Messenger employee takes to the skies

Pilots of the T-34 Association enjoyed  lunch at the Carroll County Airport Restaurant on Friday, Sept. 6. 

The group was preparing for the weekend to do memorial flyovers including a flyover salute during the Cleveland Browns game Sept. 8 after the national anthem. 

The group is based out of Akron-Canton airport and pilots are from Ohio, Kentucky, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Indiana, Florida, Texas, California, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Many members are former Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines veterans and ages range from 24-82 years of age.

The group offered to take Messenger Sales Director Connie Jenkins for a ride in a T-34. 

“It was so exciting,” Jenkins said, after returning to the ground. I was a second pilot. There was actually a joy stick to control the plane, but they instructed me not to touch anything!” she added with a laugh.  

According to their website, t-34.com, “the T-34 Association was formed in July 1975 so that individuals purchasing then military surplus T-34As had an organization which would provide support for these aircraft. The idea was to share operating and maintenance information to all members. The organization was formed by Charlie Nogle, Earl Parks and Bob Morris.”