How I Got Started on This journey
2015 marks my 6th year of extensive attendance / participation at Airshows, Fly-ins, Museum Open Days, and Other Aviation Events. Prior to 2010 I was like any other aviation enthusiast only attending airshows that were within a comfortable driving distance - usually 3 hours or less - from my home thus allowing me to make my attendance at airshows and other aviation events a day outing.
The idea of attending Airshows, etc., for one day changed late in the 2009 Airshow Season when I met Barry Avent, owner of a Douglas C-47A Dakota "Bones", at the South Carolina National Guard Air and Ground Expo held at McEntire Joint National Guard Base (KMMT) outside of Columbia, SC. During this event I assisted him with the spectators that wanted tours of his airplane. A month later at the 2009 Warriors and Warbirds Airshow at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport (KEQY) in Monroe, NC, I again had the opportunity to again work with the C-47 team. Early in the 2010 Airshow season while supporting the C-47 Team at the Shaw Fest Airshow at Shaw AFB (KSSC), SC, I met Hal Ewing, owner of a Beech C-45F Expeditor "CC-696". A week later while working the Warbird Flightline at the Mid-Atlantic Fly-in & Sport Aviation Convention at Lumberton Regional Airport (KLBT) Hal asked me to fly as his co-pilot / in-flight safety observer . As the saying goes, "The rest is history" as I became the Crew Chief / In-flight Safety Observer on "CC-696".
In addition to supporting the C-47A and C-45F on the airshow circuit I also had the opportunity during the 2011 / 2012 Airshow Seasons to provide ground support for the F4U-4 Corsair "Korean War Hero" owned by Jim Tobul.
From 2010 to present I attend anywhere from 12-16 Airshows, Fly-ins, Museum Open days, and Other Aviation related events a year. The Airshow Season in the Southeast United States typically starts in early-/mid-March and runs through the first or second week in November. The first show is usually the Valiant Air Command TICO Warbird Airshow at the Space Coast Regional Airport (KTIX) in Titusville, FL and the last show is Warbirds Over Monroe (fka Warriors and Warbirds). In the Southeast there typically are no Airshows or Fly-ins between late June and early September due to the heat and many pilots attending the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI in mid-summer.
In addition to flying and providing ground support during Airshows and Fly-ins I can also be found with my camera taking photos of the sights that accompany Airshows, Fly-ins, Museum Open days, and Other Aviation Events. Through this site I will share those photos along with stories on the planes and people I encounter in my travels.
Sit Back, Relax, and Keep Them Flying
