Holleyfest: Down Home Hoedown

Coming up September 12 and 13 this year, in the Ozark Mountains near Clinton (AR), the 5th Annual Holleyfest fly-in/camp-out, hosted by the Holley Mountain Airpark Property Owners Association, features an entertaining and educational program.

Mixing and matching various “favorite aviation pastimes,” Holleyfest convenes this year at noontime on Friday, September 12, with pilots and their families flying in and pitching camp or checking into local motels.

“What we want is just a special time when our family of aviators gathers together with the express purpose of enjoying each other's company, sharing a couple of meals, and simply being who we are,” Association member JoAnn Collom explained.

Friday night festivities include a “hamburger supper,” being conducted as a fundraiser by Association members to defray costs of hosting the event, along with a “tall tales of flight” storytelling session around the campfire.

Saturday morning, beginning at 8am, the special Temporary Control Tower opens. Provided jointly by FAA LIT and LIT AFB, the communication frequency is 118.45mhz. Concurrent with this, vendors will exhibit their wares and the pilot education agenda begins.

Getting things started, Jarret M. “Mac” McFarlin of FAA LIT will conduct the “Wings Safety Program.” Next in the line-up, Chuck Huber and Steve Uslan, respectively the President and Membership Vice President of the United States Pilots Association (USPA), will share information about the status and implications of federally proposed ATC privatization.

At 10am, Ron Ford of the Air Evac Lifeteam will share a detailed look at the services this emergency medical airlift organization provides to rural communities and, availability permitting, one of the Air Evac choppers is scheduled to fly in.

Rounding out the morning’s agenda, Joseph T. Calamita of JBR Flight Service of Jonesboro will be doing a “History of Flight Service” slide show in honor of the national “100 years of Flight” celebration. Also, JBR will be on hand both days doing Temporary Flight Services on a laptop computer station.

Then at 11:30am, members of Boy Scout Troop 29 of Little Rock will “Present the Colors” with ceremonial style in tribute to Wilbur & Orville Wright and the national “First Flight Centennial.” In addition, the troop of 30 Scouts plans to work on earning aviation-related merit badges during their stay at Holleyfest.

Keynoting the program, renowned aircraft accident investigator and aviation attorney Mitch Llewellyn will address the crowd during the catered “all you can eat” lunch. And the afternoon of fun and games concludes with a “Popsicle Stick Drop,” featuring prizes for children, and an “Awards Ceremony” honoring those who have flown the farthest, are the oldest or youngest pilots, fly the oldest plane, etc.

Throughout the day, in addition to an ongoing “digital photo contest,” there will be stagecoach and wagon tours of the Airpark grounds, highlighting the newly available Phase II “dreamsites,” for folks with an interest, as Airpark developer Jim Collom describes it, in “Becoming part of the Holley Mountain family.”

Also this year according to Holleyfest Events Director Ron Edwards, the Holleyfest volunteer team includes: USPA AR01 member J.F. Williams who will be coordinating automobile parking, the crew at 4M4-based Dawson Aircraft working under the leadership of USPA AR01 member Ken Sowers to handle ground control and aircraft parking, Kenny Blalock, owner of Conway-based Special Product Aviation serving as Air Boss, Mark Trimble, antique aircraft aficionado of Branson, Missouri, who plans to fly in one of his 20 meticulously restored collector’s planes, and Dave Maier of Utility Media who is donating the banquet set-up furnishings.

The educational programs, vendor exhibits, recreational activities and camping are open free of charge to anyone interested in aviation, however there is a modest cost for the hamburger supper Friday night and also for the Saturday luncheon, for which advance reservations are requested and a form is available online. Also, a limited number of vendor set-up spaces are available.

FMI: www.HolleyMountainAirpark.com