The Provo Chamber of Commerce Aviation Committee will honor Mike Jense Friday as a prelude to Aviation Day at the airport Saturday. Designation of “Mike Jense Day” provides a fitting recognition for a man who has been at the forefront in aviation here for so many years, Mike, founder of the Central Utah Aviation whose active interest in flying dates back some four decades, modestly would share the honor with others who have helped pioneer aviation in the valley. Indeed, without taking anything away from his contribution, many fliers have had a hand in the stepby-step development of airports and aviation in the area and in popularizing flying. Veteran Herald staffers well remember Charley Corbell, a Provo flier back in the thirties, His flight pioneering ended tragically when he and his wife and Leonard Thatcher were killed in a fatal crash Jan. 22, 1939 when the Provo Airport was located in the southeast part of the city near the golf course. Mike Jense had a plane based here even in those days. Earlier, back in the 20s, Vern Carter of Lake Shore was flying in this area. (S0 was Milo Morrell. Another of the early fliers was Elmer Smith. Delles Nilsen soloed in 1926, and was associated closely with Mr. Carter for a time. The contribution of Merrill Christopherson and his wife Lucille who became pilots and operated the Provo Flying Service would fill a large chapter in any aviation history of Provo. They are still actively engaged in the flight service business. Ralph Woodhouse and Eldon Carter, who started the Spanish Fork Airport, Willis Madsen and undoubtedly, many others had a hand in popularizing aviation in the valley. So Mike Jense is right when he says there are “a lot of guys” who deserve honors for what they have done for aviation. Mr. Jense long has been known as a skilled pilot, flight instructor, ,….1 I….ai..,m.-we-nr 7 A no-nl’;-maine;-sl in his field, Among accomplishments at the Provo Airport in which he has had a hand are the installation of an instrument landing system and beefing up of the main runway so that the heavier jet aircraft of today can be accommodated. (Planes ranging up to the Boeing 727 can now land here.) There are still vital needs additional electronic equipment, more adequate roads, better fire protection, sewer system, etc. Men like Mr. Jense, together with city officials, with the encouragement of the C. of C. committee and others, will continue to work for these – and the entire community will benefit. Mr. Jense sees the Provo Airport’s future in becoming a “general aviation airport,” not an airline stop, Some 160,000 general aviation and business aircraft are now operated in . the country, compared with about 3000 airline planes, The Herald joins in congratulating Mr. Jense on his contribution to aviation in Utah and this area, and the Chamber of Commerce committee for honoring him in conjunction with Aviation Day. Indeed this is a good time to say thanks to all those who have pioneered aviation in the region. So They Say “The critics are pearshaped gentlemen, all timid souls, They were raised that way, They go into the city in the office and sit there and pound on the typewriter and zip right back to their residential area and that’s it. They don’t want to be bothered by physical frictions and conflicts. . ” -Actor Charles Bronson in a recent television interview. “I remember the feeling then that somehow by coming together we could make a life in which people would not kill or hurt each other any more. It was conscience of the young that this war was stopped? – Folksinger Peter Yarrow discussing the Vietnam anti-war