Alpha Fly In
In 1968, Elton R. "Sugar Ray" Thomas and Hulon "Pappy" White, former owners and operators of Sky Ranch Flying Service of Houston -located on the Historic Stevenson Ranch in Almeda, Texas- met with Dr. Jesse D. Hayes, Jr., Attorney Matthew Plummer, Horace Perkins, and several other local Negro -this was the common ethnic identification at the time- pilots. This meeting provided the basis for the establishment of the Bronze Eagles Flying Club. One of the club's objectives was to promote aviation among Negroes. Another objective of critical importance began to take shape -exposing the world of aviation to youth.
Alpha Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has partnered with the Bronze eagles for several years to host the annual Alpha Fly-In, through the coordination of Alpha Brother Raymond Holmes and Mr. James
Miller of "The Bronze Eagles Flying Organization" and others. Brothers are involved with working registration, the orientation/briefing process, shuttling participants from the control tower to the various aircraft displays, serving as the ground crew and by providing and serving refreshments.
On Saturday, July 18, 2009, while part of the chapter attended the General Convention in New Orleans, 12 members were in Houston working to ensure that the 126 registered participants (15 of which were Boy Scouts),
experienced the flight of their life. Alpha Phi Alpha brothers served as ground crew, station coordinators and prepared lunch for the children and adults to enjoy after their flight.