President's Message
Chris Ulibarri
AIRFEST IS NOW HERE!!! It's our turn to shine again in the aviation community. Last year's AIRFEST was tremendous and this years AIRFEST is going to be even better. Ray Parrish has given me a list of responsibilities we need to fulfill and so I will again re-send them so there is no doubt about what needs to be done and who to contact to VOLUNTEER. This year we are asking for ALL MEMBERS to VOLUNTEER in some capacity or another so if you're interested in a specific area or specific people you'd like to work with then please VOLUNTEER NOW and contact those in the responsible areas below.
This is going to be bigger than last years AIRFEST, SO WE WILL NEED EVEYONES HELP. We are going to be setting up on Friday throughout the afternoon so please make it out to help. VOLUNTEER Bands will be issued for those showing up on Friday so if you do not have one come Saturday morning at the start of AIRFEST the entry fee will have to be paid in order to see the events.
ONLY VOLUNTEERS with armbands will be allowed in FREE. If you have any questions about VOLUNTE-ERING, please contact Ray Parrish, Tim McMurray, Gray Bridwell, or myself for details.
VOLUNTEERING earlier than Friday the 24th of September is acceptable and preferred so we know where we stand with VOLUNTEERS and how to make things flow smoother for OUR AIRFEST weekend. You don't have to wait until that Friday to VOLUNTEER though. Please look at the following areas and contact the individual ASAP. Thank you so much for your outstanding dedication to the EAA Chapter 471 and our goals:
1. Ray Parrish (325-665-1460) Air Boss - In charge of signs, barricades, communication, Airshow flying activities.
2. Tim McMurray (325-698-4921) Tmc@bitstreet.com - In charge of Ramp Control
3. Lew Jones (325-698-9314) LewMach1@aol.com - In charge of Security and Safety
4. Gray Bridwell (325-537-2496) Gray1@jefflutherconstruction.com
- In charge of Military aircraft, parking RV's, and will need help parking aircraft both Friday and Saturday September 24th and 25th .
5. Charlotte Rhodes (325-695-4469) Charlotterhodes@hotmail.com - Has already volunteered to do the registration booth for incoming pilots. If you can't walk around much this is a good place to help.
6. David Marten (325-518-3426) DandDmarten@hotmail.com
- Young Eagles Saturday morning 0800- 11:30am. Volunteer's need to contact him now so he can get codes for you from Randy Moore.
7. Chris Ulibarri (325-338-0982) UlibarriC@aol.com - I will help everywhere needed including Young Eagles.
NOTE: There will be a huge party with meals and music for chapter members on Saturday evening of the 25th of September after the AIRFEST Airshow. This is to show appreciation to you for volunteering your time and efforts and also helps tremendously to help marketing efforts on behalf of our EAA Chapter 471.
"WOW!"
"This is going to be good!!"
By Gray Bridwell
This will be the last news article before the Big Country Airfest and I know that I will leave something out that needs to be said, so I will do my best. To recap, Big Country Airfest incorporated to move liability from the chapter to this organization that is insured with special airshow insurance coverage, (Not EAA). Airfest is a combined effort of EAA 471 and Warbirds Chapter 5. Other participants include TSTC and the Southwest Rotary club.
I
have had many emails affirming many people coming to the Airfest and have been
waiting for a year. That would indicate to me that the people who have been
before are eager to come back. We have worked hard to reach those who have
never been. They are the hard ones to convert. In an effort to reach more
potential attendees, we have personally mailed a flyer and a personal note to
574 people within 200 miles of Abilene. I have developed writer's cramp from
signing all copies to give the personal touch. When I noticed someone's name I
recognized, I would write something to that person. The Wayne McCormick Video
that we all viewed at the Christmas party last year was sent to various EAA
chapters to make them aware of our efforts in Abilene. Many people are looking
forward to the Saturday night feed... the live band and pilot camaraderie make the
evening appealing to many pilots. Chapter 471 member's food will be paid for to
say thank you for a job well done. Several folks are staying the night and
bringing a tent. I have encouraged some of our local bunch to do the same and
have gotten good response. Many 471 members are staying in tents. With all the
busses, motor home, campers, Civil Air patrol tents, 471 tents, and transient
pilots' tents, we will have a good showing on the NW side.
