The Travis AFB Aero Club is the first, the only, and the longest running Flying Club in Solano County. The Travis AFB Aero Club was chartered in December of 1954 as a Strategic Air Command Aero Club and started operations at the Vaca-Dixon Airport in February of 1955, providing quality flight training to all GI’s and their families of Travis AFB.

 

In July of 1956, the Travis AFB Aero Club started construction of the Travis Sky Park (later renamed Travis Aero Club), located on the outskirts of Travis AFB. On July 27th, 1957, the Sky Park was dedicated. The facilities consisted of two Quonset huts, and the ramp consisted of old PSP matting used in the South Pacific as temporary airfields. The runways consisted of a 2000 foot asphalt strip with a parallel taxiway and a 1800 foot grass crosswind strip. Over the years the Aero Club had upgrades around the facility including a new asphalt ramp and a new office and hangar.

 

The Travis AFB Aero Club has primarily operated with Piper Aircraft and was at one time a Piper Flite Center, training with Piper Cherokee 140, including purchasing the very first Piper Fliteliner, N140FL. During the Aero Club’s hey day during the 1980’s when aviation was booming, the Aero Club consisted of over 20 aircraft ranging from Piper’s, Cessna’s, Mooney’s and Grumman aircraft.

 

In 2006, due to housing encroachment, the Aero Club was gifted $3.1 million dollars from K. Hovnanian to relocate. The Travis AFB Aero Club relocated to Rio Vista Airport and used the money to acquire a new Piper Fleet with Avidyne Glass Cockpits and air conditioning, and brand new 15,000 square foot hangar. Travis Aero Club continues to provide quality flight training to GI’s and their families and civilians from the local communities.

A circa 1957 aerial view of the new Travis Sky Park.

A 1965 aerial view of the Travis Sky Park showed several light planes & several Quonset huts.

A 2005 aerial view depicted the Travis Aero Club Airport as having a total of 15 light aircraft visible on the field.

A circa 2004-2005 aerial view looking north at the Travis Aero Club ramp.

Biography of Tom Crull one of our former instructors.

Newspaper clippings from 1955 to 1957 of the Aero Club.