Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame inducts new member

In the aviation world, pancake breakfasts are a common get-together, often used to raise money for small town airports or flying clubs. Pilots from nearby communities will fly in, enjoy hangar talk and pancakes and fly back home. However, the Iowa Aviation Museum’s pancake breakfast on Saturday had a little bit more to its schedule.

The Iowa Aviation Museum’s 30th annual Hall of Fame induction followed their pancake breakfast on Saturday, this year honoring James R. Zangger.

Zangger is the owner/operator of Zangger Vintage Airpark in Larchwood, the oldest privately owned public use airport in Iowa. Founded by his parents Russel and DOlly Zangger (2001 hall of fame inductees) in 1949, this is where Zangger grew up and found his love for flight.

“I couldn’t do anything else,” Zangger said. “When you’re in the air, the world is peaceful. Everything is serene and it’s wonderful.”

Zangger earned his private pilot’s license on his 16th birthday. Days later, he flew to the county seat to receive his driver’s license. Through the years, Zangger continued to receive numerous other licenses and certificates, including for commercial flight and aircraft maintenance.

From starting his own repair service in Larchwood to flying for Rockwell Collins, Zangger has turned his love of flying into a living.

“I have been fortunate to have been provided the opportunities that allowed me to have a job that I enjoy, so I never really had to work,” Zangger said.

Now focused on running and maintaining Zannger Vintage Airpark, Zangger gets to spend his time with like-minded people, especially since the addition to residential properties to the airpark in 1990.

“We have hangar space for people and now we’re selling lots, targeting people who have airplanes that want to live with their airplane,” Zangger said. “Officially, I think we’re the only airpark in Iowa. We have direct access [to the runway].”

Outside of work, Zangger has flown to all lower 48 states in a 1946 Taylorcraft he restored. Through his years of flying, he has an estimated flight time of 26,750 hours. He has been awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award and a safety award from the National Business Aircraft Association.

Zangger was nominated for the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame by friend and previous coworker Larry Warner. Any member of the public can nominate someone for the hall of fame, but the honoree must either have been born in Iowa or have lived a major portion of their life in Iowa.

Past honorees include William Norman Reed of The Flying Tigers and Ringold County native astronaut Peggy Whitson. Honorees are chosen from the nominations by a selection committee separate from the museum, with the induction taking place every August.

The Iowa Aviation Museum has a permanent exhibit for those inducted into the hall of fame. Dedicated to preserving the history of aviation in Iowa, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays, April through November. The museum can be found at 2251 Airport Rd. in Greenfield.