The Flabob Express Makes an Historic Trip
Our first dinner meeting of the new year on January 15 started off with a fascinating presentation of the adventurous trip of DC-3 Flabob Express' trip from Riverside's Flabob Airport in May 2019 to the cliffs of Normandy, France to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day on June 6 plus the 70th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The total U.S. based DC-3 planes making the trip numbered 14.The crew of the Flabob Express spent many months preparing for this historic trip, with private and corporate donations making it possible. The Flabob Express touched down in seven different counties, each with their own unique set of logistical and aviation challenges. Those countries included: the United States of America, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
The crew faced numerous challenges including weather, broken airplane parts, lots of bureaucratic paperwork plus learning to deal with the private European air traffic control system. Unfortunately, a broken carburetor in England caused the Flabob Express to miss the June 6 festivities in France, but they joined up with the group a couple of days later. After all anniversary celebrations, the Flabob Express and the other planes safely made the journey back to the U.S.
The Flabob Express Box Score:
6.5 Weeks, 98 hours flown, 9,500 gallons avgas, 70 gallons oil, two flat struts, six bad intake tubes, two bad generators, one bad carburetor, 13 border crossings and two North Atlantic crossings.
Thank you so much to our presenter Bill Tymczyszyn, one of the crew on this historic trip, for sharing this adventure with us.
Our wonderful 2019 Holiday Party
The Del Amo Flyers Holiday Party was full of holiday charm with a good time had by all! Everyone cleaned up quite nicely for this festive occasion at PVGC. Vince and Heather La Duca created the beautiful and illuminated table decorations that brought the holiday spirit to every table. We enjoyed wonderful fellowship, delicious food, along with terrific entertainment by the live band who kept the dance floor hopping.Steve Sappington thanked all the volunteers that contributed this year’s successful fly-ins, dinners and events. He also thanked the 2019 Board of Directors for their service, but delayed the announcement of the 2020 Board until January, as a couple vacancies are in need of galant volunteers.
ROBINSON - OUR PRODUCTIVE NEIGHBOR AT KTOA!
We had a great turnout for our November 20 dinner with speaker Kurt Robinson, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. Kurt started out by sharing a bit of what it was like growing up in the Robinson household on Longhill Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes. In 1973, his living room, family room and garage served as the beginnings of the very successful Robinson Helicopter Company started in their home by Kurt's father Frank. Kurt didn't think it was unusual, doesn't everyone have a budding business developing in their family home? Doesn't everyone have technical drawings all over their dining room table? Kurt shared with us about the expansion of the business that would eventually take them to a 600,000 sq. foot manufacturing facility located at Torrance Municipal Airport. Clearly Frank Robinson, trained as an aeronautical engineer in Seattle at the U of W, had the determination and vision to make it happen.Frank Robinson's vision was to produce the world’s highest quality, most reliable helicopters in the most efficient, cost-effective way possible. It became apparent over the years that their helicopters, in addition to personal use, would become useful in many commercial operations worldwide, including police, news agencies, cattle herding and cargo hauling. The R-66 Marine is also equipped with inflatable floats for over water travel.
Safety and training is a huge focus with Robinson Helicopter Company, with intense training available domestically as well as overseas. There have even been several Around-the-World trips taken in both the R-44 and R-66 Turbine. Since Robinson discourages any high risk flying, they are very happy when those trips are completed! The company continues to expand with various types of R-22's, R-44's and R-66's with more specialized purposes. There is also a focus now on manufacturing diesel helicopters. To date, Robinson Helicopter Company has delivered over 12,000 helicopters worldwide.
They manufacture over 300 units a year and sell most of them overseas. It is a terrific benefit having Robinson based at KTOA, ensuring many years of local flying opportunities for all of us. We thank Kurt for sharing with us about the past, present and future of his thriving company, in addition for the opportunity to tour his facility in February.
