Press Releases

April 6, 2023

By Catherine Santa Maria

In tribute to Jim Goodrich who recently passed is a history of the PML Aero Club. Jim’s efforts and commitment to the Aero Club greatly contributed to the success of the club that all of us enjoy today. Thank you, Jim, from all of us at the Aero Club, rest in peace.

A group of local pilots got together and decided to start an Aero Club. The sole purpose of the Aero Club would be to support General Aviation, promote flying as an enjoyable activity, and to make flying as safe and affordable as possible for all members. Three of the pilots prepared the Articles of Organization on March 24, 2009, and submitted the articles to the State of California, Controllers Office. In addition, Jim Goodrich prepared the first set of Bylaws and Operating rules.

The three local pilots were: Dennis Smith, Bob Hornauer and James Goodrich. They decided that Dennis Smith would be the President, Bob Hornauer would be the Vice President and James Goodrich would be the secretary. The principal place of business would be the Pine Mountain Lake Airport (E45) in Groveland, Ca. 95321.

Once the articles were filed the guys decided to purchase an airplane and with the help of James Goodrich and another local pilot Tom Sweeney, they purchased a 1974 Cessna 172M for $50,000 on June 8, 2009, and procured a loan for $42,895. That left $7105 plus lots of expenses that would be needed to get the Club started. So, they went out to the community and started their marketing plan to get more locals to join the club and purchase a share in the Aero Club. Sometime in this period I was approached, and I had decided to take flying lessons, so it was perfect timing for the Aero Club and myself. They immediately appointed me as Treasurer for the organization.

Several locals (Allen Craig, Jim Goodrich, Bob Hornauer, Leon Liebster, Mike & Elizabeth Lindeberg, Steve Martin, Catherine Santa Maria, Dennis Smith and Tom Sweeney) were happy to part with some bucks to get the club going so they chipped in enough capital to cover the down payment on the Cessna and provide operating funds for the rest of the expenses, i.e. insurance, taxes, accounting fees, Cessna parts, etc.

Our next hurdle was to acquire Certified Flight Instructors, (CFI’s), Airplane Mechanics, (A&P’s), Pilots and Student Pilots. We did not need to look far because Bob Hornauer is a CFI, A&P, IA and carries many other ratings and was already on the Board. We also recruited Mike Gustafson and Larry Jobe who had all the necessary ratings to become limited members and manage the training of new students.

So, we were off and running. For the last 14 years we have been fully operational and have acquired several new members like Ed Gregory who has his ATP rating and is able to be our Assistant Chief Mechanic to relieve Bob Hornauer, Chief Mechanic when Bob needs to take a vacation or is unavailable. In 2020 the year of the pandemic Bob and Ed replaced our engine in the Cessna 172 which was worn out with all the heavy training our club was doing.

With the instruction provided by our CFI’s 12 new pilots received their rating in 14 years. They are Catherine Santa Maria, Janet Gregory, Danielle Coelho, Andy Mankus, Anthony Felts, Joshua Skelley, Roxie Compton, Paul Holthouse, Ben Randamn, Scott Rexwinkle, Paul Hothouse, and Ralph McLaughlin.

Some of the above have become inactive and moved on to own their own airplane or moved out of the area. Our current active members are Perry Ahrens PPL, Paul Gibson, PPL and Instrument, Bob Hornauer, ATP, CFI Instruments, Airplanes, and Multiengine, Joe Juszkiewicz, PPL, Ralph McLaughlin, PPL Catherine Santa Maria, PPL, Joshua Skelley, PPL, Dennis Smith, PPL, Commercial Pilot, Multi Engine Land, Instrument, Kurt Stonitsch, PPL, Commercial, and Instrument.

The PML Aero Club members are involved in our local community including but not limited to participating in the EAA Young Eagles Program (some are members of the Experimental Aircraft Association), participation in the Pine Mountain Lake Aviation Association, San Joaquin Valley Ninety Nines, and the Aircraft Owners Pilots Association (AOPA).

We are a fully operational flying club and have a website: pmlaeroclub.com. On the website there are numerous press releases, Club Bylaws, Club Operating Rules, Officer information and photos. The Aero Club is the happening place for pilots and student pilots. We meet on the first Saturday of the month at 9:30am at the Jobe Hangar and in the summer months we meet at the Club hangar located at hangar one at the Pine Mountain Lake Airport (E45).

If you are interested in joining the Aero Club please contact Paul Gibson, President at 707-318-5926 or Bob Hornauer at 209-402-0005.

March 4, 2022

By Catherine Santa Maria

In January, the PML Aero Club had a luncheon to celebrate Dennis Smith our outgoing Charter President and one of the Founders of the Aero Club. Dennis has been President since 2009 which was when the Aero Club was started. Many thanks to Dennis for all of his dedication to the Aero Club and its members for the pastt 12 years. 

Our new elected President is Paul Gibson. Paul moved to PML part time in 2017. Paul has had his private pilots license since 1982. He is also intrument rated. 

The other change in our board is Club Secretary. Kurt Stonitsch was elected and received his private pilots license in 1990. He also has a commercial and instrument rating. 

Other great news Dr. Ralph McLaughlin received his Private Pilot’s license in March.

Congratulations Ralph well done. Ralph’s instructor was Mike Gustafson.

We are very fortunate to have such a great organization and By the Way the Aero Club produced 13 new private pilots since 2009. If you would like to learn more about the Aero Club please visit our website pmlaeroclub.com or call Paul Gibson at 707-318-5926 or Bob Hornauer at 209-402-0005.

May 6, 2021

By Catherine Santa Maria 

The PML Aero Club is enjoying the spring weather and decided to hold a hangar event in April to celebrate spring and get back in the air. We met on the 17th at our hangar and had our monthly meeting followed by some flying and then had a nice luncheon and then got back up in the air to do some spot landing practice. 

We had great attendance and since the meeting have welcomed several new members: Our new members are Anne Melis Coady, Brian Conway, Kurt Stonitch. Melis will be training with Larry Jobe, Brian Conway will be training with Bob Hornauer and Kurt Stonitch is returning to flying after taking some time off. Kurt will pick one of our instructors to check him out and get him back flying. 

In other news Bob Hornauer reported at our May 1st meeting that the annual was completed in two days which is a new record. He thanked all of the members who came out and helped him complete the job so quickly. Congratulations Bob and team 

members who assisted. 

Our next meeting will be on June 5th at our hangar at 10:30am. If you are interested in learning about us, then come and join us. If you are interested in joining the Club visit our website pmlaeroclub.com or contact Dennis Smith @ 962-4660 or Bob Hornauer 

at 209-402-0005. 

The picture below is a picture of some of those who attended the April event. 

September 7, 2020

By Catherine Santa Maria 

What a year! Here we are into September and we have all gone through Covid19, evacuation, quarantine and the list goes on and on. During our quarantine period however, some great things happened at the PML Aero Club. Bob Hornauer our lead and chief mechanic with the assistance of Ed Gregory managed to replace our worn-out engine in the Cessna 172. What an amazing job they did! Kudos to Bob and crew for accomplishing this task. 

Not only did we replace the engine we also have new avionics in the Cessna. Janet and Ed Gregory flew the aircraft down to Lancaster to have the new avionics installed which took several days. Larry Jobe flew down and picked them up and then when the plane was ready Larry flew down and brought them back. Tim Hallock freshened up the upholstery in the cockpit and Janet cleaned and replaced the upholstery on the doors. 

In other news two of our officers have moved away and we wish to thank Jim Goodrich, and Steve Martin for their many years of service. Both Jim and Steve were charter members of the Aero Club and both were instrumental in forming the organization. The Board has appointed Bob Hornauer as Vice President and Paul Gibson as Club Secretary. 

