The Golden Age
At The October dinner meeting we watched a film highlighting aviation’s accomplishments in the era between the two World Wars. The progress was driven by improving our nation’s infrastructure, barnstorming daredevils, record setters and the birth of viable commercial aviation. It was a very exciting and innovative 24 year period not often highlighted.
How to do the Impossible in just 9 Days, 3 Minutes and 44 Seconds!
Our September speaker was Jill Rutan Hoffman who regaled us with inspirational stories about the historic 1986 record-setting, around-the-world flight of the Voyager by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager.
As the daughter of world famous pilot, Dick Rutan, and niece of revolutionary aeronautical designer, Burt Rutan; Jill’s inspirational and humorous stories presented an up close and personal look into the lives of two of the greatest adventurers of our time and demonstrated what can be accomplished with a nothing-is-impossible attitude.
Ramped up!
Like a plague of locusts, the DAF descended en mass on March AFB for a day at the March Field Air Museum. In a spectacular display of precision flying, everyone made the first turnoff from Runway 32, although some missed the subsequent turn onto Taxiway Golf. The 18 aircraft (which may be a DAF record) were marshalled in to Million Air, and filled their entire ramp area. Jodie and Lori took driving duty to ferry everyone from Million Air to the Air Museum, where the visit started with a taco lunch. Larry checked everyone off and handled coordination. The collection of aircraft and aviation memorabilia at the museum is massive, including an SR-71 and many aircraft rarely seen up close. The B-47 and B-52 were there with their massive landing gear, along with the Globemaster, Flying Boxcar, and an assortment of smaller aircraft. There was plenty of time after lunch to wander the grounds and check them out, before Mitch and Patti took over the driving duties to get everyone back to the airport.
Many thanks to Million Air and their staff. They opened on Saturday just for the DAF, had everything waiting for us, and gave us the use of their crew cars for the day. They did a great job, and made us feel very welcome. The civilian Airport Manager, Gary Gosiglia, showed up as well to greet us. Great things are happening there, and it's nice to see new opportunities for General Aviation.
Finally, thanks go to Dan Delane, for setting everything up. After all that effort, he wasn't able to attend the fly-in due to work!
Steampunched
This year's Hangar Party took a real dive, with the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea providing a fantastic backdrop for the Steampunk partygoers. The crowd at Nemo's bar was ordering Steampunch from it's smoking dispenser, while the band provided music for a crowd on the dance floor. Mitch, Larry and Tom worked the grill and the smokers, turning out chicken and tri-tip to go with the wide assortment of sides brought by the DAFers, while the rest of the DAF board tended bar, checked people in, and generally made sure that things went off smoothly. DAFer Norman Cowell sat in (stood in, actually) with the band for a number, getting the dancers going for a candlelight tribute! 
This year's party was a great success, and most of that is due to all the volunteers that make it happen. The whole DAF board worked hard to put it together, chaired by Linda Howard and with help from Wayne and Maria Grau, Liz Broen, Gary Palmer, and more people that I'm sure I've left out. There were also all the people who showed up to set up on Saturday and clean up on Sunday. Lamby and Sally graciously volunteered the use of their hangar, even though they couldn't make the party. The person who probably worked the hardest of all, though, was Al Gibbs. His backdrop of the Nautilus wheelhouse was a labor of love, and he put the time in to prove it. Thanks to everyone involved, and special thanks to Al! If you have suggestions for a theme for next year's party, or would like to get involved in organizing it, please talk to any board member. We can use all the help we can get, and it's a lot of fun as well.