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 Nestled away in the middle of Ontario's cottage country is a little
village called Bancroft. While being small in size, with a population of
about 2000, it has a Mc Donald's, Tim Hortons, a Canadian Tire Store, a
number of grocery and drug stores, a hospital, motels, restaurants, and
it's own airport.
The Jack Brown Airport planes a major role in the
community. For one thing it is used extensively by the Air Ambulance
service, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario
Hydro and the O.P.P. It is also used by a great deal of American tourists
and cottage owners, which one notices right away when looking at the
aircraft tied down beside the runway, they all have "N" numbers!
The
airport is also the home of Compton Airways, offering half hour to one hour aerial views of North Hastings
sightseeing trips and charters to Toronto and Ottawa.
The driving force behind the airport was Jack Brown, who purchased the
land and forming the Ba ncroft flying club over 20 years ago. Since 1963
the club has owned and maintained the 2200 foot, limestone screening
covered runway, making it the only club owned airport in Canada that I am
aware of.
The airport is home to a number of conventional aircraft and ultralights
who share the hangar facilities, outside tie downs are also available, as
are fuel, flight service, and telephone. This makes it an idea all year
round stopping spot for students and pilots on cross country trips,
as the runway is plowed in the winter. It is also an ideal emergency
landing field in case of bad weather, as was demonstrated several times
during my two week stay at the airport, at least 3 times pilots landed and
tied down as the weather turned nasty. But the Jack Brown Airport is not
just an "emergency" landing field, or commercial stop for aircraft and
pilots. For the past 15 years, it has been the host of "Bancroft Flying
Clubs Flyin Pancake breakfast."
Preparation for the flyin begins nearly a month before the event, with
members in donating the use of their own equipment for grass cutting, tree
pruning, etc. In addition the Town Parks department kicks in with the loan
of picnic tables, which have to be moved in by the members and then
returned. This years "Pancake Breakfast" was held on July 8th. Nearly
300
people
turned out to be served pancakes, by club members and their wives, or in
some cases club members
 and their husbands!
Close to 100 aircraft flew in from all regions of Ontario, including a
number of ultralight aircraft, making this years event even more
successful than last year.
If you would like more information on the Bancroft Flying Club you can
write them at the Bancroft Flying Club PO Box 696 Bancroft Ontario KOL ICO.
The club telephone # is 613-332-1446, if you would like to talk to a club
member you can contact Norm Jull the club secretary at 613-332-3674 or
email him at normjull@sympatico.ca
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