Discover the fun of flight, the beauty of the area, life in three dimensions, new places to go and meet new flying friends. Our next meeting will be on October 3, 2020 at 10:30am at the Jobe hangar. If you are interested in joining the Club visit our website pmlaeroclub.com or contact Dennis Smith @ 962-4660 or Bob Hornauer at 209-402-0005.

October 8, 2019

By Catherine Santa Maria

We are all thrilled that Roxie Compton passed her checkride and is now our newest Private Pilot. In addition, Roxie is our 10th pilot which matches the Aero Club’s 10th year in operation.  Congratulations Roxie and to Larry Jobe Roxie’s instructor.

We are also happy to report that Paul R. Gibson has joined our organization. Paul has his Private Pilot rating and his instrument rating with 1303 hours in a Single Engine Land and 5 hours in a Twin Engine Land. Welcome Paul. 

The Aero Club has a promotion going on. Once again the offer waives your first 3 months of dues so that all you pay for the first three months is your flight time. In addition, your initiation fee will not be due until the end of the 3 months which gives you plenty of time to decide if you want to join the group.

Check out our website at www.pmlaeroclub.com or call Dennis Smith at 962-4950.

August 5, 2019

By Catherine Santa Maria

As we look back over our 10 years as an operating Aero Club I thought it would be great to list all of the members who became pilots over the last decade and their flight instructors who trained them: 

·      Janet Gregory, Danielle Coelho, Andy Mankus, Anthony Felts, Joshua Skelley, and Roxie Compton…….Flight Instructor Larry Jobe

·      Catherine Santa Maria and Ben Randamn….Flight Instructor Mike Gustafson

·      Scott Rexwinkle……Flight Instructor Ken Orloff

9 new pilots WOW! Many thanks to all our flight instructors who made it happen !! We need to get one more pilot to match our years as an Aero Club. So if you want to learn to fly perhaps you could be number 10.

In addition, very special thanks to Larry and Nina Jobe who let us use their hangar every month as our meetings place their generosity does not go unnoticed.

The Aero Club has a promotion going on. Once again the offer waives your first 3 months of dues so that all you pay for the first three months is your flight time. In addition, your initiation fee will not be due until the end of the 3 months which gives you plenty of time to decide if you want to join the group.

Check out our website at www.pmlaeroclub.comor call Dennis Smith at 962-4950.

July 8, 2019

By Catherine Santa Maria 

The PML Aero Club is 10 years old this year. The time has sure passed quickly and we are proud to announce that we have now fully funded our engine replacement fund and have had many students obtain their private pilot’s license since we started the LLC back in 2009. We make flying affordable for many with our dues still holding at $125.00 per month and our rental fee at $85.00 per hour wet. 

We have a fully paid off Cessna 172M Skyhawk with 180HP engine. In addition, we have Certified Flight Instructors who can teach you how to learn to Fly and Certified Maintenance Members who keep our aircraft in tip-top shape. Discover the fun of flight, the beauty of the area, life in three dimensions, new places to go and meet new flying friends. 

This year we are offering a 3 month waiver of the monthly dues so if you are interested in becoming a Pilot then this is the Club for you! Contact our President, Dennis Smith @ 962-4950 or Jim Goodrich @ 962-4660 or visit our website at pmlaeroclub.com for more information. We meet on the first Saturday of the month at 10:30AM at the Jobe hangar. 

August 2018

May 6, 2018

July 2012

By Catherine Santa Maria

The Aero Club has been very busy over the last few months. We welcomed our new member Steve McCorkle who officially joined in April. Steve took advantage of our club's 3 month introductory offer.  The Aero Club still has this promotion going on. Once again the offer waives your first 3 months of dues so that all you pay for the first three months is your flight time. In addition, your initiation fee will not be due until the end of the 3 months which gives you plenty of time to decide if you want to join the group.

