Former International Cessna 170 Association President, United States Air Force Veteran George Mock, 91, of Anderson, Indiana was among the more than 20 Cessna pilots at the 54th Annual Convention of the International Cessna 170 Association Open House yesterday at Sanderson Field Airport in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. for the first time since the association's 1969 initiation.
"I have been a member since then," Mock said. "I wanted to learn how to fly."
After years of sacrifice and hard work, his dreams of soaring through the air had finally come true.
"I worked at a factory after high school graduation," he said. "Everyone was getting drafted into the US Army, so I went into the Air Force for four years. I was a jet mechanic."
Mock served in South Korea from 1952 to '56 during the Vietnam War. Afterward, he used his GI Bill to pay for college at Ball State University. Life was falling into place. However, the desire to fly a plane of his own still weighed heavy on his heart.
"I bought my first plane in '65," Mock said. "I got my private flying license and a commercial license. I fly a 1955 Cessna 170."
Cessna air crafts are generally defined as small, single-engine planes. They are known for being easy to fly and maintain.
Mock had never flown up to the Sault before, and said it was a wonderful experience. He was accompanied by his wife and two daughters, who spent the day shopping downtown. Mock was also able to visit the Soo Locks aboard Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours.
Brother of the sky Miles Bowen co-hosted this year's convention in the Sault with his wife, Karen.
"It is our first time in the Upper Peninsula," Bowen said. "We have been to 40 different states now."
The next stop for the Convention of the International Cessna 170 Association is EAA AirVenture Oshkos, which will be swarming with Air Force F-15s, F-22s
and other military aircraft from Monday, July 24 through Sunday, July 30.
The International Cessna 170 Association includes more than 1034 members, owning a grand total of 821 Cessna 170s.
The 54th Annual Convention of the International Cessna 170 Association Open House in Sault Ste. Marie was free and open to the public. The Cessna planes will be at Sanderson Field Airport until Friday, July 21.
