On several occasions Vernon’s air strip has been used for emergency landings. In 1976 a plane, flying between Charlottetown and Moncton, had to land because of loss of oil pressure. In 1970 two spray planes, brought in by Gallagher’s Spraying Service, landed about ten o’clock at night because of fog at both Summerside and Charlottetown airports. The pilots were certainly relieved when they were safely down without damage to their planes or injury to themselves.

George Kohout was another young chap who was air—minded and looked forward to the time when he could be flying. George started flying lessons with the Island Flying Service. He continued his training with Air Atlantic in Halifax where he received his pilot’s license in August, 1965. George received his Commercial Pilot’s license in Sep tember, 1966, and worked with Air Atlantic until January, 1968, when he joined Roberts Flying Service in Charlottetown. George flew the mail between Amherst Island and Entry Island which form part of the Magdalen Islands. On June 20,1972, he started with Air Halifax flying mail and supplies to Sable Island where oil had been discovered. George now flies for NB Telephone. Of all those who took up flying, George is the only one who has made it his career.

Robert Muttart was one of the last residents to received his pilot’s license in 1972.

Roger Lord and his wife, Donna, flew their plane to Prince Edward Island in 1990 to visit friends and relatives. Their plane crashed while taking off from an airstrip in Albany on the first leg of their flight back to Ontario. The plane was damaged beyond repair and both Roger and Donna were injured, but not seriously.

Another plane crash occurred in 1969 when a small plane piloted by Eric Corbett and his son ran out of fuel. The plane fell like a rock from about ten feet above the ground into Robert Muttart’s field behind Gerald Dixon’s house. The men were returning from the eastern part of the Island. Mr. Corbett suffered broken vertebrae but recovered and is flying again.

Everyone is now accustomed to seeing fixed wing air craft and helicopters flying over as a matter of course. Commercial and private planes are increasing in number every year, but seldom do they attract a second look. During the summer months it is common to see Vernon Inman up for a flip or sometimes doing a few stunts. It is apparent that he really enjoys the time he spends flying. Then one turns once more to whatever one has been doing, and what was a novelty a few years ago is now taken as an every day occurrence.

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