WAMM, the Western Association of Mooney Mites, was founded by Californian Mite owner Tony Terrigno in the late 1970s. Under Tony’s leadership, WAMM newsletters were distributed and fly-ins were held at various airports in central California for over 20 years.
In 1999, WAMM went online when Mite enthusiast Dave Rutherford of Abbotsford, BC created the Mooney Mite Site. The Site served the purpose of making WAMM documents and photos (below) available to members and the public, as well as publicizing events.
WAMM membership had always been open to anyone interested enough to come to a Fly-in, Mite owner or not. Fly-ins continued to be held once or sometimes twice a year, mainly at Porterville, CA, until 2012. By then, most of the original members had passed on. After the location was moved to Lompoc, CA later that year, enthusiasm and attendance dropped even further. The last WAMM Fly-in was held at Lompoc in 2015, and Dave retired as webmaster in 2018, marking the suspension of the Association.
Over a span of 38 years, the 65 WAMM gatherings had an average attendance of seven Mites – a notable record. |
Porterville Fly-In, May 2008
|