Fundraising was the key to the event and it was a great year. Almost $30,000 in cash, and just short of $20,000 in kind makes about $50,000 collected, thus the event will be worth coming to... Our marketing efforts include 17 billboards located as listed : I-20 NORTHSIDE, I-20 SOUTHSIDE, 4420 NORTH Clack, 2835 PINE, 5623 SOUTH FIRST, EAST AMBLER LOC, 450 SOUTH JUDGE ELY, 2479 SOUTH TREADAWAY, in addition to Brady, Eastland, Brownwood and San Angelo (Link to spotted map http://maps.lamar.com/MapsPhotos/PrintSpottedMap.aspx?ProposalID=148691 ), Randy Turner and Steve Krazer have worked up a great commercial that will be on the air hopefully by the time you are reading this. Live spots on KWKC radio, a live remote on KEAN radio from 10:00am till noon in front of Hangar #1 on Saturday morning, and public service announcements on local radio and TV stations should get the word out. Efforts from Nancy Paup include articles that have been in the Big Country Free Press, the Abilene Report News, TSTC Texas wide newsletter, and the Dyess Peacemaker. Dick Humphrey has worked on the "Wheels" part of Airfest and will have a couple of car clubs to display their cars with a judging Saturday morning. The winners will then move the car to the flight line for display. Charlotte has borrowed a tent and will set up pilot registration near Fed-Ex and have a free cold bottle of water and an information packet on Abilene to hand to each pilot who comes to ABI. Sam and Arlis will meet and greet the new arrivals and point them to registration and give rides to any that need rides. Lew and Tim will patrol the ramp/crowd line and provide our security as well as two bi-cycle Abilene Police department officers. Loren Henson and Shirley Parrish will work the gate and take money. Earl and Barry will provide smoke oil service again this year. Jim Snellgrove and somebody else will drive the tram tractors again.
The day has been organized to get the most bang for the buck. Young Eagles flights start at 8:00am and run until 12:00. Jim has set up a veteran's reunion at the C-47 at 10:00am with the group picture. He has pre-written the article and will take the picture and email the article to minimize his time away from the airport. Falcon flight (RV formation flyers) will come over Abilene inside the loop at 9:30 and stay in formation for a 30-minute sweep over the city attracting attention.
Ray says the airshow pilots briefing will be at 10:00am for the 12:00 noon Airshow. At 12:00 noon the Mayor Norm Archibald will declare September 25, 2004 Sport Aviation day in the Big Country and kick off the Airshow. Ray has the following performers: John Klatt, John MacGuire, Bod Ford, Trojan Phlyers, Texas Twisters, Mike Galaway, and Ron Cain will provide breathtaking acrobatic maneuvers. The B-1 will do a fly over to show it's now famous fighting force. The C-17 in its magnitude will be back in all its 585,000 pound glory. A Dyess based C-130 will be present for tours and show the local based hauling capabilities and information given about the vast array of missions this war horse has undertaken. Woody is working on a couple of Harriers to show near vertical takeoffs, and hovering capabilities of the jet. Van's Aircraft will be sending the second RV-10 (It is not yellow!) They are certifying it for flight as we speak so it is literally brand new…..TSTC will be holding a tradeshow just like last year displaying the latest aviation related items. Harold Steiber is organizing an aviation swap meet displaying the "Trash" and "Treasure" depending on your vantage point. The Southwest Rotary club will have a food court with several food vendors from funnel cake to turkey legs... this area will be fenced off North and west of Airborne Express, not on the flight line, and only accessed from the flight line.
This event is free to anyone who fly's in, if they go through the gate they will be charged...
We do need more of you to volunteer... You can show up Friday afternoon to help with setup and receive your free armband. If you come Saturday you will be charged admittance. ~ Gray ~
Young Eagles
Corner
Saturday September 25th we'll again be hosting our Young Eagles flights in support of Airfest! I'm looking for any and all available pilots to help with the effort! We'll be flying from 0800 to 1130 operating from the NW side in front of TSTC.
Please e-mail me at dandtmarten@hotmail.com or call (605) 390-8044. I'll need your name, aircraft type, and N# so we can get at list to the tower.
Also, if you'd like to help with registering kids/flightline please let me know.
Plan on showing at NLT than 0730 for a 0745 brief. You'll need to be at the briefing as you'll be receiving you squawks and the route brief. The route will be different than years past, but I'll have charts ready for everybody.
We are expecting a great turnout from the kids again this year, so please join us and fly.
Again if you have any questions/ideas zap me an e-mail of call!
Thanks,
Dave Marten
Young Eagles Coordinator EAA 471
***********
NO BREAKFAST
FOR SEPTEMBER
There will not be a breakfast for September. Instead, all members are asked to focus their efforts on volunteering for Airfest.
Radar Blips
Always remember… you fly an airplane with
your head, not your hands.
Never let an airplane take you somewhere your brain didn't get to five minutes
earlier. J
Chapter
Christmas Party
Scheduled
Yea... I
know it's way early for this, but... Chapter 471's Christmas party date is set for
Saturday, December 18 at Fairway Oaks Country Club. Dinner will be $15 per
person. More info to follow in coming newsletters.
