The Tiger’s Tale

October 2017

Special Edition

Monthly Newsletter of the General Chennault Flying Tiger Academy

Staff of CFTA and Supporters Cut the Ribbon at Grand Opening

General Chennault Flying Tiger Academy grand opening was October 19, 2017. Many dignitaries were in attendance too include a few surviving members of the original Flying Tigers (23rd AVG). Shown above from left to right at the ribbon: Mr. Tony Tse, CTO; Ms. Kathy Wang, Mr. Qingkai Sung, Mr. Xiang Hua Wang, President/CEO; Ms. Nell Calloway, President of the Chennault Foundation; Ambassador Lee, Houston Chinese Consulate; Mr. Mo Rolfs, Chief Operations Officer; Ms. Marla Aiello, Dispatcher; Mr. Melvin McMullen, Flying tiger Gunner and Flight Engineer on B-24s in the CBI theater in WWII; and Mr. Eric Bostwick, CFI. Many other local and national VIPs attended to include five surviving members of the Flying Tigers. It was a day long celebration of the flight school, General Chennault’s legacy, and the hope of further cooperation between the US and China through aviation. Total number of people in attendance was 130. They came from China and across the United states, as far away as New York state to attend the opening at the Conroe-North Houston Rgeional Airport, hangar 25.

The Tiger’s Tale

October 2017

Special Edition

Monthly Newsletter of the General Chennault Flying Tiger Academy

Creating Aviation Leaders of superior skill, judgment, and

integrity for the worldwide aviation industry

Jay Vinyard, an original Flying Tiger, and Mike Chennault, Grandson of Gen Claire Chennault

Captain Jay Vinyard was a US Army Air Force Air Transport Command “Hump” Pilot. Flying the twin engine Curtiss C-46 “Commando” transport from India to northeastern Assam Valley. Jay flew 174 vital supply missions into “free” China, by flying over the daunting southeastern extension of the Himalaya mountains. Jay is President of the Hump Pilot’s Association. Mike Chennault is a Houston, Texas native and first cousin to Nell Chennault Calloway. Both are grandchildren of General Claire Chennault.

Ambassador Lee, Chinese Consulate Houston, Texas; and Nell Calloway, President of the Chennault Foundation; prepare to take a ride in the CFTA Redbird Full Motion simulator. The simulator was a big hit with all the visitors, especially the surviving Flying Tigers. Their stories of how and what they flew into combat and over the “hump” make modern aviation and the tools we have available to us now seem like we are flying aircraft from another planet. Several of the “hump” [pilots told of navigating the Himalayas in the weather with a stopwatch, map, and pencil to arrive over a valley where they could descend through the weather to land with no approach guidance. Wow!