WEST COAST SWIFT WING
AUGUST 2019
EDITOR: CAROL & GERRY HAMPTON
AV8RGNH@SBCGLOBAL.NET 530-676-7755
Swift National Athens, TN Sep 11-15
As announced, the annual Swift National Fly-in and Convention for Sept 11-15 in Athens, TN.
Many of you will receive this newsletter during the EAA AirVenture event at Oshkosh. We wish everyone a good time and safe travels. We also look forward to seeing everyone here at Headquarters in September. It will be a fun event will lots of great things planned.
The regional fly-in that A.O.P.A. is having in Tullahoma, TN. coincides with our convention on Friday and Saturday. We are planning a fly-out to Tullahoma on Saturday and A.O.P.A. has published in their ”Pilot” magazine the intent to have a fly-out to the Swift Museum on Friday. This is a great opportunity for the two organizations to interact and promises to be a special event.
Whether you come by air or ground, don’t miss it!
Westover 2019 27-29 September
Just a reminder that Westover 2019 is coming up soon, September 27-29.
Hotel is the Best Western Amador Inn, 209-223-0211. The room rate for the Swift Flyin is being held until September 2. If you have not made your reservations yet, call now and make them.
Lots of good things planned for this year. Come out and have a great time.
Don Bartholomew
There will be a BBQ on the field Friday evening. A banquet will be held on Saturday evening.
NorCal Swift Fly-ins
22 June 2019
The June flyin of the Nor Cal Swift Wing went quite well. It was at Lodi airport with the first arrival, Kurt vonSalzen, showing up about 1030 hrs. It isn’t so much that he left early as he had a pretty good tailwind heading south from Lincoln. Something about Mach 3 ground speed with shock waves off the surfaces. Others started arriving shortly after that and all got to practice the right crosswind landings. Since no Swifts or owners were damaged, it went well. We did get to witness an “interesting” takeoff of an RV-4 though.
In attendance was in Swifts was:
Kurt vonSalzen
Don Bartholomew with Manfred Stumpp
Richard Clinton with Chris Rieger
Brad with his employee Chris
Al McDonald
Karen and Dave Palmer drove in as did Jon Ortet.
As people arrived, the tire kicking, tall tales, and general visiting commenced. At noon we moved into the café where we were all seated around a big table. A great lunch was had with more tall tales and general lying. True to Swift form, we had all the mods added up and had the planes going Mach 3 and needing to stop every two hours to drain off excess fuel that was manufactured during flight.
Everyone commented how good it was to have Swift fly-ins again so we will plan to have one every month as long as the weather permits. Winters I will be in Arizona so not likely I will be able to attend those, but Brad will head those up. Of course if you want to have a Swift flyin at my place in AZ, Manfred and I will be more than happy to host one at Willow Valley Airport, 45AZ.
After lunch we all got to practice our cross wind takeoffs and fly into the proverbial headwind towards home.
Sorry I forgot to bring a camera, but I did see others snapping photos. If they share them with me I will send some out.
Brad is working on the new website: https://norcalswift.com/ It was just put up last week and is only one page at the moment but he will be expanding it pictures from old Swift fly-ins, newsletters, etc. If you have anything for the website, send it to Brad. His address is at the top of the webpage.
Mark your calendars for Saturday July 20 for a destination at Petaluma airport with lunch at the Two Niner Diner. Meet at the usual 1100 hr arrival time to continue the tall tales that started today. We have some other places in mind for future months. If you have a suggestion for places with a good restaurant, let me or Brad know so we can add that to the list. We prefer non towered airports if possible.
Kyle, I know it is a really LONG flight for you to get to this one, but try to make it. We would love to see you.
We are trying to develop the email roster for all the Swifters in the area. If you know someone that did not get an email for the Lodi flyin, please have them contact me with their email address or you send it to me. I know I do not have a current email for Bill Gass. If anyone has that, let me know what it is.
I apologize for any problems of emails not going out correctly. I am trying to figure out group emails. Computers (actually all electronics) and I have an understanding: “I hate them, and they hate me”. Computers were designed to aggravate us and they are very good at what they were designed for……
Thanks to all that showed up. Sorry the others couldn’t make it this month, we would have loved to see you.
Everyone try to make next month.
Don Bartholomew/N78074
July 20 2019
While Saturday morning started out clear and beautiful in some parts, the area where the flyin was scheduled was a wee bit overcast. For those that have learned that weather guessers lie a lot about flying weather and say you should never fly, they took off and headed for the flyin to actually see what the weather was. Those that checked the weather ended up staying at home. Missed you guys!
The ceiling was plenty high enough so the locals had no problem flying to Petaluma. The ones not from the area were greeted by a white fluffy carpet that extended almost forever below them. After looking for the proverbial “hole over the airport”, which wasn’t there, and holding over the area waiting for things to clear, we were finally able to let down over Sonoma Skypark and make our way to the flyin, although a little late.
In attendance in Swifts were Richard Clinton with his friend Chris, Mark Plaskon, Denis Arbeau, Bill Gass, and Don and Manfred. As we were leaving, Jim Roberson flew over. I don’t know if he actually touched down or not. But, we will call it six Swifts in attendance. The local crew from the airport had heard we were coming and got as far away as they could. I think they were hiding someplace called Oshkosh. You guys can come home now as we have left your airport.
Driving we had Dave and Karen, Larry and Sandy, and John and his lady friend (I apologize I did not get her name). John is the mechanic that keeps the local Swifts going.
I have heard it said that “A pilot without a good mechanic is just another guy on the sidewalk with a cool pair of shades”. Keep ‘em flyin John.
Gathering started about 1100. Most gathered on the ground at that hour but some were circling around on top at that hour. Guess that probably doesn’t count for being on time. Lunch started around noon on the patio. The lunch was great and the clouds cleared while we were eating.
Everyone had a good time the fueling and departures started.
Next month the gathering will be a BBQ on August 10th at Schellville. Keep the date open and more details will follow when I get them.
Fly safe and don’t take any chances. We want to see you the next month also.
Thanks for coming,
Don Bartholomew
Legend of Flight Pancake Breakfast
The Legends of Flight Museum puts on a pancake breakfast the fourth Saturday of the month, April thru October.
This is a nice get together with a wide variety of aircraft to peruse. I would encourage you to attend.
2019 WCSW SWIFT FLY INS
Sep 11-15 Athens, TN Swift National
Sep 27-29 Westover Field, CA West Coast Swift Fly In
2019 OTHER FLY INS/AIR SHOWS
Sept 11-15 Stead Field Reno Air Races
Sept 28-29 Santa Rosa Wings over Wine Country
Oct 5-6 Mather Airport Capital City Airshow
Oct 5 Livermore Airport Open House and Air Show
Oct 12 Apple Valley Airport Apple Valley Air Show
Nov 2-3 San Bernardino Airport San Bernardino Fest
Donation recommended for 2019 for a newsletter sent by e-mail is $5.00 and you must provide us an email address.
Donations may be sent to Gerry Hampton, 3195 Bonanza Dr, Cameron Park, CA 95682. Make the check out to Gerry or Carol Hampton, WCSW. 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
