Page 13 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, Nov. 2, 2018

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17th Annual Apple Valley Air Show,
NAPA Auto Parts Car Display byJanell J. Lewis Ford
High Desert Warrior 13 November 2, 2018
Air Show
People brought out their chairs, blankets, hats and sunblock to watch the aircrafts and pilots rip through the skies at the 17th Annual Apple Valley Air and Car show. Spectators also had to bring their umbrellas because this year’s aerobatics show was hit with spotty rain and dark clouds—cooler weather that pilots say actually makes for good flying conditions.
Fort Irwin’s Nicole Maynard attended with her husband and two children and didn’t want the rain to put a damper on their day.
“My little one loved being able to go inside the aircrafts.”
The line-up of talented fliers included the Red Eagles Aerobatic Formation Team, Vicky Benzing, Tony Higa, Sammy Mason, Chuck Coleman, John Collver, and Rob Harrison “The Tumbling Bear.”
Dozens of people approached Vicky Benzing after her swoops and loops through the air in her plane. Being one of just a handful of female airshow pilots in the country, she especially attracted young ladies.
“There may be 150 air show pilots nationwide and I can only think of maybe 5 female pilots.”
Organizer, Susan Harrison said there’s always room for more women pilots.
“One of the most growing parts of aviation is women learn- ing to fly.”
Harrison said girls and women who are interested in flying, should check out the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots.
Benzing flew a 1940 Boeing Sterman, built during World War II to train cadets. She’s been flying for 36 years and her air show performances are sponsored by California Aerospace University.
Erin Curtice of Fort Irwin said this was her first year attend- ing the air show and her one-year-old twins and five-year-old son
Spectators had a chance to tour aircraft and meet pilots, as well as watch the aerobatic stunts in Apple Valley.
enjoyed everything from the face painting to being able to sit in the navigator seats of planes and watching the aircrafts do stunts. “The announcers made watching the planes much more enjoyable as they told us about the pilot, the air craft, and the
maneuvers.”
Curtice said they also felt very secure during the show. Safety
is always a concern with air shows, following deadly crashes and accidents over the last few years but organizers said this small air show follows the same extensive list of rules and regulations as the largest air shows in the country. The pilots are profes- sional, veteran, accomplished and have been flying for more than 20 years.
Not only did visitors see aerobatics but there were appear- ances by the Just in Time Skydivers, West Coast Ravens For-
mation Team, military warbirds like the F4U Corsair, and two P-51 Mustangs from Planes of Fame Air Museum. Besides the excitement in the air, on the ground, there were experimental and vintage airplane static displays and the NAPA Auto Parts Car Display “Show and Shine” and a kids area, where they learned to build airplanes and rockets.
Harrison says the event usually draws about 10,000 at- tendees but this year’s numbers may have been down slightly, due to the rain.
“We had a great time,” Curtice said. “We look forward to going next year.”
For more information on the Apple Valley Air show, visit http://applevalleyairshow.com/
*Look out for some familiar Fort Irwin faces on the NFL Network’s Salute to on Sunday, November 11th. We will also have our Joint Color Guard at the Rams football game.
*You’ll also see our Joint Color Guard and some Fort Irwin soldiers at the Chargers’ Salute to Service football game on Sunday, November 18th.
November Calendar:
11/7: Mongolian BBQ at Sam Adams; $13.50/person (12pm - 3pm) 11/7: Troops and Trains: Barstow Harvey
(6pm - 9m)
11/9: MWR Paint and Sip: Sam Adams (5:30pm - 8pm)
11/10: Fort Irwin Joint Color Guard opens LA Kings game
11/11:
-Fort Irwin participates in Veterans Day ceremonies at the Barstow Cemetery
Home
-Fort Irwin participates in the Veterans Day parade in Palm Springs (4pm) -Fort Irwin participates in Veterans Day ceremonies at the Patton Museum
County (11am)
Service show Los Angeles
Los Angeles House
and Veterans in Riverside
-Fort Irwin participates in Veterans Day ceremonies in Hesperia
11/12:
-Fort Irwin participates in Veterans Day parade in Victorville
-Fort Irwin participates in Veterans Day ceremonies at the Reagan Library in Ventura County 11/13: Virtual Town Hall: Will be streamed live to the Facebook Connection page (6pm) 11/13: MCSC Paint and Sip: Sandy Basin (6pm)
11/14: American Indian Heritage Lunch: Sandy Basin (11:30am)
11/15: Pasta Dinner: Sam Adams (5:30pm)
11/16: MST Thanksgiving Dinner: MST Families are Welcome (5pm - 2am)
11/17: Gobble Wobble 5K: Blue Track (8am)
11/20: DFAC #2 Thanksgiving Dinner
11/21: DFAC #1 Thanksgiving Dinner
11/22: Thanksgiving Party at Yorba Linda for Soldiers & Families (11am)
11/30: Holiday Market/Tree Lighting: Sam Adams (1600-2000: Tree Lighting at 1730)
*For more information, you can contact the Public Affairs Office at 760-380-4511, the MWR or the respective organization that is hosting the event*
Upcoming Events
For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil