‘Kind of a celebrity’

Anderson’s celebrity status lies in his publication of a weekly aviation events email, one he’s delivered to inboxes for 20 years, and a service his readers have grown to depend on. Well-known as the man behind the electronic signature when he shows up at local fly-ins, Anderson says the events-list was “kind of dropped in his lap,” although he wasn’t averse to taking it on.

“I was at loose ends at the time,” he said.

“I caught the flying bug when I lived next to a crop duster’s airstrip when I was a teenager in southern Arkansas,” Anderson said. “Then, I joined the Air Force after high school because the recruiter assured me that I’d be able to get right into flight training.”

When that promise didn’t materialize, Anderson later began paying for his own flight instruction at $4 an hour on an Air Force base in Biloxi, Mississippi.

“I gave up instruction when I got married and began raising a family, until I bought my 1979 Cessna 172, with only 279 flight hours, in 1985. I used it for business purposes and to get my pilot certificate,” Anderson said.

Anderson’s later purchase of a 1946 Ercoupe led to his friendship with fellow Ercoupe owner, Ken Doyle, the originator of the aviation-events list.

“Ken’s list was short, with only Ercoupe fly-ins included, and he only emailed it to about eight pilots,” Anderson said.

As a young retiree from a telecommunications position with IBM when Doyle moved away in 2004, Anderson took on the responsibility of the aviation-events email, and watched it blossom almost organically.

“I expanded the content to include all public aviation events in the four-state corner, not just Ercoupe fly-ins,” Anderson said.

At first, Anderson solicited additional event content, but learned that solicitation wasn’t practical or necessary. He now receives information from event hosts, regardless.

The circulation of Anderson’s email, Aviation Events, has grown mostly by word of mouth.

“From its original eight, I now email it to over 600 people,” said Anderson. “I just give the basics: location, date, time, airport identifier, cost, and a brief description of what attendees can expect,” he said.

Simplicity also means “non-monetized.”

“My readers don’t want a bunch of advertising,” Anderson said.

Anderson’s unpaid labor takes time, partly because his internet provider limits recipients to 150 per 30-minute interval, and he doesn’t foresee keeping the events email up indefinitely. So, grab your chance while you can. If you see a pilot flying an eye-catching, vintage, red and white Ercoupe or an orange-and-brown-striped Cessna, get an autograph. You’re in the presence of “kind of a celebrity.”

Sheila Harris is a freelance writer from Missouri.