An absolutely fantastic memory of the airport! I was there a little after you when I was hired in 1978 as a flight instructor. I don’t remember Wilber Stokes. In fact, when I started, there were no other instructors except a few came out on rare occasion. Sue Rankellior (sp?) was one I remember. I remember Bob Stovall and Herold flying an abandoned (drug runner) Convair off a levee down around Okeechobee, bringing it to Kissimmee for the sheriff’s office. Mechanics Freddy Somma and Hal Cordy were obviously gone and had been replace by Gerry Deitz when I arrived in ‘78. While I knew the business name was Mickey’s Air Service (in honor of Herald’s son), I did not know it was originally called Highland Wall Air Sales. Thank you for that nugget of history! I do remember Dave Pearlman. I believe he leased a C-182 to MAC as I flew it often. I watched with a degree of melancholy as the airport was slowly erased by development. Just glad I had the foresight to go out and videotape the premises before it was gone forever. I was a young man when my aviation career began, and the Maguire airport help to mold me into what I am today. I’ve lived in North Carolina for 25-years and when I hang up my headset for the last time, it will most likely be here. I couldn’t agree more about the people and times at Maguire. Great people and great times without a doubt. Thank you sir, for sharing this!

Probably saw you there! I was there from 79' to 80'. The instructor you remember was likely Susan Rankelior (sp?) She was leaving around the time I was coming in.

Flyin Brian Yes that was her, in my logbook it just had her first initial and last name. I'm sorry to see that X30 is gone, it was such a neat little airstrip. My Stinson was dark blue with a wide white stripe going down the side. the paint had been stripped of the cowling in prep for painting. It is still flying, the current owner is in Texas.

Glad you enjoyed and thanks for watching!!

Very glad this had some meaning to you and thank you for your comment!

Thanks for watching!

This was a small grass airport located 12 nm west of the ORL vortac. You must have been at MCO around the time the Air Force was turning the base over to the city.

@@FlynBrian I took my flight training there, in '71 or '72. My flight instructor was an Air Force hotshot fighter pilot, who had previously taught the Laotian AF recruits to fly, in WWII surplus AT-6's. Had gun camera video of a dogfight with a MIG he shot down (speed's no match for maneuverability and training). He bought an AT-6 while I was taking the lessons and let an inexperienced pilot take her up. She tore the wing off on an orange tree. What a great time, in my life! Lessons were only $30 each, including Cessna 150 rental, supposedly for a half-hour, but Mr. Maguire never paid much attention to the clock. I remember the first time my instructor turned the ship over to me, for a landing. That 2400ft strip looked like a postage stamp, from 5000ft! I thought sure I was either going to clip an orange tree or fail to stop before running into the ones at the end of the runway! Thanks, for posting!