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September was a good month for air events.
It couldn’t hurt that the temps were beginning to feel like that
“in-between” summer and fall. It is a good time to put a fly-in
together. I remember how it felt last year in late September.
Just after the worst attack on American soil since the Civil
War, last year the air event at
Holleyfest (located in central Arkansas near Clinton)
was held right after the attack on New York. A couple of
hundred drove to the “Fly-In” for info from the FAA and U. S.
Air Force. The words coming from the mouths of those government
representatives were doom and gloom. Most of the words from
pilots had the same overtone when discussing the future of
General Aviation. I held the positive flag among the “DOOM”
crowd. I couldn’t see the organizations, which represent pilots
or the pilots allowing the “Free” sky to be held hostage. I was
right. We, pilots, have lost some rights and areas that are now
off limits to us. But nothing like what we experienced
immediately after September 11, 2001. |
Ralph & Sudie McCormick, grilling
burgers at Holleyfest 2002. |
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When I arrived at Holleyfest this year, the
first thing I noticed was the aircraft and lots of people
wandering around. This was so different to last year when there
were only a few aircraft and not that many folks. This year,
with those people wandering and looking the planes, reminded me
of how much I appreciate the FREEDOM we enjoy and sometimes take
for granted. Where we really abuse our freedom is on Election
Day. The absence of bodies at the polls shows how complacent we
have become about our freedom. I would love to have to stand in
line for an hour before I was allowed to vote. That would tell
me that we Americans are truly loyal patriotic. Voting is much
more patriotic than hanging a flag on our car antennae. Think
about it.
The freedom of flight is still at stake. I
am not sure why general aviation has been punished for what
commercial aviation did, but I am sure Washington knows. If you
want to get involved,
contact
your Congressman. Keep informed with the
links from AOPA and EAA.
There are only 600,000 of us (pilots) around. We are a very
small minority. We must group together for the strongest front
we can put forward.
The most important thing we can do is get
that plane out and buy fuel, take someone flying, get a new
pilot involved with instruction, or upgrade your license. The
aviation community and economy depends on those 600,000 pilots
for annuals, instruction, and fuel. If the planes are not
flying, the enemy wins. So take a trip or just a spin over town
and experience some real freedom. |
