Page 12 - Aerotech News and Review 12-4-15

High Desert Hangar Stories with Bob Alvis
Air shows Antelope Valley-style
Special to Aerotech News
Having had a small role in bringing back air
shows to the County Airport at Fox Field, I think
back to the days that inspired me as a young boy
DQGQRZDVDQROGHUPDQ²¿QGLQJMR\LQKHOS- would be for me the man that I would measure
ing bring back what was so special to thousands
of aviation fans here in the Antelope Valley and
the Southland.
7KHWLPHZDVWKHHDUO\VL[WLHVDQGP\¿UVWWULS would always be special for me, for it was the one
to Fox Field would start a lifelong romance with
the winged wonders of the air and the men that
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Early morning, and after Dad warmed up the
old Pontiac on a Saturday, we were both off for
what would be one of the coolest things I had
ever seen.
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as it is today — and the quest for a parking spot
close by always turned into a hike, but what the
heck. Young legs would not be deterred! After
paying for the tickets and getting through the
gate, we were off on our adventure with my
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hand. Before long, Dad was telling me stories
about every homebuilt plane and warbird we
FDPH DFURVV , ZDV QRW WKH RQO\ RQH HQMR\LQJ a price to overcome and the independent show at
this experience. Husbands and wives, fathers with
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family and friend connection you could dream of
were laughing and living it up. This was a special
day I would not soon forget and neither would
thousands of others.
With the rows of planes inspected, we prepared
for the show to begin — and man oh man, what
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a show! Names that at the time meant nothing to lives until the day he passed away. at a great little airport with great memories and
me but nowadays are what I consider the legends But the memories remain, and it is those mem- history called Fox Field.
of the air kept my attention for a whole after-
QRRQDQGWKH¿QDODFWZDVDVSHFLDOJX\LQDQ ories that make me thankful that a new genera- $WWKHHQGRIWKHGD\DWP\¿UVWHYHUDLUVKRZ,
all-yellow P-51. From that day on, Bob Hoover WLRQRIDLUVKRZIDQVDQGRUJDQL]HUVDUH¿QGLQJ remember asking Dad would we be coming back
ways to make new memories for the families of and if so, when? “Soon,” he said, “and not soon
all other airmen by, and he gained a friend for life the Southland and the Antelope Valley. I hope enough, Robert.” I couldn’t have agreed more!
when he autographed my program. for a long run and many more shows to come
Until next time, Happy Holidays, Bob out …
The years of air shows at Fox Field as I grew up
thing that Dad and I had as our own. The airport was
small, but it made for a very close-up and personal
experience that is hard to get at today’s “mega-
shows.” Many times the wind would blow and the
GXVWZRXOGÀ\EXWWKLVLVWKH$QWHORSH9DOOH\DQG
ZHMXVWGHDOWZLWKLW7KHSODQHVDQGSHUIRUPHUV
trumped any weather issue!
Over the years, Fox Field would play host to
with Air Racing that brought in the big bore un-
limiteds like the P-51s, Bearcats and P-38s. Even
WKHKLJKÀ\LQJ7KXQGHUELUGVLQ)VVKRZHG
up to demonstrate their skill in the skies over Fox
in the 1960s!
Like many things, however, insurance and the
cost of putting a show in the air became too high
Fox Field faded away.
When my son was young I took him to many
shows around the Southland at Edwards and
March Field, along with the other shows that also
had to call it quits as budgets and manpower dried
up. But all the time I would think back to the days
of a young boy and his dad with planes in the air.
It was one of the things we always shared in our
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Aerotech News and Review December 4,2015
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