HISTORY OF WHIRLWINDS OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

The model airplane club known as the Twin City Whirlwinds, came into existence on September 27, 1960. Prior to that time, a model airplane club existed in Benton Harbor under the name of Sky Hawks. The club was sponsored by the Whirlpool Corporation. It was felt that the formation of the new club (Twin City Whirlwinds) which combined members from the Twin Cities and the surrounding areas, would result in a larger organization, together with a greater amount of activity. The membership of the club in 1960 consisted of 45 members in good standing with a potential membership of approximately 70 persons.

The Whirlwinds is a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and requires all members in good standing to be members of AMA also. The insistence of the individual AMA membership is for a number of reasons, the main one being: all Model Airplane contests sponsored by the Club are conducted in accordance with AMA rules. In addition, AMA membership also includes individual insurance coverage. As indicated in our constitution, the Club is directed by the elected officers together with a Board of Directors. The officers in 1960 were:

Martin Mak President, Dennis Medowell Vice President, John Lauck Secretary, Roger Shawl Treasurer. Roger was a pilot for the Whirlpool Corporation private jet.

During the next few years we find the Whirlwinds entering into society with demonstrations of flight at the Pipestone Mall, the local high schools, and holding many Open Flying and Fun Fly events at the club’s official flying field.

Whirlwinds members have acquired several airfields over the years. It is said that Whirlpool allowed the club access to land north of the Benton Harbor Airport. One airfield was near the Lake Michigan College, and the Happy Landings field off the Benton Center Road south of Red Arrow Highway, in 1972. Flying took place from an Airfield was leased off Keehn Road in Baroda in the mid 1980’s. Noise levels bothered several of the neighbors and Whirlwinds moved to the location in Sawyer, Michigan. This field was called the Buck Zehr memorial field. The field was grass about 500 feet long and 275 feet wide. The club had 53 members at that time.

The club currently flys at the former Del Hickox airport at 5974  Miller Road just south of Shawnee near Baroda. We would like to thank Lucas Brown, the property owner, for allowing us to fly here