High Marks for Aviation: Then, Now, Next

Friday, 29 March 2013 20:38

Rain poured from a sky people hoped would be peppered with planes taking off and landing instead.  It was the kind of morning to stay home. Yet exciting things were happening at Ben Epps Airport that rainy Saturday morning of March 23, and nearly 200 visitors came to join in.

Grandchildren of Ben T. Epps, Georgia's first aviator and native Athenian, explained to visitors why Epps' contributions to early aviation were on the par with those of the Wright Brothers. His youngest son, Pat Epps, excited audiences with tales of his own illustrious aviation career.  Overhead a replica of one of Ben Epps' early flying machines, fashioned with bicycle wheels and a buggy seat, reminded visitors of how far aviation had come in a century, as well as how daring Ben Epps must have been to ride in that early "flying machine."

Outside, at least by noon when the rain stopped, there were a number of small, colorful, unique, handcrafted aircraft belonging to members of the Experimental Aircraft Association as well as a larger Civil Air Patrol plane that kids climbed into and pretended they were flying.

Next door, in the Fire and Rescue Center, was the fire and rescue truck with tires that were about four feet high. The Airport's fire and rescue squad were on hand to tell about its features and some lucky little ones were put in the driver's seat.

Mark Lareau brought in the Civil Air Patrol Cadets. Dressed in uniform they assisted the event in many ways. Simply their mere presence added to the interest of the day.

Tim Beggerly, airport manager, presented a slide show about the future of aviation in Athens.  He discussed the terminal expansion, passed as a SPLOST project. He also addressed the impending closing of the control tower.

Ah, the control tower: Ben Epps Airport tower is slated to close with the new budget year. Thanks to EAA member Dennis Arford's determination to get as many people up in the tower as wanted to go, about 140 visitors made the climb to the top. Report was that the controllers had as much fun as the visitors in what all hoped were not the last visits ever.

The commercial terminal buzzed with children all day as they crafted fanciful cloth windsocks, colored in specially made activity books, put together balsa wood planes, and of course, folded paper airplanes. The latter were "launched" in the passenger terminal.

While all this was going on at the airport, some event visitors went to the Athens Library on Baxter Street to learn about another piece of Athens aviation history. The Wold's Smallest Airport: The True Story of the Thrasher Brothers Aerial Circus is a film that showcased the daredevil circus created by two WWII pilot brothers who came home from the war full of confidence and love for aviation. Stitching together newsreels, home movies, photos and music from the 40's to create the film, Grady Thrasher, son of one of the Thrasher brothers and Matt DeGennardo, co writer and producer, preserved an exciting piece of aviation history, that just happens to be local. Executive producer Grady along with his wife Kathy Prescott, generously donated a copy of the DVD to the library so that people who stayed home that rainy day, or could not come for other reasons, can watch this highly entertaining and informative film in the future.

'What's Up' March 23 &24

Thursday, 21 March 2013 11:45

March 23 - Athens Aviation: Then, Now, Next. An all ages two part free event including exciting activities at Ben Epps Airport, 1010 Ben Epps Dr., and the screening of "The World's Smallest Airport: The True Story of the Thrasher Brother's Aerial Circus, 1945 - 1950, at the Athens Library, 2025 Baxter St. Tickets are all but gone to the Airport part of the event, but our newly renovated auditorium has plenty of new, comfortable seats for you to come see the film at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Don't miss this entertaining film of aviation history. Walk-ins at the movie are welcome.

March 24 - Encore Screening of Athens Revisited. Our friends at the Athens Historical Society are sponsoring a second screening of the new original short film Athens Revisited on Sunday, March 24 at 3 p.m. at the Georgia Museum of Art. The film imagines an interview with nineteenth-century doctors Edward Ware and Edward Lyndon at the historic home they each once occupied on 293 Hoyt Street.  There will be a presentation and question and answer session following the screening by Austin and some of the film's principles.  This event is free and open to the public. For more information, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 706-248-6898.