Soo Line Historical and Technical Society

SLHTS Announces Purchase of Two Corporate Jets for Future Convention Travel

by Todd Brown

04.01.03

Acting SLHTS president Joe Lallensack announced today the purchase of two Citation aircraft which will be used by the Board of Directors to transport BOD members to meetings around the state as well as transporting any SLTHS members to future conventions.

"The idea of a convention in Thief River Falls, Minnesota has always been nixed by most of our membership due to the long drive" according to Mr. Lallensack. "The purchase of these two aircraft will solve that problem, and forever put to rest the tensions between memebers who want the annual convention at distant locations and those who don't want to drive the distance."

"The SOO" editor Rick Johnson also brought up the idea of having all future conventions in sunny Hawaii. Even though there isn't a bit of SOO history over there, Rick stated that he "sees no reason why the two jets couldn't be used to transport members from the hotel in Hawaii to tours in St. Paul, Fond du Lac, Portage, and London, Ontario while returning back to the hotel in Hawaii later that evening." Of course, the jets would also be the primary mode of transportation for members to future conventions in either Thief River Falls or Hawaii.

Rick Johnson has already developed two paint schemes, one for each jet. Ken Soroos is busily working on decal sets that can be applied to plastic model aircraft. According to Ken, "Right now we have a contract in the works with Revell to have 250 custom detailed models produced in time for sale at the 2003 SLHTS convention. I'm hopefull that the price tag of $20 per model will cover the cost of the purchase of the two Citation jets."

All three are hopeful that the jets will be delivered by April 1, 2004.

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