Oh! It is nice to be back home again after seven weeks away on the Air Show circuit, I did miss my children and grandchildren.  Copperstate Arizona was the last one, a new venue in the dessert I thought gee, would anybody come out here. Twelve miles from Casa Grande, Desert dirt not sand for miles and miles. Well, they did and it will grow and grow to being bigger than it has ever been before. Seven hundred planes flew in to the Spam can side and fifty to the Ultralight area, lot of show vendors. Though small the Air Show was just great and not long enough to be the usual bore, when you have seen one you have seen em all, guess what, I was the Voice. I need to be better at the aerobatics though. T K Harris was a no show. Give the boy an Oscar!  I have never had it all to myself before. A great bunch of hard working volunteers who did an amazing job lead by E A A Chapter boss and head man Bob Hasson.  Next year it should all be green grass and double the size. .

  Extravaganza Columbus Kansas a Powered Parachute and Para glider event, hosted by the Powrachute Company once again going for the World record launch they were successful in getting a hundred and thirty up in thirty minutes, can you imagine the sky that full of planes, it was some sight to behold.

They had all makes Powrachute, Buckeyes, Destiny, Harmoning High Flyers, and several others. The World Champion John Wilson flying his plane and two other World Champions all took part in a four-day fun event; I could quite see the World Championships being held there next year instead of Greenville Illinois, now that the NAPPF are no longer a wing of ASC. The Para Wing of ASC would do a better job of it I think.  NAPPF were never anything but rude to me, don’t you hate it when you are ignored!

  K I M O. Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, the Aero Sports Connections Nationals were held not in Marshal as it has been since 1992, but in Three Rivers, in the old venue they had out grown the space and the town never very helpful. Along came the Three Rivers asking what we can do to have to have you in our town, and by Jove they came up with everything that was requested and more.  Labor Day weekend A. S. C put on a great show. Competitions, and, Gun Slinging championships, that is you have a champion to start the ball rolling and he is challenged, and a champion is the one who over the three days retains as many points by holding the championship the longest, it keeps aircraft in the air all the time for the spectators. Many vendors turned up from the aircraft companies a huge food court, loads of space for camping, next year water, electricity and showers. The town held a music festival at the same time, with streets closed and bands playing. Jim Stephenson not only ran the event, he gave a seminar on Sport Pilot and with Danny Day who came all the way from Tubac Arizona to give his Rotax Engine seminar, and a great weekend was had by all.

  United Airlines charged me $192 for a flight from Tucson to Phoenix, twenty six minutes flying time, but they were on time all the way through to Orlando.

What a Great Weekend Fly In, one of the best the Florida Flying Gators have ever put on, yes we even had part of the formation team flying, A beautiful sunny day lots of aircraft people and fun.

Dear ole Jerry Rooks set up his information stand manning it and saying hello to everybody, Jim with Recreational Mobility brought his spare parts radios helmets oil, etc.

Volunteers had worked hard get the grass looking immaculate, a large shade tent put up, a well equipped canteen full of great food and drinks and manned by happy people pleased to serve.

Cindy Butler took on the task of Judge in charge, helped by Allan Resnick Bob Touchette, Fred Griffith for the competitions.

Fran Cantrill took charge on getting the tickets sold for the banquet.

Bob Lane was our Radio control on the tower.

Then the planes started to fly in, it was just great. Six Seareys, a Peitinpol, four Skyboys, a Challenger. A Trike on Krucker Floats, Kolb Firestar. Hugh Johnson in his Cessna Skylane, Bill Dickert in his Mainair Trike having flown 120 miles, two Aronca Champs from Manatee, a High Max from Lake Wakes, an old friend Eric Farewell. Then for a first for the Gators a Cessna 310 appears ask permission to land, we are happy if you are and down he comes with class beautiful to watch, and out of it comes Jim Lyons a United pilot a friend of Steve Hathaway they went to school together a year apart in Hillsdale Michigan. Jim is flying with wife Amy, children Abigail and Claire, and the best behaved dog I have seen in a long while, Baxter. Son James had another appointment.   They have flown in from DeSota Country where they live and have their own strip 110 miles away. Jim also owns a Piper Cub and an A.T.6 War Bird soloed at fifteen and stunt flying at seventeen, he has no problem with several hundred people behind him, he sure made it look easy! The first twin engine Spam can to land at Gators Field, and bringing with it such a wonderful family it was our pleasure. Not to be out done Bruce Williams from Spruce Creek flew in his Air Cam so great to see him again it has been a while he is recovering from a crash in a Navion off the beach at Daytona, but he’s looking great.

What a pleasure every one had to see the Florida Flying Gators Formation Team fly again.  Lead by John Gruener, Dave Lepow, Rhett Redford, and Missing Man Pilot Gary Poellien, they set off for short practice. This was to honor two of our lost truly loved pilots and members Frank Trott and Bob Stebbings. An excellent performance of the Missing Man Formation.  Wherever you are guys. May the skies be blue. Have a tail wind. And the landing be in Paradise. God Bless. We all loved you.

The Banquet well if you missed it HA HA HA, Marlene got a well deserved standing ovation for an outstanding meal , which everybody enjoyed to the full. Charles and Allan gave out the Trophies to the winning Pilots. Grand Champion was Chas Almond, Bless him, didn’t he do well!

Nice to see old friends Barry Sterner and Jim Campbell, and Poellien family quads.