Renamed Fly-In Sees Healthy Attendance For Return
Gathering
With its inaugural event now in the
history books, and preparations already underway for next year, the
Virginia Regional Festival of Flight appears heading for clear
skies... even if the skies last weekend were less-than-clear.
Festival of Flight PR Chairman DeWitt Whittington provided ANN with
the following recap of the festivities...
Even with difficult to predict smoky
skies, both attendees and vendors agreed that the Virginia Regional
Festival of Flight's debut at the Suffolk Executive Airport has a
bright future. The weekend of June 14-15 saw a bright sun at times
it dimmed by smoke from nearby raging forest fires. But with
gratifying support from the City of Suffolk and the Airport
Manager, combined with an excellent turnout of volunteers, the 11th
year of this Virginia event introduced Greater Hampton Roads to
personal aviation at it's best.
Volunteers signed in to complete their
online registration for dozens of jobs with Judy Pastusek, the
Volunteer Coordinator. Her new system of on-the-spot printing of
dual sided name tags was a technical triumph giving the 183
volunteers a name tag, with their work assignment automatically
printed on the back side. The Blue Knights, a local motorcycle
club, parked cars. Boy Scouts put up tents, emptied trash, also
helped with auto parking. Many Scouts had time to work on their
aviation merit badge with Lancair builders....
By midday on Saturday it was clear
that Suffolk Airport was going to be an excellent location to grow
the Festival of Flight. Acres of grass, two closed runways for
taxiing aircraft and the tractor-pulled shuttles, several paved
"streets," a large Showplane Ramp, a network of electrical and
water hookups for vendors and RV campers, pleased everyone.
Volunteer chairman organized their areas, and when necessary
modified locations and procedures to accommodate unforeseen
conditions, forestalling any major glitches in the event.
Flexibility was the order of the day.
Thirty-nine aircraft dealers and
aviation vendors spread out to show off their new models, parts and
accessories. Gordon Campbell, Virginia Aviation Council President,
announced drawings, interviewed vendors and reminded folks of the
forum and workshop schedules. A cadre of presenters gave 26 forums
and 2 workshops. Of special interest for pilots in the Mid-Atlantic
region, Randy Horner of the Potomac TRACON, explained the
intricacies of the operation of ATC and flying into the Washington
ADIZ. Those interested in military aviation history heard Sig
Sidiqqi compare and contrast four WWII fighter aircraft and how
they were used during the war. Ron Wagner from Oshkosh explained
the latest in the field of Sport Pilot and LSA aircraft. In the
workshop area, a new Engine Overhaul Workshop invited hands-on
disassembly and assembly of an aircraft engine.
Don Bennett, an experienced A&P
reported, "About 90% of the attendees wanted to grab a wrench and
be involved. I was really pleased with the high level of
participation."
A Stearman, a Staggerwing Beech and
two Robinson R-44 helicopters kept busy flying passengers. Younger
kids received instruction from Janie Fowler in the Youth Tent.
There kids found fun things to build including model rockets which
they then launched into the air.
At the much anticipated Volunteer
Dinner Saturday evening, Judy Sparks, the Fly-in Manager, gave a
special recognition plaque to a special volunteer, Cliff Martin. In
previous years, Cliff designed and built two tractor-pulled
shuttles as well as the "Blue Goose," a versatile storage trailer
with a platform on top which served as the perch for the field
controller. One of his shuttles even has a wheelchair ramp making
it especially versatile. After the presentation, EAA Oshkosh
representative Ron Wagner gave an update from headquarters with a
focus on changes coming to AirVenture.
During the setup and fly-in days,
those who arrived by air or car experienced a rare condition.
Helped by drought conditions in eastern North Carolina and
Southeast Virginia, a log cutter's spark generated during the
removal of fallen trees from the 2003 Hurricane Isabel started a
tenacious forest fire. The Dismal Swamp fires smoldered and flared
only eight miles southeast of the Suffolk Airport. As volunteers
setup tents, orange cones, plastic fencing, installed signs for the
weekend event, swirls of smoke lowered visibility in unpredictable
and changing areas over much of both states. Four large commercial
helicopters used the airport as a refueling base, flying into the
swamp to dip water from Lake Drummond and dump it on the fire
line.
Luckily, the smoke didn't settle on
the airport, but it caused an unknown number of attendees to
reassess their plans to fly in. Even with high fuel prices around
the country, the new location and scheduling of the event was
praised. On Sunday afternoon as the tents and displays came down,
the consensus of the vendors, volunteers and attendees was that
they are looking forward to 2009 and an even better Virginia
Regional Festival of Flight... of course without the smoke.
(Photos courtesy of Mike Likavec and Dee
Whittington)