SENTINEL OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CLUB
Q. When was the club founded?
A. SOPA was founded by Jim Gray in March of 2002
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CLUB
Q. When was the club founded?
A. SOPA was founded by Jim Gray in March of 2002
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 147 members and about 75 of us are L-5 owners.
Q. How much are the annual membership dues?
A. The cost is $20 per year for an internet subscription and $28 for U.S. and Canada mail delivery, and $34 by mail to foreign subscribers. Send your check or money order to: James Gray / SOPA
1951 W. Coolbrook Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85023
Q. What do I receive if I join?
A. You'll receive the quarterly newsletter, free advertising in the newsletter and on this website, a list of members and how to contact them, a list of all known L-5's in the world, and access to information that is not readily available elsewhere. Other benefits are in the works.
Q. Are there any club meetings or fly-ins planned?
A. No, but a fly-in gathering could be organized in the future.
Q. Is SOPA a non-profit organization?
A. No, SOPA is operated as a sole proprietorship because it is currently too small to be non-profit, but that is a future goal if the club becomes large enough. 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?
A. Jim is a professional pilot and L-5 owner and has logged over 9,400 hours of flight time over the last twenty years as a commercial pilot. He is currently flying a Rockwell Commander 690A twin turboprop for a small company in Tucson. Jim has also been employed in numerous non-flying occupations (draftsman, cook, and commercial fisherman to name a few), but his first love is aviation. His flying career has included 7 years of Alaska "bush" flying in Otters, Beavers and Cessnas; 4 years in King Airs and Beech 1900's with a prominent commuter airline (3 years as captain); 4 years as a flight instructor, specializing in tailwheel and instrument instruction; 3 years in forest fire fighting, flying Beech Barons and a Shorts 330; and 3 years traffic reporting, fish spotting, and air cargo. Jim grew up in Corning NY and has been around airplanes his whole life. As an adult he has resided in 7 states (NH, GA, AZ, CO, NM, CA, AK) and England. His first airplane ride (that he can remember) was in a L-5 Observer 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!
