WEST COAST SWIFT WING
March 2017
EDITOR: CAROL & GERRY HAMPTON AV8RGNH@SBCGLOBAL.NET 530-676-7755
It is time to start getting our Swifts in shape for the upcoming flying season. We have our big Swift fly-ins to look forward to with Swift National in Cleburne, TX, KCPT Oct 4-8 and the West Coast Swift National at Westover Field KJAQ 9-11 June 2017. Please plan on attending one or both of these fly-ins.
Westover 2017 June 9-11
We are changing the date of the West Coast Swift National from late September to early June, 9-11, so there is no conflict with the RRSW folks hosting Swift National in early October. Weather in early June will be similar to our late September fly-in, just not as cool in the evenings
We have a block of rooms at the Best Western Amador Inn, 209-223-0211. Say you are with the Swift group. Rate is $85 per night which includes the shuttle service back and forth to the airport. We are 3 months away, please call and get your reservations now!!!
We have a great time with Swift fellowship and camaraderie at this fly-in—looking forward to seeing you.
Swift National Oct 4-8
The RRSW is hosting Swift National at Cleburne, TX, KCPT. More info will be forthcoming in the next several months. Put on your calendar and plan to attend.
From Steve Wilson:
We are moving along on the preparation for the Swift Flyin at Cleburne, TX 10/4 thru 10/8/2017. The following are motels we have booked rooms:
Our Hospitality Room will be at the Hampton Inn where we have booked 40 rooms presently. We are hopeful that we can get more. We also have booked 40 rooms at the Holiday Inn Express about a city block from the Hampton Inn.
We will have a service that will serve both locations with transportation to and from the airport. We also have made arrangements with Enterprise Car Rental for pickup and return of cars at the airport for those who would like to have their own vehicles. Yes, it is early; however, I suggest that you start booking rooms now, to avoid any disappointment later. You can always cancel! Be certain to mention that you are with the Swift group to get the special rate. Here are the local numbers for these:
Hampton Inn, 817-641-7770
Holiday Inn Express, 817-641-5300
Enterprise car rental, 817-645-6996
One of Our Own—- Swifter Bill Stein Awarded 2016 Sword of Excellence
Bill is a long time Swift member. His talent and congenial spirit embodies our best. We are all so very proud as the world of Swift sends our most heartfelt congratulations! Very well deserved Bill!
Article from International Council of Airshows web site dated December 8, 2016
LAS VEGAS – The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) at its 49th annual convention presented its highest honor, the Sword of Excellence, Thursday night to an Aptos, Calif.-based pilot in front of nearly 1,000 air show industry professionals attending the event’s closing banquet at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.
Bill Stein was instrumental in the creation and fine tuning of new FAA guidance that provides direction to air show pilots flying dynamic, non-aerobatic formations. He has also helped ICAS and the FAA to develop reasonable, workable language on “aerobatic energy directed at the crowd,” and certification currency requirements.
Serving as a member of ICAS’s Aerobatic Competency Evaluation (ACE) Committee for nearly seven years, Stein has worked to improve air show safety while minimizing regulatory intrusion. He has been intimately involved in writing four revisions of the ICAS ACE Manual, the document that, for the past 25 years, has directed a program responsible for a significant and sustained decrease in fatal air show accidents.
Stein also acts as a motivational and frank mentor for new air show pilots. As a pilot, he has combined extensive experience in solo and formation flying with sharp analytical skills and a self-deprecating approach to mistakes he has made during his career to provide many pilots with invaluable safety information. And he has continued to coach and mentor many of those pilots even after they are well established.
For many years, Stein has selflessly helped ICAS, the FAA and the air show community work through the most difficult safety problems by combining air show professionalism with a strong sense of what will or will not minimize hazards in the air show environment.In 2015, Stein was inducted into the ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame as a pilot in the Red Baron Squadron.
About the International Council of Air Shows Sword of Excellence:
Since 1981, ICAS has awarded the Sword of Excellence to recognize outstanding service and personal contributions to the air show industry. Over the last three decades, ICAS has honored over 40 Sword recipients for their leadership, service, innovation, vision, commitment and selfless contributions to the air show business. Selection for the Sword of Excellence recipient is made by the unanimous decision of a committee comprised of a member of the board of directors, two past award recipients, and two at-large members, each of whom has at least 10 years of air show industry experience.About the International Council of Air Shows Headquarters in Leesburg, VA:
ICAS was founded in 1968 as a trade and professional association by industry professionals to protect and promote their interests in the growing North American air show marketplace.
2017 WCSW SWIFT FLY INS
Jun 9-11 Westover Field, CA West Coast Swift National
Oct 4-8 Cleburne, TX KCPT Swift National
2017 OTHER FLY INS/AIR SHOWS
Mar 25-26 Fox Field LA County Air Show
Apr 1 Riverside Airport Riverside Air Show
Apr 4-9 Lakeland Airport, FL Sun n Fun
May 6-7 Chino Airport Planes of Fame Airshow
May 13 Paso Robles Airport Estrella Warbirds Wings Wheel
May 20 Redlands Airport Hangar 24 Air Fest
Jun 9-11 Lincoln Airport Airfest
Jun 17-18 Columbia Airport Father’s Day Fly-in
Jul 6-8 Arlington Airport Arlington EAA, WA
Jul 7-8 Grass Valley Airport Nevada Co Air Fest
Jul 8 Truckee Tahoe Air Fair & Family Fest
Jul 24-30 Oshkosh, WI EAA Air Venture
Aug 19-20 Camarillo Camarillo Air Show
Sept 1-2 Watsonville Wings over Watsonville
Sept 9-10 Mather Airport Capitol City Airshow
Sept 13-17 Stead Field Reno Air Races
The above information is accurate as far as we know it. If we receive notification of changes to date, time, locations, etc. we will update you.
The ANNUAL DUES for 2017 for a newsletter sent by e-mail is $5.00 and you must provide us an email address.
****IF your annual dues are up for renewal, please send your check to Gerry Hampton, 3195 Bonanza Dr, Cameron Park, CA 95682. Make the check out to Gerry or Carol Hampton, WCSW. If you have already renewed, please disregard this notice. HOWEVER, all correspondence should be sent to Gerry Hampton either at the home address or to the e mail shown on page 1 of this newsletter.
Happy Skies
Carol & Gerry Hampton ☺