Interest in Shropshire flying club takes off after Star Wars star Harrison Ford joins its ranks
The Force is most definitely with a Shropshire flying club, which has seen a big increase in interest after Star Wars legend Harrison Ford joined its ranks.
The actor contacted the Shropshire Aero Club in October to hire an Aviat Husky aircraft for his personal use while filming the latest Star Wars epic in Britain.
The star, who plays Hans Solo in the film series, had suffered an injury while shooting scenes at Pinewood Studios.
Bob Pooler, the club's chief flying instructor, flew the aircraft to Mr Ford and then returned to Denham Aerodrome in South Buckinghamshire on November 3 to collect it, although the Indiana Jones star was by that time back home in the United States.
Mr Pooler said the 72-year-old actor had returned the aircraft in a pristine condition.
Mr Pooler said: "Harrison certainly generated a lot of interest by joining the Shropshire Aero Club.
"It was not really a surprise to be called by Harrison because I had previously been called by his corporate pilot to see if I could help with shipping his Husky aircraft from the USA.
"We had people sending us messages from not only around the UK but from as far afield as Europe and even the USA.
"The messages I have received mainly concerned old friends who I had lost contact with but one message from someone in the USA with the same surname who wondered if we were related," added Mr Pooler.
The club, which is based at Sleap Airfield, near Wem, decided to make Mr Ford a lifetime honorary member.
And Mr Pooler said he hope to see the star return to the airfield one day.
He said: "It is very likely we will keep in touch because of our shared interest in flying this type of aircraft.
"He returned our Husky aircraft to us in pristine condition, just as we expected, and he is welcome to use any of our fleet at any time he is in the UK."
