District X—Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
Lawrence Tougas
Vice President
Happy Fourth of July everyone. We’re in the heart of flying season now, but it wasn’t long ago that winter was raging. Well, raging everywhere except in the Grand Canyon state of Arizona. That area’s high time is winter and the people there take full advantage of it. This month’s column has a report from one of our Phoenix associate vice presidents, Jim Mohan.
While much of the country is hunkered down in the winter building season, or dusting off the micro flyers for indoor flying, there is no better time for a fun-fly in the Arizona desert. That was the case the weekend of January 15-17, 2016. The Phoenix-based Sun Valley Flyers hosted the Winter Warbirds event under the leadership of Contest Director (CD) Tony Quist. Although mornings were a bit brisk, Mother Nature blessed the event with outstanding flying weather, clear skies, and light wind. More than 50 pilots registered for the event with a truly outstanding collection of warbirds displayed on the tarmac and in the air. Aside from a break in the action while a hot air balloon carrying tourists was recovered in the flying area, the flying was nonstop.
All that was required was that airplanes had, at one point, worn the colors of a military organization. The result was several World War I biplanes, many World War II fighters, some Korean War vintage jets, and even a Cessna 172 in a Coast Guard livery. Pilots from California and throughout
Arizona participated in an outstanding weekend of fun, flying, and fellowship.
CD Tony Quist managed an outstanding event.
Cole Thornton and Mike Adams do a formation flyby with Cole’s Sea Fury and Mike’s AT-6.
Until next month, I wish everyone happy landings.
Chuck Brooks with his Top Flight P-47.
Wayne Layne assembles Brian O’Meara’s impressive F-84 Thunderstreak.
David Zara flew his beautiful Fokker D.VII.
Associate Vice Presidents: Contest Coordinators:
