About Us
The University Flying Club is an organization that provides an affordable means for University of Maine students, affiliates, and community members to pursue flight training and to have access to an airplane. The club was established in 1969 and has expanded to include gatherings, ground schools, information sessions, and multiple aircraft.
The Club’s non-profit status means members enjoy each hour of flight at almost half the cost of almost all charter services, and even most clubs.
Although the Club is affiliated with the University, and is focused on bringing aviation opportunities to students, non-student members are absolutely welcome. Undergraduate and graduate students, relatives of students, and other community members all take part. Members can hold either an introductory, flying, or non-flying status. Flying members run the gamut from brand new student pilots to commercial airline pilots.
Club meetings take place on Zoom every month (excluding summer months). Club meetings are not just for pilots; topics include those of general aviation interest. Past topics have included the process of becoming a pilot, presentations with Air Traffic Controllers, visits to see airport operations, and more.
If you’d like to get involved feel free to ….
Our Location
Club Meetings
The University Flying Club operates from the University of Maine’s primary Orono campus. Meetings for the UFC are typically held on Zoom each month. Meetings are announced via our email list (contact UFC president to join).
Meetings for the student club are typically held at the Memorial Union (contact student club president to join).
Aircraft
Both the club’s aircraft are based at Bangor International Airport (BGR). Its full suite of services make the ideal base of operations, while the tower controlled airspace and extremely lengthy runway provide an excellent training environment. The airport is easily accessed from I-95, at the General Aviation terminal.
We currently own and operate a Cessna 152 and flying club members have access to the university’s Cessna 172SP. The Cessna 152 has a WAAS enabled GPS, as well as NAV and COM radios, while the Cessna 172SP has a Garmin G1000 “glass cockpit” with autopilot and is great for modern instrument training.
| Cessna 172SP (N2459V) | ||
| CAPACITY: | 4 | With more than 55,000 delivered, the Cessna 172 is the best-selling, most-flown airplane ever. Almost all pilots have spent at least a little time in one, as they are the quintessential training plane. They have a reputation for reliability, forgiving flight characteristics, and safety. The 172 is also very versatile, serving a variety of aviation missions. The plane available to our members is a 2005 Cessna 172SP with Garmin G1000 “glass cockpit” and autopilot. It is a great modern airplane for instrument training and comes with an incredibly low hourly rate. |
| CRUISING SPEED: | 140 mph | |
| RANGE: | 596 mi | |
| CEILING: | 14,000 ft | |
| COST: | $155 / hour | |
| Cessna 152 (N757ZU) | ||
| CAPACITY: | 2 | The little brother of the 172, the Cessna 152 has 2 seats instead of 4, but all the same positive attributes. It is also a classic training plane, flown by flight schools all over the world. It’s smaller size and fuel economy allows the club to charge one of the very lowest prices available in general aviation today. |
| CRUISING SPEED: | 120 mph | |
| RANGE: | 415 mi | |
| CEILING: | 12,000 ft | |
| COST: | $80 / hour (UMaine students), $90 / hour (non-students) | |
History
The club was established in 1969 to primarily afford students at the University of Maine the opportunity to obtain their pilot’s certificate. Here are some photos provided by Dave Hempstead, president of the club in 1972, of one of the first club planes, a Cessna 150J landing on the soccer field and taxiing down Long road to the student organization fair. Too bad we wouldn’t be allowed to do this nowadays!
