By Di Freeze
Martha Jean owner and pilot David Wheaton (left) visits with Doolittle Raider Bill Bower in front of the B-25.
The 2nd Annual Jeffco Airport Open House and Fly-In, held June 10, attracted an estimated 15,000 visitors. The day began with a Colorado 99s Pancake Breakfast and included aircraft static displays and aerobatic performances and flybys, as well as young Eagles flights and an FAA Wings Safety Seminar regarding runway incursions.
Chuck Lischer, in his F-260 Warrior, and Dan Buchanan, flying his special effects hang glider, treated the audience to performances. The day also included a U.S. Navy F-18 tactical demonstration and a live aerial demonstration by the Black Daggers, who jumped from a C-130 provided by the Missouri Air National Guard. The Black Daggers is comprised entirely of volunteers from throughout the Army special operations community.
Flybys included Jack Wilhite in his MiG 17, Roy Halliday in his T-33, Mark Johnson in his Venom, a Frontier Airlines Airbus, and Airpower West members Dick Jones and Jack Cronin in a North American T-6G and SNJ-7B.
The event featured Martha Jean, a “J” model B-25 that regular attends the annual Doolittle Raiders reunions. Martha Jean is the only B-25 to have delivered ceremonial goblets from the Air Force Academy to surviving raiders during reunions. The goblets are used to toast their fallen comrades.
The Colorado Aviation Historical Society, headed by Bea Khan Wilhite, again had a big part in the event. The CAHS tent featured several exhibits, including information regarding the organization’s new Aviation Archaeology educational program, co-chaired by Lance Barber (vice president) and Brian Richardson (director), as well as the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
The Jeffco Aviation Association Fly-In, in its tenth year, is the only fly-in in Colorado besides the Rocky Mountain EAA Regional Fly-in that gives out trophies. The organization judged 61 aircraft and presented awards in seven classes.
-
- A Blackhawk based with the 2/135 Aviation Battalion received its share of attention.
-
- Len Wallace (right) will lend his expertise to Brian Richardson, Aviation Archeology director.
-
- James Harvey, Ronald D. Hilliard (president, Hubert L. “Hooks” Jones Chapter), Gilbert Wheeler Jr. and James E. Harrison represented the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
-
- Attendees were also treated to a display of vintage automobiles.
-
- Dennis Lacy, a lucky drawing winner, won a ride in Doctor Dave Callender’s 1939 Harlow. The cabin cruiser received the title of grand champion in the antique category.
-
- Dick Jones’ 1949 North American T-6G, the Spanish Lady, was awarded grand champion in the warbirds/trainers category.
-
- First place, kit built, homebuilt category, went to Dennis Lacy’s 1993 Vans RV-6.
-
- This year, a Frontier Airlines Airbus participated in the Jeffco Open House and Fly-In for the first time.
-
- Skip Roberts’ Skybolt was awarded grand champion in homebuilt/plans built.
-
- Homebuilt enthusiasts survey the cockpit of Steve Bergevin’s Giles G-202, which took grand champion in homebuilt/kit built.
-
- Grand champion in the contemporary class went to this 1951 Navion owned by Art Hutchison and Ann Bormolini.
-
- Mark May’s 1946 Luscombe 8A/E was named grand champion in the classic/metal category.
-
- First place in contemporary went to this 1965 Mooney M-20E owned by Freia and John Bradford.
-
- Brian Cruikshank’s 1974 Cessna 182P was awarded second place in the special interest category.
-
- Bob Kinney picked up first place in the special interest category for his 1969 Beechcraft V35A.
-
- Attendees admire Jack Cronin’s 1953 SNJ-7B, which took first place in warbirds/trainers.
-
- Jack Wilhite’s MiG 17, awarded first place in warbirds, streaks past the crowd.
-
- Roy Halliday’s patriotic Lockheed T-33 was awarded grand champion in the warbird category.
-
- Mark Johnson flies by the crowd in his de Havilland Venom, Swiss Miss, which was awarded second place in the warbirds category.
-
- The Black Daggers jumped from a C-130 provided by the Missouri Air National Guard.
-
- Mike Delcamp answers questions while admirers study his Aero Vodochody L-39C Czech fighter jet, decorated as Black Pearl, 39th Squadron.
-
- Air Force Academy student Sean Gorden, from Oklahoma City, Okla., introduced “Cody” to attendees. The Falcon is the academy mascot.