In the early 70s, a group of retired naval aviators got together with the goal of making flying, the hobby they had a passion for, accessible to all Sailors. The end product of this meeting of the minds is the Navy Flying Club, located at the end Charles Porter Avenue.

The club has a long history, and for over 30 years, has thrived independently of base finances.

“We don’t receive any subsidies from the Navy. We’re entirely self-financed, funded by club membership; without our members, we don’t exist,” explained retired Lt. Cmdr. John Humphries, manager of the Navy Flying Club.

Autonomy, then, is a bit of a misnomer at the Navy Flying Club. Despite its independent status, the club is truly dependent upon the Naval Air Station. The club is nonexistent without its mostly military members and works right alongside the community that surrounds it.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first arrived in this position, but every time I picked up the phone, whether to base ops, (NAS) environmental, (NAS) security, club members, MWR, (NAS) supply or the board of directors, I was greeted with a sense of willingness to assist,” Humphries added. “This club has great working relationships with everyone it reports to.”

The club receives use of the facilities it operates from, runway utilization, air space, air traffic control direction and many other sources of logistical assistance from NAS. That reciprocal relationship is vital to the club’s survival.

“From the CO on down, we get a lot of support on this base; that collaboration is what keeps our club going,” said Bob Fraser, retired Navy captain, chief pilot and long-time club member.

Why the strong rapport? Lt. Cmdr. Rob Croxson, Board of Directors president and one of seven certified flight instructors of the club, put it simply when he said, “We’re here to support the Sailors. I’m not here to make money or pick up flight hours. I do this for the rest of the base community.”

That unselfish attitude resonates among both employees and members of the club and lends itself to a fraternity.

“All members of the Navy Flying Club are part owners. This is their facility; the moment they step through the front doors and take the keys to a plane, it’s their aircraft,” said Humphries. “That’s really one of my two main goals: a comfortable atmosphere. I want to ensure that I foster a friendly environment.”

During this interview, a sample of nearly everyone you would find on a Navy base walked through the club doors: a retired captain, a flight-suited officer, an air traffic control chief, a civilian who maintains membership through the Civil Air Patrol and even the UPS man (also a club member).

Once these individuals pass through the doors, all military hierarchies are put aside.

“We’re equals. Though we respect each other’s professional stature, we share in the responsibility and enjoyment of being members of this unique club. If the club is successful, we share in its success,” remarked Fraser.

How does the club achieve success? That question directly correlates to the second of Humphries’ primary goals as manager: active member participation. He’s working with the board of directors to attract new members and encourage current members to fly more often. During February, the club is offering 50 percent off all initiation fees and a $10 discount on hourly rental of all the club’s aircraft. The club has additionally launched an incentive program in which current club members sponsoring new members will have one month of dues waived for each new member sponsored.

Humphries hopes that by accomplishing his goals of a comfortable atmosphere and more active membership, he can continue the legacy that the Navy Flying Club was founded on: aviation training and recreation accessible to all Sailors.

“We need to get back to our roots, return to the original focus,” said Humphries. “If we’re keeping our foremost customer, the Sailor, satisfied, all-around success is the next natural step in the sequence.”