Who We Are
South Shore Flyers is a member-owned, equity-sharing flying club forming at Michigan City Municipal Airport (KMGC) in Michigan City, Indiana. We’re a group of local pilots, student pilots, builders, and aviation enthusiasts from Northwest Indiana and the South Shore region who share a simple belief: great general aviation flying shouldn’t require owning an aircraft by yourself.
We’re not a rental operation and we’re not a traditional flying club with an aging Cessna 172. We’re building something different — a group of people who collectively own the aircraft we fly, make decisions together, and hold each other to a high standard of airmanship and participation.
Our Mission
South Shore Flyers exists to make high-quality general aviation flying more accessible and more rewarding through shared ownership. Our goal is to give members access to capable, well-maintained aircraft at a fraction of the cost of solo ownership — and to build a community around the love of flight in the process.
Whether you’re looking to do afternoon shoreline hops along Lake Michigan, fly to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, punch through a light IFR layer to visit family across the midwest, or just build time and proficiency — we’re building a club that supports all of it.
Why an Equity-Sharing Club
Most flying clubs charge monthly dues for access to aircraft they own — you’re renting from the club, not sharing ownership. An equity-sharing model is fundamentally different:
- Co-ownership: Each member holds an equity share in the aircraft. You’re an owner, not just a customer.
- Shared buy-in: The acquisition cost is split among founding members, dramatically lowering the barrier to entry compared to sole ownership.
- Member voting: Every major decision — aircraft selection, operational policies, bylaws, dues structure — is made by member vote. No single person calls the shots.
- Aligned incentives: Because members own the aircraft, everyone has a stake in keeping it airworthy, well-maintained, and properly operated. That changes the culture.
- Exit path: Your equity share has real value. If you ever leave the club, your share can be transferred or sold to an incoming member under club policies.
This model has a long track record in general aviation. It’s how many of the best clubs in the country operate, and it’s the model we believe creates the strongest community and the best outcomes for members.
Our Aircraft Vision
South Shore Flyers is targeting proven experimental amateur-built designs for our first aircraft. Here’s what that means and why:
- Performance: We’re looking for 160+ mph cruise speeds and cross-country capable range — aircraft that can actually go somewhere efficiently.
- Modern avionics: Experimental aircraft can be equipped with cutting-edge glass cockpit avionics at a fraction of the cost of certified equivalents, keeping our aircraft current and capable.
- Affordable maintenance: Owner-built experimental aircraft can be maintained by A&P mechanics and by knowledgeable owner-members under FAA experimental rules, keeping costs manageable.
- Strong support communities: We’re focusing on designs with large, active builder and owner communities — Van’s Aircraft RVs, canard designs, and others with decades of operational data and readily available parts and expertise.
- Size and capability: We’re targeting 2–4 seat designs that are cross-country capable and have a realistic path to IFR operations.
The specific aircraft will be selected collectively by our founding members. See our Aircraft Under Consideration page for what we’re evaluating.
Life in the Club
Membership in South Shore Flyers isn’t just about aircraft access — it’s about being part of an active aviation community. Here’s what you can expect:
- Safety meetings: Regular group discussions on weather, airspace, procedures, accident reviews, and lessons learned. Keeping our standards high keeps everyone safe.
- Proficiency flying: We expect members to stay current and encourage structured proficiency sessions, especially for IFR operations and challenging conditions.
- Shared maintenance work days: Experimental aircraft allow — and reward — owner participation in maintenance. Work days are a chance to learn, save money, and know the aircraft inside and out.
- Group fly-outs: Organized trips to aviation events, restaurants, fly-in destinations, and EAA chapter gatherings. The South Shore to Oshkosh pipeline is real.
- Hangar nights: Informal gatherings to talk airplanes, review proposals, watch weather, and just enjoy the airport environment.
What’s Happening Now
South Shore Flyers is in its founding stage. Right now we are:
- Assembling our founding member interest list
- Identifying and evaluating aircraft candidates
- Drafting initial bylaws and governance structure
- Developing the equity buy-in and dues structure
- Scheduling informal meetups for prospective members to get together and talk through the details
This is the most important time to get involved — founding members shape everything, from which aircraft we fly to how the club operates.
Get Involved
If you’re in the Northwest Indiana / South Shore area and flying has ever felt just out of reach — too expensive, too lonely, too much responsibility to go it alone — South Shore Flyers is being built for you. Join the founding interest list today and help us build something great at KMGC.