Adventurers charmed by Alamos
On Friday, November 1, seven airplanes and 21 people arrived in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico for a relaxing fun and sun filled long weekend. All entered the country officially in Guaymas, then upon arrival at Alamos, we got the party started with margaritas and snacks in the huge 12 plane hangar. The weather was warm but nice with evenings quite pleasant. The weekend included delicious dining choices at several dining locations where no one went hungry....or thirsty for that matter!The group was entertained nightly by a variety of authentic Mexican musicians, including the vibrant Ballet Folklorico (dancers, singers and musicians, 60 people in all) from the nearby town of Navojoa. For the early risers, on three mornings we had the option of taking a guided walking tour through various parts of town, plus we were treated to an Alamos history talk one late morning. Those interesting walks and talks were led by Hacienda de los Santos owner Jim Swickard or his son-in-law Ramon Alcantar. The Sonoran Cooking Class and the Tequila Class were well attended by eager learners! Hiking, horseback riding and bicycling were popular options too as was lounging and swimming at the numerous pools. A dozen folks boarded a tram to visit the local cemetery where the Day of the Dead (October 31 – November 2 each year) traditions were taking place which included prayer and remembrance of friends and family members who have passed way. It was a memorable experience not to be forgotten! The Swickard/Alcantar families and staff at the Hacienda de Los Santos were quite attentive to the needs of the group, tending to every little detail!
After Alamos, two planes took off for more adventures, one to El Fuerte to catch the train up the mountain to visit Mexico’s Copper Canyon (larger and deeper than our Grand Canyon), and another headed to San Carlos for beach and sailing fun! Travelling to Mexico often includes additional challenges for pilots….and this trip was no exception! However, those challenges were resolved and all planes that travelled returned safely.
Thank you to Patti and Tom LaGrelius for organizing such a memorable trip.
The October 2019 Mystery Fly-In
October 12th 2019 was the Del Amo Flyer's annual Mystery Fly-inWe had 6 Teams which ended up being 11.5 contestants.
The test was composed of 27 questions for a total of 205 points.
It was a timed quiz, so in addition to answering questions correctly, points are awarded or deducted according to the total time used to take the quiz.
First, a little review of a couple of questions:
What is this? a. DAF First Mystery Fly-in Award
b. Young Eagles Excellence Award
c. DAF Jim Gerlach Memorial Air Rally Trophy
d. None of the above
Extra Credit – Used in a tie breaker
Which Fly-in this year had the greatest attendance? ____________
And a scrambler, shame shame shame...
LAEDLSEYMOFR __________________________
After the tests were in, teams had to unscramble to determine where they where headed.
A scrambler works well for this:
RNLFLYEACHVE __________________________
Everyone headed out once they turned in their destinations.
It ended up being a wonderful weather day, we all met up at the restaurant in French Valley for a great lunch and ended up with 13.5 people.
Now on to the answers:
What is this?
is...
c. DAF Jim Gerlach Memorial Air Rally Trophy
Extra Credit – Used in a tie breaker
Answer: Bermuda Dunes had the greatest attendance of 45 people
The scramble... LAEDLSEYMOFR Answer: Del Amo Flyers
On to the results:
We had:
6 Teams
11.5 contestants
2 committee
27 questions
Perfect score would be 205
High Score 155
Low 45
And the winner was: Mitch Taylor
Sightseeing and Cyclones in Sacramento
On the last weekend in September, 15 DAFers assembled in Sacramento for our September Fly-In. The marine layer in Torrance forced some later-than-planned departures, but everyone was able to make the Friday night Happy Hour. Our group then wandered over to the annual Farm-to-Fork street fair that was happening just a block from our hotel. Getting hungry, most of our group met up for an impromptu dinner at the nearby Il Fornaio where we were seated in our own private dining room.
On Saturday morning, Steve Sappington made arrangements for everyone in the group to rent bikes and tour along the American River trail. The cool, partly cloudy weather was perfect for the bike ride. Everyone completed the 20 mile ride unscathed except for a couple of minor falls (although your author was seriously contemplating heading to the hospital after the ride for an emergency butt replacement).
During Happy Hour on Saturday night, just about everyone received an emergency blast on their phones. It wasn't an Amber Alert, but an alert from the National Weather Service issuing a tornado warning. That's right - a tornado alert in Sacramento! Although advised to seek shelter, the DAFers did what DAFers do - run outside to see what was happening. One part of the sky had a glowing green hue, the other part was black (except when lit up by the frequent lightning). We all walked to the nearby restaurant for our planned group dinner and seated in a covered patio right overlooking the river. Normally this would have been a perfect spot on a late September evening, but the wind and rain forced us to move to a more sheltered table (the restaurant staff was very accommodating). Following a great dinner, we went back to the hotel and enjoyed a well-deserved nightcap.
The weather on Sunday morning couldn't have been more different - a crisp but sunny fall day. Many in the group walked over to the California Railroad Museum (a great attraction), while some went over to the State Capitol and toured the grounds. And then everyone flew or drove home under sunny skies.
Thanks to Larry and Jodie for hosting the fly-in, and to Steve for arranging the bike ride.