Dusenbury Becomes Vintage Aircraft Association President
“We look forward to working with Susan in her new role, as she is a dedicated vintage aircraft enthusiast and EAA member,” said Jack J. Pelton, chairman and CEO of the Experimental Aircraft Association, VAA’s parent organization. “We also thank Geoff for his tremendous commitment to the Vintage Aircraft Association through the years and everything he did to preserve, promote, and protect the vintage aircraft community. He’ll have some time now to relax and enjoy his own passion for vintage aircraft.”
Dusenbury began flying at the age of 15 on a private airport (Overton Field) located near her shared hometowns of Andrews and Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, and earned her private pilot certificate during her senior year in high school. She is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in accounting and business administration. While in college, Dusenbury also earned her commercial, multi-engine, instrument, and flight instructor certificates. She also holds an associate degree in aviation maintenance technology.
Dusenbury is a longtime EAA and VAA member and volunteer and is president of the Carolinas - Virginia Antique Airplane Foundation (EAA Vintage Chapter 3). She served on the national EAA board of directors as a volunteer director for 20 years, and recently retired from ABX Air (formally Airborne Freight Corporation) after flying 25 years of night freight. She has owned and/or restored several vintage airplanes, including an Aeronca 7AC Champ, a Luscombe 8A, an Inland Sport, a KR-21, and a Culver Cadet. She now owns and flies a 1953 Cessna 180 and a 1937 Taylor J-2 Cub from her farm in North Carolina and is currently restoring a 1935 Stinson SR-6 Reliant.
“I deeply appreciate the support of the VAA board and EAA as I step into this new role,” said Dusenbury, a 2013 inductee to the Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame. “The vintage aircraft community is filled with wonderful people and magnificent aircraft, and we have great stories to tell about all of them and why more people should explore this area of flight. The VAA board and I are also eager to support and expand our VAA chapter network and strengthen the bond with our dedicated volunteers throughout the country and at Oshkosh.”
The Vintage Aircraft Association was founded as the EAA Antique/Classic Division in 1971. It is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of vintage aircraft. It brings together people from around the world who share a common interest in the aircraft of yesterday and is a part of the Experimental Aircraft Association. More information is available at the EAA Vintage website.
