Jets over Kentucky Week
A GRAND JET EVENT
by Robert J. Engle
When Jay Smith from Model Aviation talked to me about writing an article for Jets Over Kentucky Week, I was excited to have the opportunity do so. Jets Over Kentucky is in its 11th year and is one of the largest jet events in the US.
It is held in the small town of Lebanon, Kentucky. When my GPS said the hotel was at the next turn, I thought it was malfunctioning because I only saw fields, but there it was.
The event is held at the Lebanon-Springfield County Airport and it’s a wonderful site for jets. The runway is nearly a mile long and 75 feet wide, with open areas in every direction. There is hardly anything in the way to impede your flying.
There was an occasional full-scale airplane landing, so all of the jets had to land and wait for a few minutes, but then they took to the skies again. The Air Methods EC135 helicopter was out saving lives and in and out throughout the event, but the crew was courteous and when they departed, they flew along the road away from the runway.
As a jet modeler in my fifth year, I am sorry to admit that I had not previously attended this event. The atmosphere is laid-back—just a bunch of people having fun doing what they love most. This is unusual for such a large event.
One of the things I like most about the jet crowd is that it is a close-knit group. You see the same people at many of the events and it’s like family. There were pilots from several other countries who had traveled a long distance and I hope they felt at ease at Jets Over Kentucky Week and will come back. Each pilot—160 in all—registered and paid a small fee to fly for seven days at this magnificent facility.
I was told it was the wettest Jets Over Kentucky Week ever—not the greatest weather for taking pictures, with clouds and haze. There was rain almost every day, and if you were not standing on pavement, your feet soon became soaked and muddy.
There were many thunderstorms and downpours, and a few tents took unexpected rides, but the minute the rain stopped, the jets were flying and the public enjoyed many hours of watching them. I don’t know the exact number, but I would guess there were several hundred jets on site.
At the end of the day, the hangar looked like the hangar of our dreams. It was filled with jets in every shape and size and it was locked at night to secure them. The hangar doubled as the banquet hall for the pilots and crew to enjoy a great catered meal and awards presentation at the end of the event on Saturday.
The auction was a great chance to bid on something and save a few dollars. There were small foam jets, electronic parts, tools, turbines, and a giant BAE Hawk,
as well as many other great things and free bottles of CA glue by the hundreds.
There were six flight stations and they were filled most of the time with pilots tearing up the sky. Being from the military and, as we say, being “squared away,” I am very critical of safety and organization. Marvin Alvarez ran the flightline like an aircraft carrier flight deck. He shuttled jets on and off the runway with speed and precision. I thought he did an incredible job on the flightline each day.
We were lucky to have him. Of course, the main reason there is a Jets Over Kentucky event is because of Lewis “The General” Patton. Lewis is the contest director (CD) who puts a ton of work into this event and simply wants people to have a good time. He is easy to talk to and if you have a problem, he will do his best to fix it or devise a suitable compromise. I want to thank Lewis, not just for his event, but for his continued support and dedication to the hobby.
For anyone needing parts or looking to make a purchase, there were plenty of vendors and sponsors from which to choose, with nearly everything from glue to turbine engines.
There were a few food vendors on site with hot food as well as cold drinks. I think someone would have made a killing with a mobile ice cream or drink stand because it was extremely hot and humid each day.
Many pilots grilled their own food and some had RV setups that were unbelievable! I guess, after attending a large number of events, these people have their layouts down to a science. Lewis had the parking for RVs and campers organized before the gathering, so attendees had their favorite spots.
Although the weather was uncooperative, I think everyone still had a great time. When the rain was falling, people worked on airplanes or sat together and caught up with each other and shared winter projects that they had built.
I also managed to get a few flights in. Rick Daubert, from Pennsylvania, brought some nice jets and was kind enough to let me fly. Thanks, Rick.
Below: Jonathan and Johanna Smith came all the way from England to fly. They deserve an award for the most flights because it seemed their BobCat was always in the air.
I hope everyone who attended enjoyed Jets Over Kentucky Week and I look forward to seeing the event grow. It is a grand gathering to attend, whether it is just to watch, or even better, to fly in it! I hope to see you all next year, and in the meantime, happy and safe flying!
—Robert “Smooth” Engle
h2oheliman@hotmail.com
SOURCES:
Jets Over Kentucky Week
https://m.facebook.com/pages/Jets-over-Kentucky-Week-2015/1460340594231888
