Warbird Information Exchange

Sunday didn't wash the dirt off mine. Just made little mud streaks down the wing...

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Taylor Stevenson

You must have left before the afternoon gulley washers hit! All i needed was a bar of soap-for a cold shower!

JMC

All in all, the flying portion of the show was fabulous (on Saturday that is) this year.

The rain on Sunday however, left me feeling cheated. Nothing like spending a week getting ready for a weekend full of airshow to have that spirit dampened by a downpour.

Hate to have a political rant here - but Friday's meeting was disheartening.

Did anyone else feel like they were listening to an "Amway" Convention when Steve Brown did his "State of the CAF" report?

Maybe it was just me, but I felt like we were getting the same news over and over again on how he was/is "the savior" of the CAF's previous financial woes. I'm not buying it. It's easy to bring things back into the black when you're out there selling off airplanes and even now parts (at least that is what the rumor mill told me out on the ramp). Still haven't seen the promise of large scale development monies (grants, donations, etc.). I also will cry "foul" that the only "campaign literature" allowed in the Commemorative Center was Mr. Brown's. I also found it curious that it appeared (at least to me anyway) that CAF staff members were definitely put "under the thumb" of our illustrious CEO. CAF awards were "Ho Hum," and I don't recall that a "brass jackass" was awarded this year. I can't hardly believe there wasn't remarkable effort made by CAF members this year.

Honestly, I left the meeting in almost tears. All I could think after the meeting was that "this" was all over. (The "this" being the magic of the homecoming airshow.) It all just seemed like it was ending. It was heartbreaking.

I had to be reminded that there are a lot of absentee votes still out and that there won't be any results until mid-November.

Fortunately Saturday's flying schedule brought me out of that funk.

One last note, most probably didn't know this - but this was Jan Collmer's last CAF Midland airshow. He's giving it up in December after a very successful run as an airshow performer. He and his support crew have been fabulous to work with out on the ramp. They will be missed.

So now we wait for the results of "the vote."

Just hope it is decisive and there's no questions regarding its outcome.

Leaving the politics aside, "ME108 Taifun" has done a great job ramrodding the fuel trucks at Airsho for years. That is the kind of passion for the organization that makes it strong. I for one just want to say thanks to her and to all the other long-time volunteers (Bill Popejoy, Ronnie Barnett, HD Butler, of course Gena Linebarger, all the pyro lunatics, etc, etc, etc, the list is very long) for making the Midland show what it is.

If I have any stroke left, I promise it will continue, in spite of moves, disgruntled folks, no military, and dust!

Old Shep

There are others that deserve thanks too Old Shep. All too often we forget about a lot of people that do things incognito during airsho. That is, until you need them.

We need to add Sparky to the list. Also, Rex Apger, Jim from Harlingen, Rick Scarvie, Wally Jero, Scott Tourville, Joe Cradit (my oil guy turn gas passer), the guys from the oil crew (Troy Fitting, Pappy and the rest of the gang of the 3rd Coast Squadron), Lyn Fite and his APU guys, and the tug drivers. I can only speak about those of us in Maintenance, Fuel and Oil. What most don't realize is that we all arrive a week before the airshow and stay a day or so after the show. We are on the ramp at O'Dark thirty and go home in the dark too. Rarely (if ever) do we get to see a full show or get to visit the O'Club until the Survivor's Party (and then, we are the last ones to get there and we leave early so that we can be ready for you on Monday morning). We are the ones you all call on for every breakdown, gas and oil needs, and everything else needed to have you fly. It's often dirty, unappeciated work. But all the reward we need is to have our "babies" fly.

Of course all of this happens because we have Mark Baxter (Birddog) supporting us in everyway possible. He lives on the airport during the show.

I couldn't be prouder to work with these gentlemen. As the only girl working line service on the ramp, they not only respect me for what I do for the CAF, but I just love 'em all to pieces. As I've said in previous posts, this was year 27 for me. And I am already looking forward to what I hope will be year 28.

I know I have forgotten some folks in this post. It's not intentional by any stretch of the imagination. It's just awful easy to leave someone out.

This post also doesn't name all of the rest of the airshow's volunteers (Pyro, all of the Marshaller's, the ticket folks, etc. and etc.) the airshow goes on because of the tremendous amount of effort by all. The CAF couldn't afford us if they needed to pay us. But we do it because we are so passionate about the CAF.

I know I may have used this forum for supporting my viewpoint on the CAF vote. For the non-voting out there - I apologize. I would not have taken a stand if I truly did not feel it was/is important to the future of the CAF.

Btw, what Old Shep fails to tell you is that he and I met originally when we were just past kid age. Yes. We are second generation CAF members. Our Dads would be proud Old Shep. As long as I live I don't think I'll ever forget some of the memories I have of airshows with our folks leading the charge. The baton certainly has been passed on to us to ensure that we continue to have the CAF in years to come.

OK, it's time for me to stop. I don't want to get mushy.

Jackie

I see you caught The Race Pilot in his natural state....texting somebody. I think we're going to have to do an Intervention for Thom.... Love the photo!

Shep
Through the years you have done a thing or two to help airsho happen. I am relatively new to the CAF and what you and ME108 are so right there are so many nameless people that bust their (*&)(* for days and months to make the event happen and don't get the recognition.
Next time I am in Midland a Dr. Pepper is on me.

the long-hair hippy....