The History of the Flying Fletchers

James Lawrence "Larry" Fletcher and Maybelle Montgomery Fletcher have been continually active in the General Aviation community since the early 1940's. Larry received his pilot's license in 1941 while training for the military in Virginia. After submarine hunting on the Eastern Shore with the Civil Air Patrol, he was later in the Army Air Corps. Maybelle, a native Texan, learned to fly in 1941 and received her pilot's license in 1943. They were married in 1945 and flew their first aircraft, a Piper J-3 "Cub", on their honeymoon trip.

The 1940's - Beginning with Vintage Airplanes!

Maybelle Fletcher with Ercoupe, Virginia 1945

The Beginnings of a 63 year marriage and still going strong

Larry Fletcher boarding a
Warbird – 1942 Stearman PT-17

Their first aviation business was established on the Eastern Shore of Virginia later that year. The operation, just outside the town of Parksley, Virginia, consisted of pilot training, area tours, crop dusting, and charter flights. The old photos show vintage aircraft lining the field! They started a family and soon their daughter Sandy logged 200 hours before her second birthday.

Larry Fletcher on right, 1944 Standing Next to Bevo Howard’s Vintage Clipped Wing Cub. NX on Wing Means Experimental Airplane.

Grandma Montgomery with Her Two Pilot Son’s-in-Law, Larry Fletcher and Ernest Maferd Hunt.

Family of Flyers - Larry & Maybelle Fletcher and Ernest Maferd & Opal Hunt (Maybelle’s Sister) 1945

Maybelle Fletcher & daughter Sandy are always at the airport ready to fly, 1948! Sandy started flying at 28 days in the baggage compartment of a Taylorcraft!

Sandy Fletcher was raised in the baggage compartment of the vintage planes & knew what was suppose to come next! When she was two yrs old she told a student who was trying to land to “Get cha nose up!”

The Flying Fletcher’s board a 1947 Bellanca CruiseAir

Maybelle Fletcher – probably the first woman to take her baby to work with her!

Sandy Fletcher Logged 200 Hours before she was 2 years old!

January 5, 1949 Parksley, Virginia - Sandy Fletcher is bundled up to assist her Mother with flight instruction.

Jumpsuits for Women Pilots were all the fashion.

Maybelle Enjoying Her Pup, Cub – next to her 1946 Taylorcraft

Maybelle Fletcher, Sandy & Student Taking Off in the New 1946 Taylorcraft purchased for $2,400 - 1947 Parksley, Virginia.

Field of Piper Cubs at Parksley Airfield, Va. 1947.

Instructor Maybelle Fletcher Walks Through the Crowd, Parksley, Va. 1947.

The Men Come Out to See a Woman Pilot Fly an Airplane! Every Sunday afternoon! 1949.

Maybelle with 1946 Ercoupe, Parksley, Virginia.

Maybelle Gives Sea Plane Instruction in T-craft on Floats, Ocean City, Md. 1949

In 1951 Larry and Maybelle Fletcher got their Multi-engine Ratings in this Bamboo Bomber AT-17, Cessna UC-78, T-50. WWII Trainer. Could buy a nice one for $1,500.

Warbirds - 1944 Grumman F-6F and North American AT-6’s at Eastern Shore Air Service

Fly-in Breakfast on Chincoteague Island, Va. 1948. Maybelle and Larry Fletcher watch landings.

Forced Landing on Frozen Ground – Winchester, Va.

Larry Fletcher & Student in old Warbird -Stearman PT-17

Spencer the A&P, repairs a 1946 Taylorcraft

The Flying Fletcher’s First Business – Eastern Shore Air Service

Maybelle Fletcher Pre-Flighting a Warbird - Fairchild PT-19

Barry Drumman solos in 1 day – about 4 hours in Ercoupe. He had never been in an airplane before! 1947 (Move Over Jimmy Dean!)

Larry Fletcher props a Taylorcraft – even before the sign is up on the new business! November 4, 1945

Larry Fletcher’s Old Home Place in Parksley, Virginia

A Great Photo of Brooks Hart (who was deaf) and Dennard Hurley. Both owned Ercoupe’s! Brooks learned to fly by signs & demonstration. No one had radios at the time so that was not a problem.

Larry and Maybelle Fletcher Work on Hangar Repair at the New Business. Nov 5, 1945

1947 Bellanca Cruiseair - Windows rolled down like a car window!

In the 1950's the Fletchers moved to Waco, Texas. Larry began his career as a corporate pilot and Maybelle became Chief Pilot at Waco Aviation. She worked at instructing, teaching acrobatics, and flying charters.

Maybelle Fletcher instructed owner of 125 HP Globe Swift (with New Metallic Paint Job) Waco, Texas 1953

David Fletcher, 9 months old, gets a feel for the controls of a Piper Cub

David Fletcher Takes Some Instruction from His Mother Maybelle in a Cessna 310. March 5, 1959

Larry Fletcher flew a 1953 Beechcraft E-18 for Stephens Contracting.

Maybelle Fletcher in front of a Tri-gear Beechcraft D-18. 1965

Fletcher Aviation – Moved from next to the Main Terminal at Hobby Airport to the South Ramp in about 1979.

Maybelle Fletcher’s Favorite Plane to Fly – D-18 Twin Beech – because it was a challenge and you could stand up & walk!

Maybelle Fletcher in her favorite seat – Twin Beech D-18!

David Fletcher Solo Landing in 1969 on His 16th Birthday - In a Cessna 150 at Hull Field in Sugarland (Now Sugarland Regional Airport)

Aviation Meeting at Fletcher Aviation, December 2003

Though most of Maybelle’s FAA check rides were with calm pilots, some seemed very relieved! A little humor here!

Fletcher Aviation On 14 Acres – South Ramp of Houston’s Hobby Airport.

Fletcher Aviation located off the South Ramp on Runway 12-30 at Houston Hobby Airport.

Grumman Cheetah and Gulfstream II at Fletcher Aviation. 2005

AYA Fly-in at Fletcher Aviation, Houston’s Hobby Airport

Grandad Montgomery, engineer & farmer, taught David Fletcher everything he knew!

Eben & Edna Montgomery Agreed to First Flight Lessons for Their Youngest, Maybelle Fletcher.

Eben Montgomery, Sr. was Proud of David’s Home Built Rocket, one of many successfully launched. 1969