Warbird Information Exchange

Hi guys;
I don't want to seem like I'm tooting my own horn, but the April /March 2007 issue of World Air Show News has a feature article on our organization, Airdales Flight Line Operations.

We're pretty excited and my guys really deserve a huge dose of recognition. Flight Line Ops never gets the lions share of the recognition, but to all those out there who are involved in the safe production of air show ground operations, this might be a little start.
Blue skies,
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

That is great, will have to check it out.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Is Airdales a for-profit group? We have many dedicated and experienced volunteers at EAA and CAF that have done a great job over the years. Whoever does marshalling and flightline work has an important job, mainly that of keeping people safe, expecially around propellors. As a pilot, I can tell that it is always great to see a familar face when you are taxiing through a crowd. Sometimes we are busy and don't get to say thanks to the volunteers; in years past we could take a passenger during the airshow. I would not do it if doing acro, but I'd like to for normal flybys and an experienced pair of eyes can be a help sometimes.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Yes Bill;
We do get paid for our work, but usually it just covers expenses with enough left over to keep the guys in group shirts and name tags! We're kind of low on the air show food chain, if you know what I mean.

It's very rewarding and I have to say that your comments about a familiar face are correct. Many performers know us by our individual names and are pretty happy to see us running the ramp. Dan McCue once told me that when he comes to a show, he doesn't really know what to expect, but when he pulls into the ramp and sees my guys, he knows it's going to be alright.
The best thing about doing this is the people we meet. The Airdales are made up of guys who run the gamut from USAF, Navy and Army vets, civilians who know their stuff to even an airline pilot. Many of us are pilots, so for us, it's really just great to work around airplanes and airplane people.

Blue skies,
Jerry

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."