Flew to Indianapolis Thursday to attend the joint meeting of the private and commercial flying councils of the state. These two groups, 11 men in each, act in an advisory capacity to the state aeronautic commission.

Pilots and operators should be familiar with the working of this state council, for it is the legislative and policy-sounding board for the aviation industry in Indiana.

I guess I am hereafter the servant of the pilots in "District Two," St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall and Fulton counties. We tried to express your ideas to the aeronautic commission and attempt to head-off legislation and policies we think you don't like. To do that intelligently, the members of this council must hear from you--on any and every subject related to flying--your pet schemes, dreams and gripes.

Thursday's meeting was organizational, mostly--although the councils did turn thumbs down on a suggestion that the bi-annual physical examinations for pilots be change. It was our feeling that once every two years is often enough, but not a bit too often. We like the regulation as it is. Do you?

As is usually the case when you stick your neck out, I secured another job. The private council elected officers for 1948. Staley Thorpe, fiery corporation counselor from Hammond, as president of the council; genial Bill Renshaw, titular head of the Flying Farmers --well-known throughout the middle west--is vice president, and some unknown pilot from Warsaw, Bill Mollenhour, is secretary. The best part of the secretary's job is that you don't have to do anything. The obliging fellows from Col. Cornish's office, do the actual preparing of minutes, mailing, etc.

On the commercial side of the picture, the council is headed by Harry McQuinn, Cessna dealer of Indianapolis; Bill Dorr, operator of Evansville, who used to instruct army students with Joe Carlin in Florida, vice -president; and Nick Jankovich , the commercial operator from Gary, secretary.

There are lots of important questions facing operators and pilots alike in the coming year--a year before a legislative session. Those of us in District Two will get together one of these fine days and determine what we want from the powers that be in aviation--and how best to get it.

By the way, reserve the Fourth of July on your calendar for a big state-wide flying party, to be held all day at Bunker Hill. It's part of National Air Tour Week observation. There will be more details of the council meeting for you to chew over later.

Bill Simons, that bubbling bald-eagle, prize possession of Mabel Byer, telephones great news from long distance, Bill, now a naval pilot, has been assigned to the west coast, flying the new navy jet-job--fastest thing on wings. Two months he spreads in Memphis getting orientated in this supership.

Municipal airport now has four hangars and a closed-in shop complete. They are all-aluminum Two additional hangar units were destroyed in the recent wind-storm as they neared completion.

Most fields are fit to fly on now. They are solid again.

A "front" moving this way from Des Moines will probably make Saturday a little on the rough side as far as weather goes, but conditions should be improved by Sunday.

Here's the dope: if that front moves through here before Sunday, then we can expect a couple nice days. If it doesn't, we'll be in the soup. Watch its progress. I think you can fly or picnic by Sunday.

Warsaw Daily Times Fri. Mar. 26, 1948