The first weekend in May, The Aero Club helped support the EAA Young Eagles Fly in held at Columbia Airport. According to Michael Thoeben, Chapter President our support made a big difference and helped the EAA make the event successful. The group was able to fly about 35 Young Eagles. In addition, out of the 35 young eagles  15 were also Boy Scouts who were working on obtaining their Aviation Merit Badges. According to Michael the enthusiasm was terrific at the entire event.  A big thank you to Bob Hornauer for being the pilot for the day.

October 2011

By Catherine Santa Maria

 July and August were busy fly months for the AERO club members. Some of us logged in over 10 hours in one month. I have been doing lots of solo flying and even completed a solo cross country trip to Tracy. Jim Goodrich took a trip up to Portland and did some glider flying and Rick, Danielle and Janet and myself have been doing lots of training. Bob has been keeping the plane operating safely so that we can all enjoy the thrill of flying.

 Larry Jobe prepared a booklet which is named “Path to a Private Pilot Certificate” that will be available on airport day at his booth however the information was so good that I asked him to send me a copy and he did. Listed below is some information from his document that is very interesting especially if you have a desire to become a private pilot: 

 ·     Learning to fly is a complex task that takes practice and time. While you can legally get your certificate within 40 hours of flight time that is rarely done. The older you are the longer it will take you. (Boy, I sure know about that). Motor skills we use in driving a car do not transfer over to flying and in fact become an impediment at times. Thus if you have been driving for forty years it will be harder for you to re-train your motor skills to fly a plane. A young person who has just started driving doesn’t have the problem of overcoming their years of driving and they usually adapt right away. So as a general rule of thumb for every year you are over 18 add an hour of flight time to the 40 hours. 60 years old equals 82 hours flight time (40+42). Nationwide average is reported as 80 hours of flight time. Figure about four hours of ground time for every hour spent in the air.

 ·     You need to physically fly the plane plus learn about weather, flight rules, aerodynamics, navigation, communications, air traffic control and aircraft systems. There are ground schools for this as well as self study courses. You also have to pass a physical exam administered by an FAA physician.

·     Costs are the big variable in the equation. Aircraft rental rates vary widely as does the cost of an individual instructor. Ground school and course material usually runs about $200 to $400 plus you need to get a good noise canceling headset such as “Lightspeed” which Larry highly recommends. It will cost between $500 and $900 depending on the model and vendor. Flight time times the hourly cost of the plane and instructor will be the biggest portion of your cost and there is no way to predict how much time this will entail.

 ·     General aviation and “those little airplanes” as some many call them, are as safe as any other mode of travel, if not safer. Flying is as safe as each individual chooses to make it. How to fly safely and deal with the extremely rare occurrence of an actual emergency is a top priority in your training.

 Well, the entire article is not printed above however, if you would like more information on the “Path to a Private Pilot” contact Larry Jobe at his real estate office at 962-5501or if you are interested in joining the Aero Club please contact Dennis Smith at 962-4950.

June 9, 2011

By Catherine Santa Maria

 The first part of this month our plane is grounded while going through the annual process. Bob Hornauer our maintenance officer is heading up the annual and has everyone in the club working to get the annual completed so that we can all get back to flying.

 Mike Gustafson is another one of our Certified Flight Instructors and we are featuring Mike in this month’s article. See Mike’s bio below:

 Mike grew up in Tucson, Arizona and says he loves the heat and is not really comfortable until the temperature is over 90 degrees. After college, Mike moved to the Silicon Valley and worked there his whole adult life. He specialized in small start-up companies and his technical specialty was RF and microwave engineering.

 Mike always wanted to fly and he learned as soon as he could afford lessons in the late 1960s. His first airplane was an Interstate Cadet tail dragger where he learned why airplanes have a rudder. He worked his way through a few different types of airplanes finally settling on a 1973 Cherokee 140. He bought the 140 knowing that he intended to keep it forever and to modify the plane in some very major ways, converting it to an 180HP engine with a constant speed propeller, speed mods, rear windows and baggage door. Each step he took with “525” was and still is a labor of  love.

