Flying virtually under the radar for nearly 50 years, the McKean
County Aviation Association is hoping new members will help the
organization take off into the future.

The association, closely associated with Bradford Regional
Airport, has been in existence since 1958, according to one of its
founders, Ray Lewis.

The group has done numerous good deeds for the airport,
including adopting the airport, painting hangars, buying furniture
for the pilot’s lounge, purchasing a new television unit for the
airport conference room, building and maintaining the pavilion,
which is open to the public, and sponsoring annual “fly-in days” at
the airport.

“I am about the only one of the founding fathers that is still
around,” Lewis, who is also a pilot, said. “We only had a handful
of people when we started.”

Currently, association secretary Debra Vossler said there are
nearly 30 members in the group.

Officials said, like all social groups, some members have gotten
older and others aren’t as involved in doing projects as they could
be.

“People today are different than they were years ago,” Lewis
said. “They really don’t seem to want to do anything now. We’d like
to get more people that are active. We prefer to have people
interested in aviation, but others can join.”

Lewis said the association was actually formed at the former
Harri Emery Airport on what would be the site of the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford campus.

“We formed it to basically promote general aviation and help to
keep (aviation) affordable,” Lewis said. “We were interested in
helping each other. We are now looking for the next generation to
take over.”

According to Lewis, who now serves as the association’s advisor,
the group who founded McKean Aviation never dreamed of the growth
at the airport, which has led it to become one of the brightest
spots in the county and on the fast track for additional growth in
the future.

“I don’t think we ever envisioned the way the airport is now,”
Lewis said, adding he believes the proposed Pennsylvania National
Guard armory on airport grounds will do a lot to spur additional
development. “Naturally, the water and sewage is a great asset to
the airport. I believe it will make a world of difference.”

Officials said the association holds meetings every second
Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the airport. Newly-elected
officers include Larry Kissel as president; John Hayduk as vice
president; Merle Johnson as treasurer; and Vossler as secretary.
New members are encouraged to join.