Columbia, CA... when?

[VictorBravo]

Anyone kow the dates for this year's Columbia California fly-in? I'd like to make it this year if I can.

[lfries]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

Hope you get a aresponse on this as I'm interested too.
About 160 miles from you in Visalia.

[flyguy]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

I have may 11 and 12 on my calendar. Let me check if I still have note/email/whatever.
DC

[Fred W]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

I'm planning to go too, not a bad flight from Reedley CA!
Fred Westerling N44051

[Pearson]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

It's May 11-12 this year. I plan on being there too. I may not be able to fly my plane, but I will get there somehow.

[dedrekon]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

At this point I plan on going too.
I'm not sure what I'll be flying, hopefully the T, but we've been doing some work on him and I may end up flying the Stinson or a 172.

v

[Fred W]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

Hi everybody!
The Colombia CA Taylorcraft Flyin is this weekend, may 11-13.
I tried to call the coordinator, Ron and Rosemary Sawyer but the phone
number listed in the Newsletter does not seem to be correct!
Does anyone know the correct phone number for the Sawyers?
Looks like the weather is going to be good, hope to see a bunch of
you guys there!
Fred Westerling BC12D 44051

[Pearson]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

Fred,

Where are you in California. I am north of Portland, OR and will be comming down the Williamette Valley, West of Mt Shasta, and Chico to Columbia. If you are anywhere near my route, I would enjoy joining up with you and flying in together.

How about putting some contact info under your profile. I was going to PM you Ron's home phone number, but there is no contact info on you. Send me a PM and I can give you Ron's home number.

I was unable to make it last year. First time I missed in 6 years. This year it sounds like a lot of new folks are going to be there. I look forward to meeting every one. I usually bring some Scottish Koolaide for Sat night, and will have some extra cups for anyone that desires.

For anyone reading this, if you arrive Sat morning, the camp will be deserted. Everyone will be at Pine Mtn Lake for breakfast. It is about 20 miles SE of Columbia. Bring your cameras. We tour Ken & Sandy Blankenburg's two hangers full of antiques and memorbilia. You gotta see it to believe it!

Attached are two pics from 2005

[dedrekon]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

Is the Columbia Taylorcraft Fly-In happening this year? If so, when and is anyone going?

V

[lfries]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

My info. It's at Sonoma Air Park. North of SF. May 9 - 11
Sawyers Phone No. 209-536-9415. Info was in one of the Flying Newspapers.

[dedrekon]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

Hopefully some of all y'all will be there this year....I plan on flying down in the Mooney as the T is still down ($%#$@ing Harry, you %$^%$ b^$t#RD!!).

Might make it down Saturday afternoon, but Sunday morning for sure. Who's going?

V

[flyguy]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

Anyone confirm that with Ron. It will be at Sonoma SKYPARK this year? I haven't called yet myself. What happened to the Columbia location? No weekend available?
Darryl

[VictorBravo]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

The problem was the attitude of the Tuolumne County Pilot's Association, who operates the meeting room and camping facility at Columbia.

Ron Sawyer had everything planned out as usual, and at the last minute the Cessna 180/185 people came in and the Tuolumne folks pushed the T-crafters out and the 180 guys in... because the 180 guys had more money to spend on their "catering" services.

Us po' boys became "them" and the 180 guys became "us" to the people who run the meeting room, and they just pushed us aside according to Ron.

So the two T-craft guys from Sonoma (Steve and John I think) suggested that Sonoma would not present those problems, although it is not as pretty of an airport as Columbia.

That's the story as I heard it.

If I get my 85 HP engine put in fast enough I will be there, if not then not. Some work-related difficulties may also throw a wrench into it as well, we'll see.

[flyguy]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

I'm pretty familiar with Skypark as the guys that bought it came from the Fremont airport on the SF bay and I did too. It has become a little more, I guess upscale, would be the word, than it was when I moved my 12D up there with the guys several years ago. Down side, if it is still the same, is that it is (at least was) hot and barren when it is hot, and windy the remainder of the time. I haven't been there for a while, but there wasn't much shade or space when I was there. Lots of metal, asphalt, dried grass, and trees at both ends. If you are rich, own 2 or 3 expensive planes, and live in Sonoma, it is really convenient. It was OK for a while, but never the great fun place that Fremont by the bay was.
If it was just for flying in fun I would have opted for Shellville (South Sonoma county) that is right at the edge of the Skypark pattern to the south. Likely there is no place to camp there though. Was a real fun airport before when Wally and Lena ran it. Not sure about now

Too bad about that attitude problem at Columbia, maybe we should have just went ahead and crashed the place anyway.
DC
Edit: unfortunate I don't have a bigger ground vehicle I could drive up and help folks get "downtown" where they keep the wine.

[high time cub]

Re: Columbia, CA... when?

Was a real fun airport before when Wally and Lena ran it.

Wonderful people!

Summer 1979......