HAYWARD Ask Ben Henderson and he'll tell you: America's wings have been clipped.

The 73-year-old Hayward resident has spent a lifetime in aviation, starting as an Air Force mechanic in 1952, then moving on to long-term stints with United Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration.

He's been a private pilot since 1963, and is currently a member of three aviator clubs.

"All my life, I've done what I'm most interested in," he said.

But these days, he's concerned about the future of his beloved field and hobby.

"America's losing its aviation advantage," Henderson said. "The U.S. used to be the premier country (for the airline industry), until 20 years ago. But the industry never plowed anything back. It was run solely for profit, and that's self-destructive."

He wants to see the industry revived. For that to happen, there's got to be an interest among young people, the same fascination that turned his eyes to the skies so many years ago.

Today, the Bay Area Black Pilots Association, East Bay Aviators and the Tuskegee Airmen are hosting an open house at Hayward Executive Airport in hopes of lighting a spark in prospective airplane buffs.

"We want to kindle an interest among young people," Henderson said. To that end, they will have some famous figures on hand: Tuskegee Airmen Clyde Grimes, of Oakland, and James Warren, of Vacaville, and possibly others.