child and now they are rapidly disappearing; Dahio (Dayton-New Lebanon), Miamitown, Brookville, and Blue Ash are gone.
So I went to a small family run and family friendly airport in Waynesville, Ohio, just south of where I had grown up.
There I met Red Stewart, the best, most knowledgeable, most competent light plane flight instructor I'd ever met.
Red, was quite a character - he had forgotten more about aviation than I will probably ever know, and he could do things with a Piper Cub that very few others could or can do - like throw the stick out the window and land the Cub with the throttle, trim and rudders alone!
Now Red is gone, and Cubby and Cathy Stewart run the airport.
It is one of the best (and last) places in Southwest Ohio/Southeast Indiana area to learn to fly a variety of light aircraft, or to simply get an airplane ride.
It's a small airport with a well maintained grass strip, tie-down space and some hangars, clean restrooms, a swingset for your kids and a friendly old dog who greets all visitors.
Regardless of whether you want tricycle or tail-dragger instruction, here you can get GOOD instruction in well maintained aircraft a very reasonable rates.
And they have fuel and parts, as well as maintenance and repair.
When we needed parts for our Ercoupe, they were able to supply most of what we needed.
And even if you don't fly, it's always busy on a beautiful day with airplanes coming and going, aerobatics, and sky divers - just come, watch, relax and pet the dog.
What I love most about Red Stewart Field (Waynesville AIrport), is the total love and dedication of Cubby and Cathy Stewart
to aviation and to passing their skills and passion to a whole new generation of pilots and people who love the art and science of flying.
This country will always need pilots, and there isn't a better place to get your start in aviation than at Red Stewart Field on Rt. 42 just south of downtown Waynesville, Ohio.