Sky’s the limit for aviation club with new leader

ULSTER’S leading aviation organisation has a new high flyer.

Raymond Burrows was elected last week as chairman of the Ulster Aviation Society.

It was a significant moment for another reason as well - Mr Burrows is replacing a man who has devoted an amazing 30 years as chairman to promoting Northern Ireland’s aviation heritage. That man is Ernie Cromie, who passed the gavel on to Burrows at the annual general meeting of the UAS.

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Mr Burrows takes over at a challenging time for the society, which among other activities maintains or restores a collection of 18 aircraft in a huge hangar at the site of the old Long Kesh air base.

It’s the largest collection of its kind in Ireland, and continues to grow.

That total site, including the old Maze Prison property, is now undergoing major infrastructure changes in preparation for some ambitious developments in the months and years ahead, including the likely re-location from Balmoral of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society and its annual show.

Mr Burrows told the annual general meeting that the challenge to the aviation society will be to keep pace with those developments.

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That said, he credited the society and its members with “an absolutely fantastic year” in 2011, with progress on several fronts.

The outgoing chairman, who has seen and orchestrated some great changes in the UAS during his impressive tenure, received a painting from the membership.

The specially commissioned work, by artist Norman Whitla, mark’s Mr Cromie’s long-time interest in the P-38 Lightning aircraft, and the earlier days when both the fighter plane and later the society were based at Langford Lodge near Crumlin.

And though Mr Cromie now steps down from the executive, he assured the 300-plus members of the society: “I will continue to be as loyal, faithful and supportive a member as I can possibly be.”