David C. Groff

WVFF - The Early Days

by David Groff

            The forces that brought our club together began in 1975 when I rode my motorcycle to Henry Upton’s farm (I still do that occasionally) to watch the hang gliders fly off the hill.  I was already a licensed pilot but was always interested in less expensive flight.  I met John Upton and many other hang glider pilots and enjoyed watching those primitive Rogallo kites dive down the hill.  I swore that I would do that some day.  In 1978, I went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and took a couple of hang gliding lessons from Ron Kisow (Ron later died in a hang glider accident), a dealer who had flown at Upton’s farm.  From him, I purchased a Quicksilver weight-shift glider and mounted a 10 hp Chrysler engine (Soarmaster power unit) and a set of bicycle wheels on it.  Quicksilver only produced weight shift gliders then.  Though my first flights were at Newlan field, it didn’t take me long to take the machine to Upton’s field.  I learned that John Upton had built an Easy Riser biplane hang glider with a Chrysler engine on it and I wanted us to fly together.  That may be the first time that two powered hang gliders got together in the state of WV.  Also, a fellow named Dave Higginbotham from Leon, WV was starting to fly a kite with a 10 hp engine (Soarmaster) actually mounted on the root tube of the glider.  He controlled the throttle with his mouth and had to get off the throttle every time the thing went into a dive.  Otherwise, it would have dove all the way to the ground.  Dangerous!  I can’t tell you who the first ultralight flyer in WV was, but it could have been Dave, John or me. 

            Later, that year, I went to Oshkosh and picked up a dealership with Advanced Aviation (then Lafayette Aviation).  I started selling Hi-Nuskis which looked like Quicksilvers.  Later, I got dealerships with Pterodactyl, CGS, and Teratorn.  Things really started taking off and I got really busy selling ultralights and giving instruction.  My instruction consisted of letting people play with a weight shift on the ground until they could fly it straight down the runway a few feet off the ground.  They could eventually fly high enough to make turns.  This was a little dangerous and there were minor mishaps, but fortunately, nobody got killed.  One of my first students was Chuck Lewis.  Chuck is an ex-military pilot with tons of hours.  He impresses me with his flying skill.  I had a chance to ride in his Starduster once and he turned it every way but loose.  Yet, Chuck came to me to learn how to fly an ultralight which shows what kind of guy he is.  Incidentally, he was a good student in the weight-shift machine while most high time airplane pilots are not. 

            In 1983, I took delivery of my King Cobra, built it, licensed it, and began giving instruction at Upton’s field.  I taught E. J. Wilson, Captain Rogers, and lots of others how to fly.  I believe that it was in 1984 that I decided to call everyone in the state that I knew that had ultralights and invite them to a fly-in.  The Uptons and others at the field thought that it would be a great idea.  We had a nice turnout and a good time was had by everyone. 

            Someone mentioned that we should form a club.  I believe that it may have been a hang glider-trike pilot from Huntington, Harry Lucas.  Lots of people agreed and the club was born.  Since I had organized the gathering, I was elected to be the first Club President, Rick Johnson was Treasurer, Curtis Pack was the Secretary and published the first newsletter.  I can’t remember who the Vice President was, but it may have been John Upton.  Chuck Lewis was our safety inspector and holds this title today.  Later, I started writing the newsletters when Curtis got too busy to continue.  Our logo was designed by Rick Johnson.  I was a little concerned that we might get into trouble with WVU (it looks a little like their logo) if the wrong person saw it, but I let it fly anyway.  Rick is also responsible for our affiliation with USUA.  Chuck Lewis came up with the name WV Fun Flyers.  We liked it because we wanted the club to be open to all kinds of pilots, no matter what they flew.  Actually, our club is open to all. 

            Our second president was E. J. Wilson and I believe that Blair Ellison was the third.  I have, sort of, lost touch since 1988 when I got between jobs and sold my airplanes.  My Aeronca Champ went to a guy in North Carolina, my Stinson Voyager went to Kentucky and I sold the King Cobra to Captain Rogers.  By the time I could afford another plane, it seems that the prices doubled.  Also, illness has had a drastic effect on me, but I am thinking about building something again.  Anyway, much thanks to Roger Boothe for the use of his Quicksilver Sprint II to train flyers, and many others including Captain Rogers, I get to fly all that I want. 

            I want to mention that starting the club was easy.  The actual success of the club is due to all those people who wrote newsletters.  We have been fortunate that someone has been willing to pick up this task and run with it.  No newsletter = no club.  Also, WV Fun Flyers are the friendliest people in the world.  When club members eagerly help strangers learn about flying, give assistance to beginners, and try to keep flying as safe as possible, growth is bound to occur.  I am proud to say that I had something to do with WVFF’s beginning.