 His bucket list included building his own airplane so for 6 years he worked on a Van’s RV-7 tail dragger. It is aerobatic and goes like greased lighting. He is very happy with the way it turned out.

 Along the way Mike got his Certified Flight Instructor’s rating in single and multi-engine aircraft, Advanced Ground Instructor, and Airline Transport Pilot ratings. In addition, to private and instrument students, he also taught ground school at Foothill and San Mateo colleges and recently completed a class for student pilots at  Pine Mountain Lake.

 After retirement he spent a few years working for Vern Miller Aviation in San Jose to qualify for his Aircraft and Power plant ratings.

 When Mike is not at the airport, he likes to spend time on Virginia’s and his boat (Pilot’s Lounge). He also likes to help out at Camp Tuolumne Trails, Brainy Groveland, Friends of the Lake and in various roles with the PML homeowners association. 

 Thanks Mike for sharing your bio with us and ,by the way, Mike was my ground school instructor and guess what I passed my FAA exam on June 7, 2011 and currently Mike is my flight instructor and never lets me get away with anything. With his help I hope to achieve my dream of obtaining my private pilot’s license.

 We have a new member that joined our club in June. Welcome Janet Gregory to the PML Aero Club. Janet is a student pilot working on obtaining her pilot license.

May 9, 2011

By Catherine Santa Maria

The Aero Club met on May 7, 2011 at the hangar of Larry Jobe. Each month Larry let’s the club use his hangar to meet which is very generous of him and Nina. We all appreciate Larry and Nina’s generosity.

 Larry Jobe is one of our CFIs (Certified Flight Instructor). We are featuring Larry in this month’s article. See Larry’s Bio below:

 Larry began flight instruction in 1966 as a Certified Flight Instructor Airplanes and Instruments (CIFI or CFII). Van Nuys was his first home field and at the time it was the third busiest airport in the world including commercial airports. Although he had an instrument instructor rating he didn’t enjoy instrument instruction so he focused on primary students and his best friend, Al Cordle, did all of the instrument students. He gave instruction in both single and multi engine land airplanes.

 Larry went to work for Cable Commuter Airline in 1968 and flew Twin Otters for about 500 hours. He then went on to United Airlines in 1969 and flew almost everything they had: Boeing 727, 737, 747,757, 767, 777 and Douglas DC-8 and DC-10. He retired in 2001 flying the Boeing 747-400 all over the world. He is rated as an ATP in Airplane Single & Multi-engine Land B-737, B747-4, B757, B767 and B-777. He went to 26 separate schools with United and did more check rides. And he says “Yes, I still don’t like check rides”.

 In early 1970 Larry was chief pilot for a flying club based at Dulles International Airport in Washington,DC. They had a fleet of about 20 planes consisting of most singles to several multi-engines planes. They also operated a part 135 operation.

 While Larry was in Washington, DC he helped start the first Boy Scout Eagle Aviation Troop. He earned the money for and bought the trainer, a Cessna 150, and gave the boys instruction in it. A couple of the young men are flying for airlines today.

 In late 1970 and early 1980 Larry instructed out of the largest flying club based at Livermore Airport, the Valley Pilots.

 In 1984 Larry and Nina moved to Pine Mountain Lake where he taught many of the wives and some of the children of their neighbors to fly.

 Larry has flown about 21,000 hours of which over 4,000 hours is flight instruction.

 Larry says that flying for him is not a vocation or an avocation but an obsession.

 Wow, thanks Larry for sharing.

March 2011

By Catherine Santa Maria

Yesterday I had a short cross country over to Calaveras County airport with my flight instructor. I prepared a  flight plan called Flight Service and got a very nice man that walked me through my first call to a Flight Service Station. We took off around 10:30AM and headed toward Calaveras and with my flight plan on my lap was able to keep my heading and actually find the airport. Made my landing and went over to the pilot’s lounge where there was a woman at the radio and she said “Was that you that landed?” I said yes and she said “Wow what a beautiful short field landing”. As you can imagine that comment made my day.

