March 28, 2024

Johnson Aviation former owner, founder honored

Image 1 of 2

On Aug. 24, at the Iowa Aviation Museum in Greenfield, Bill Smothers — previous owner of Johnson Aviation Inc. in Newton, Marshalltown Aviation Inc. and Midland Aircraft Sales & Service Inc. — was recognized as a “2nd Generation Iowa Aviation Promoter.” Previously, Earl Johnson, founder of Johnson Aviation Inc., was recognized as an Iowa Aviation Pioneer.

The Aviation Museum noted on Johnson’s plaque, “These are the names of the persons who managed Iowa’s early General Aviation (Fixed Base) Operations. They are the dedicated few who worked long hours on mostly small, county seat airports and were the grass roots builders of the General Aviation business in Iowa as we see it today. This exhibit was the idea and gift of Howard Gregory of Des Moines.”

For Smothers, the museum noted on his plaque, “Celebrating the Iowa Aviation museum’s silver anniversary, it is only fitting to honor the Fixed Base Operators, Pilots and Mechanics who continued the hard work and many hours of the Aviation Pioneers to mold General Aviation into what we enjoy today. A quarter century later they worked tirelessly promoting aviation in the 1970s and 1980s. Many are the sons and daughters of early Iowa Aviation Promoters; for this reason they shall be forever known as the ‘2nd Generation.’”