Mentone Airport Offers More Than Flying

MENTONE - There's more than flying going on at Mentone Airport.

"We have a lot more to offer than a place for an airplane to land," said Jennifer Gillmore.

The airport offers flight instruction, a camping area and a small museum on rotorcrafts and gyroplanes. Flight instructor Duane Hunn Sr. said there are 104 camp sites, a bathroom and a full kitchen area.

"If you tell someone to go fly a kite," said museum curator Rufus Howard, "they can do it."

Hunn said they want people to bring their activities out to the Mentone Airport, and they don't necessarily have to be flight-related. Clubs can meet there, schools can visit and families can have their reunions.

"It's big, it's open," said Hunn.

The airport has a public address system, electric hook-ups and "Boy Scouts can come out and do camping," he said.

There are "small" fees for using the airport, Hunn said, but the airport can be used by non-profit organizations.

Last year, Gillmore said they had re-enactors at the airport.

"We've even had fireworks here," said Hunn.

LaDonna Nicklaus, president of Sycamore Sam Chapter 13, said, "I love it out here. It's nice, quiet and you can play games."

The airport is 56 acres, with a runway 2,500 feet long by 40 feet wide. Gillmore said the airport is privately owned, but is a public use airport. Hunn said the airport's identification number is C92 and frequency is 122.9.

Gillmore said the airport is owned by Popular Rotorcraft Association. Founded in 1962, the association bought the airport in 1995. They have their annual convention at the airport. This year, about six countries were represented at the convention.

Gyroplanes are common at the airport. Hunn said a helicopter can hover, a gyroplane can't and has to go forward. A helicopter has power to its blades, a gyroplane is wind-driven. Dr. Igor Bensen found out how to make gyroplanes fly without being pulled.

"It has evolved tremendously over the years," said Hunn.

"It's a very safe machine. I've been flying for over 20 years and I can't get enough," said Hunn.

Bensen also founded the association, starting it as a newsletter to customers.

The museum is the Archimedes Rotocraft and Vistol Museum. It features Bensen's work plus gyroplanes donated by club members.

For more information about the Mentone Airport, call 574-353-7227. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On the Net: Popular Rotocraft Association, www.pra.org