This month we are highlighting Joe Riley one of our new members. Joe has a military background with the US Army. While serving in the army he was a chief warrant officer, a helicopter and fixed wing command pilot, flight instructor, instrument flight instructor and a combat veteran. Ask him sometime about his helicopter experiences in Vietnam.

Joe is a retired mechanical engineer/business manager. Joe used his commercial pilot’s license and his Piper Cub to successfully conduct business regionally for more than 40 years.

Joe is co-owner of The Cub Inn which opened in April 2009. This business was a life-long dream of Joe’s and his wife Charleen who is also a member of the Aero Club. Their dream was to build a log cabin and turn it into a Bed & Breakfast. But they wanted to offer something unique-not just your typical B&B! Their mission was to create an informal atmosphere in which their guests would feel comfortable enough to put their feet on the furniture-as if they were in their own home, and take in the beautiful nature and peacefulness that surrounds their three-acre setting.

Thank you for sharing your story with us Joe!

January 2011

By Catherine Santa Maria

On November 30, 2010 on a beautiful morning at our very own Pine Mountain Lake Airport I did my very first Solo Flight. I cannot ever thank my flight instructor, Mike Gustafson, for his encouragement and belief in me. Mike will be teaching a ground school class and two of us are already signed up so if you are interested in taking the course either as a new  student pilot or are currently a pilot and would like a refresher course give Mike a call at 962-6336. The course is starting in January and will run for six weeks.

Charleen Sue Beamone of our new members gave us her aviation bio. See her story below: 

“I’ve had a thing for all things aviation for as long as I can remember.  An old boyfriend bought me my first 10 flying lessons, and then he said I was on my own for the rest.  Since I was obviously already addicted, I had to find a way.  I joined the local EAA chapter in Long Beach so I could have folks to talk to about this passion and quickly became secretary and newsletter editor. 

One day while hanging around Torrance Airport (it’s always a good thing to be a girl at an airport); I got the opportunity to fly in a Piper Cub.  The rest is history.  That was the most wonderful experience on the planet.  That gentle, yellow soul winging over the cliffs of Palos Verdes transformed me. It was heaven.  I had to have one of those little yellow airplanes of my own. In the fall of 1994, after many thousands of dollars and several instructors later, I had my private pilot’s license.   

Since the second best thing to actually flying for a living is talking about flying for a living, I hustled up a job at Aircraft Spruce and Specialty as a sales rep.  It was the best job I ever had…who else actually gets paid to meet and talk about their favorite subject with aviation legends like Scott Crossfield, Dick and Burt Rutan, Ray Stits, Patty Wagstaff, Jon Sharp and even our own Wayne Handley himself?  WOW!  

I even met my husband, Joe, at an air show while I was working in the booth selling parts for Aircraft Spruce.  We subsequently built a Wag Aero Cubby and painted it olive drab with Army Air Corp markings so we could get a cool parking space when we took it to air shows. Eventually we came upon a wonderful little yellow 1941 Piper Cub at our local airport.  One ride in that angel, and I was hooked, and this little dream-come-true came home with us.  That little treasure was with us for more than 5 years.  Did you know that it takes only 5-1/2 hours to fly a Cub from here to Corona?  

Well, The rest of the story most of you already know.  We opened The Cub Inn Bed & Breakfast (note significance of the name) in 2009 and since opening, we have had many, many pilots fly in to visit us.  Joe and I miss our Cub which was sold in 2009, but we’re reviving our addiction with membership in the PML Aero Club.  We both look forward to new flying adventures in the skies above the beautiful Sierra Nevada”.

Thanks Charleen for sharing your story with all of us and once again welcome to the PML Aero Club.