| Stinson L-5 SENTINEL OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CLUB
Q. When was the club founded?
A. The S.O.P.A. was founded by James Gray in March of 2002. Before starting the
club, Jim established a website called "The L-5 Data Pages" HERE as a hobby after
buying his first L-5 in 1998. This spiraled into the owners club.
club, Jim established a website called "The L-5 Data Pages" HERE as a hobby after
buying his first L-5 in 1998. This spiraled into the owners club.
Q. Do I have to be an L-5 owner or pilot to join?
A. No, everyone is welcome to participate!
Q. How many members are there?
A. There are currently 140-odd paid and honorary members. Roughly 80 of us are
L-5 owners or restoring one.
L-5 owners or restoring one.
Q. How much are the annual membership dues?
A. The cost is $22 per year for an internet subscription worldwide, and $30 for
North American mail delivery, and $40 by mail to foreign subscribers. Veterans of
WWII and Korea may receive FREE honorary membership as our small way of
saying "thanks for serving".
North American mail delivery, and $40 by mail to foreign subscribers. Veterans of
WWII and Korea may receive FREE honorary membership as our small way of
saying "thanks for serving".
A. Go to the Membership Information page HERE, print the application form, then
send it to us with your check or postal money. You can also pay with a credit card
via PayPal. Contact us for details on how to do so
send it to us with your check or postal money. You can also pay with a credit card
via PayPal. Contact us for details on how to do so
Q. What do I receive if I join?
A. You will receive:
- A 20-page newsletter published twice per year. It has been described as "the
best type club newsletter in existence". - A list of current members and how to contact them
- Discounts on manuals, newsletter back issues, technical drawings and other
items sold by or through the club. - Free personal advertising in the newsletter and on this website
- Advice on buying an L-5 and, if needed, 3rd party assistance with buying or
selling, including pre-buy inspection. - Access to information that is unavailable or a not readily found elsewhere.
- Access to a network of very friendly people with valuable experience
owning, maintaining and restoring L-5's - Assistance locating hard-to-find parts.
Q. Are there any club meetings or fly-ins?
A. No. We are not like most other clubs in this respect and do not focus on
socializing, but there are a few informal regional gatherings from time to time. A
formal club gathering is possible and many people have expressed an interest, but it
requires volunteers to make it work. Should you be interested in helping organize
one, please contact us!
socializing, but there are a few informal regional gatherings from time to time. A
formal club gathering is possible and many people have expressed an interest, but it
requires volunteers to make it work. Should you be interested in helping organize
one, please contact us!
Q. Is the S.O.P.A a non-profit organization?
A. No, the club is operated as a "sole proprietorship" because it is too small to qualify
for non-profit status, but that is a future goal if the club ever becomes large enough. We
do NOT make a profit. The current price structure allows us to stay solvent (barely!)
through the sale of memberships, advertising, books, and memorabilia.
for non-profit status, but that is a future goal if the club ever becomes large enough. We
do NOT make a profit. The current price structure allows us to stay solvent (barely!)
through the sale of memberships, advertising, books, and memorabilia.
Q. Who the heck is Jim Gray ,our founder and unofficial club president?
A. Jim is a professional pilot and L-5 owner (three projects, none flying) and has
logged over 10,000 hours of flight time over the last 24 years as a commercial pilot.
Until the economy "headed south" in 2009, he was employed flying a Rockwell
Commander 690A twin turboprop nationwide for a medical services company
based in Tucson. His flying career has included 7 years of Alaska "bush" flying in
Otters, Beavers and Cessna's; 4 years in King Airs and Beech 1900's with a
prominent commuter airline (3 years as captain); 4 years as a full-time flight
instructor, specializing in tailwheel and instrument instruction; 3 years in forest fire
fighting, flying Beech Barons and a Shorts 330; and 3 years doing miscellaneous
flying including traffic reporting, fish spotting, and air cargo. He has also been
employed in numerous non-flying occupations -- draftsman, cook, and commercial
fisherman to name a few) -- but his first love is aviation.
Jim grew up in Corning, New York (think glassware), and has been around
airplanes or gliders pretty much his whole life. As an adult he has resided in seven
states (NH, GA, AZ, CO, NM, CA, AK) and England. The first airplane ride he
can remember was in an L-5 employed as a glider tug at the Harris Hill glider field
near Elmira, New York. That was in 1961 at the age of 4 and he has been a big fan
of L-5's ever since!
Jim has also been working on a book HERE about L-5's for several years and
hopes to finish it in the near future.
A. How do I join?
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| Where to Now? |
| * * * * * * * * * * |
| Current membership and number of L-5's represented worldwide |
U.S.A.
154 / 94
Australia
5 / 11
Italy
3 / 5
England
2 / 2
Canada
2/ 1
Switzerland
2 / 2
Netherlands
2 / 2
Spain
1 / 1
WW2
Veterans
13 / 0
| Club founder Jim Gray with daughter Kathryn, July 2007 |
