Wings Over Wine Country 2012

 

In early July I received a text message from my good friend "The Exotic Guy" Captain Duncan Flett.  "Hey there Big Guy!  You wouldn't be interested in being my extra Flight Line Safety guy for the PCAM Air Show August 18 & 19th?"  My response was almost instantaneous!  "I'm In!"

Three years ago Jim Abell, Ramp Boss for the Pacific Coast Air Museum's Wings Over Wine Country Air Show, and fellow United Airlines pilot, asked Duncan if he would like to join the air show ramp crew as an Assistant Flight Line Safety Advisor.  Duncan had just finished a Masters Degree in Safety Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and thought it would be nice to put some of that training to work.  Things went well and they invited him back for the 2011 air show.  Last year's Flight Line Safety head-honcho was promoted to Air Show Site Manager for the 2012 show.  Duncan moved up to his position.  Since every head-honcho needs a sidekick/fall guy, Duncan put the word out that he needed an assistant.  To sweeten the deal he promised a free hat and T-shirt to the first sucker/volunteer that replied to his message.  That person, apparently, was me!

The theme for this year's air show was 100 years of Marine Corps aviation.  As one would expect, the Marines were well represented.  There were two AV-8B Harrier Jump Jets and one F-18E Super Hornet in attendance.  Nice jets---but (in my opinion) all they really do is make a lot of noise.  The cool Marine Corps offering was the pristine Grumman Duck from the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California.

Before I get too far along, I guess I should say a few words about the photos accompanying this story.  With a few exceptions, all of the photos are static.  There are two reasons for this.  First; I was using my iPhone camera and the zoom function is fairly limited.  Second; and more important, it is considered "Bad Form" for the Flight Line Safety guy to be taking pictures when he should be monitoring ramp operations. . .  All photos were taken either before or after the day's aerial events---or when there was no movement on the ramp.

This was the site plan Friday afternoon at 1500 PDT.  By 1900 it had all changed. . .

Tradition dictates that the Flight Line Crew gather at the Starbucks down the street from the Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport at 0700 Saturday and Sunday mornings.  The scene above was from Saturday.  Jim Abell (yellow shirt) was telling us that the ramp layout had changed.  Semper Gumby!  (Always Flexible!)

Air Show Schedule.

The ramp was open to the public from 0900 to 1000 each morning.  The B-25 always drew a crowd.

Way better than an iPhone!

The two Safety Guys in their Gilligan outfits in front of the B-25, Old Glory.

On the inside of Old Glory's bombay!

Hawker Sea Fury Argonaut.

There were four CJ-6's.  Photo courtesy of Harry Strouse.

I called this one the China Clipper. . .

There were eight P-51's on hand.

Nose art on Red Dog XII.

I found this on the right side of Red Dog's rudder!

It's a pretty exclusive club. . .  Steve Hinton from The Planes of Fame Museum is in the black shirt.  Nice fellow.  He told Duncan that after the air show it would take 1:15 to get back to Chino from Santa Rosa.  Wee Willy II is a nice ride!

One of two airplanes sponsored by Jelly Belly. . .

The other airplane was a Stearman.



The Air Show is planned around Horizon Airlines' schedule.  Julie Clark's T-34 is in the background.

It was foggy early Sunday morning.

Before the ramp opened, Duncan and I got to speak with Craig Schulz, Charles M.'s son.  He has a newly restored P-40, that except for the paperwork, is ready to fly.  He said it should be part of next year's air show.  I hope so.  It's the nicest looking P-40 I believe I have ever seen!

 



It was on static display.

Great artwork!  Which is fitting, of course.

There was one on each blade. . .

The museum had some of their static display aircraft open for business.  When was the last time you sat in a F-4?

Johnny Mullis would give me all kinds of grief if I left out the NAVY!  This was Sunday morning, after the fog lifted.

This is Gary Greenough, Deputy Ramp Boss and retired Navy guy.  He donned his flight deck gear for the C-1 starts.  Gary has a KISS (Rock Band) Tribute Harley-Davidson Motorcycle that he uses to raise money for the Wounded Warriors charity.  All four band members signed the gas tank at a recent concert.  Gary was still pumped about the whole deal!  A good man for a good cause.  I'm looking forward to working with him again next year.

Sorry Johnny, this was the best I could do.  Jelly Belly was trying to run me over with his Stearman. . .  I'm kidding, of course!

Speaking of Jelly Belly.  He also flies the Reno racer, Steadfast.

Which is more photogenic from this side, don't you think?  I suspect there are more tattoos in this photo, than there ever were on all the pilots who ever flew this airplane. . .

Most of the Flight Line Crew from the 2012 Wings Over Wine Country Air Show.  Photo courtesy of Harry Strouse.

www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org