Airshows

The 50th Anniversary of Epps Air Service was celebrated on Thursday evening, May 28, 2015, and a huge audience turned out to honor Pat Epps and his 50 years of service to the aviation community.

Formation flying and aerial displays are enjoyable and present some challenges. Every pilot has to do his part and fly as part of a team. The flying must be precise because the other pilots require precision and predictability in your flying. When one flies to honor veterans who have sacrificed for this country to ensure our freedoms, flying as part of aerial displays is extremely gratifying.

Even though our appearance at Cherry Point was only as static aircraft, still, moving these aircraft around the skies, avoiding weather, dealing with weather and avoiding restricted airspace and other challenges is still great sport. It also allows one to meet some really interesting people.

World War II Heritage Days at the Dixie Wing of the CAF is always a colorful and nostalgic event. Numerous reenactors appear in authentic regalia looking like they walked off a motion picture set. There was a re-enactment of a battle in Italy in 1943 which, in this case, was won by the German forces. There was also a reenactment of a battle between the Japanese and the American forces in the Pacific

We hope to have the Kate up and flying by the 1st of March with her new control surfaces installed. One or more test flights may be indicated to confirm the trim tabs have been properly aligned and everything is functioning normally. We have yet to do the engine run after the oil change and compression checks, but that will have to wait until the control surfaces are reinstalled and the aircraft is reassembled.

Kerry “Tids” Tidmore and Brent “Sparky” Sparks began working on the Salute to America Air Show some time ago. The Air Show was designed to showcase the new airport in Paulding County and also to pay particular respect and reverence to those who fought and died for our freedom. The Air Show theme pays tribute to Americans and American patriotism at a time when our country faces extraordinary challenges both domestically and abroad.

The Dulles Day Festival and Plane Pull is not your typical air event. Organized to raise money for the Spe- cial Olympics, the Dulles Day Festival features military and civilian aircraft on display together with a car show and live music.

One of the highlights of each airshow season for the Dixie Wing of the CAF is the annual trip to Andrews Air Force Base. Typically, Andrews commits to the presence of many of the aircraft in the Dixie Wing inventory or owned by Dixie Wing members. Frequently the trip is made in formation with other aircraft which lends itself to a spirit of camaraderie and mutual support.

Our cadre of Oshkosh adventurers reported to Epps Air Service at PDK around 04:00 for an early morning departure in Milo Pinckney’s Navajo for a trip to Oshkosh returning later the same day or so we planned. Besides Milo, our cast of characters included Merry Waldroup, Mac Secord, Russ Jamieson, Jeff Heal and the author.

The week before the Battle of Midway practice session had been a hectic one. I had to prepare for a deposition in Alabama, fly to Alabama meet with the client and co-counsel, take the deposition and then return home. Arriving back in Atlanta late on a Friday evening with the Midway practice session set for Sunday, I decided the best thing for me to do was to drop by the office on Saturday and run through the Battle of Midway aerial script and Flight Sequence Schedule one more time so that I could brief the pilots, our pyrotechnic personnel, air boss and announcers.