[singpilot]

It always amazes me when I realize another year has gone by. When I was based in the midwest, I used to go every year. Being on the west coast has made it tough.

My favourite year was right after we certified a DC9 airline for sports teams, and had 35 flight hours still in the training budget remaining. I got permission from the owner, rounded up all the employees (47) and we took the oldest airplane in the fleet (a 1968 vintage DC9-15RC with a cargo door and front and rear airstair doors) to the Classic parking section (over 20 years old) in the grass, just outside Paul's Forest. Pitched a tarp over the wings, and camped there. When it rained heavily one night, we all moved into the plane and cargo holds, and still had room for several more neighbors closeby. We pulled the window exits, and let our people watch the airshow from the wing.

Was the talk of the town, and I'll bet a thousand people trapsed thru that plane, front to rear. Was all steam guages, 2 navs, 2 comms, 2 xponders, B&W radar. An ex-Southern Airways, ex-Hughes Air Worst, ex-Bonanza, ex Republic, ex-Northwest Nine.

You'd think people had never seen an airliner up close. Was a blast.