BETHALTO - It’s been almost six months in the making, but the Piasa Flyers are ready for Take Off. Members of the club are now proud owners of a 1968 Piper Cherokee 180D. The plane has low hours, is in good shape and should be a great first plane for the club, said member Don Hill. “It has a 180 HP engine that is capable of flying cross country at 145 miles an hour and still meets the needs of a trainer aircraft.” The plane was purchased from a private seller in Baltimore, Maryland, and flown back to the St. Louis Regional Airport by member Rob Kurtz this past Monday. The Search Committee, formed about a month ago, included Joe Rather, John Hentrich, Rob Kurtz, Paul Malcharek, Ron Jones, Vance Stutz and President Cody Peckham. “I think we got pretty lucky,” said John Hentrich, treasurer of the organization. “Buying a 55-year-old plane located halfway across the country with no real experience was both tricky and a little stressful. None
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