Hook field flying clinic kept area residents looking to the sky
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Sunday, May 11, 2008
There was plenty of high-flying action over the Middletown area as well as Hook Field on Saturday, May 10, as the RF Formation Flying Clinic kept a lot of people's eyes looking to the sky.
About 22 fliers of different skill abilities practiced formation and performance flying in small, two-seat experimental planes, said Rich Bevis of B&B Aero and Hook Field's fixed-base operator.
Extras
While not a full-fledged air show, the clinic gave aviation lovers of all ages a chance to watch the planes perform various maneuvers and formations throughout the day. A large crowd was entertained throughout the day along the fence between the airport and Smith Park. Groups of the planes also were flying over Madison Twp., western Butler County snd the Trenton area.
While the rain on Friday canceled flights that were planned, there were plenty of planes all day Saturday as several flew in for the day's activities.
All of the planes were made from kits manufactured by Van's Aircraft in Oregon. Bevis said the planes cost between $65,000 and $100,000 and are customized by the pilot who builds the plane.
He said the plane's speed can top out at about 200 mph and that its power-to-weight ratio enables it to climb to higher altitudes as well as give it greater maneuverability.
"It's a little guy's fighter plane and it can fly cross-country," he said. "There's a lot of hand signals and coordination because they are flying just a few feet from each other. It really takes a lot of work and practice to do this."
After a pilot builds the plane, it's inspected by the Federal Aviation Administration, which later issues an airworthiness certificate and license number once it has been flown for 40 hours, Bevis said.
The session Saturday was delayed over an hour until the morning fog burned out.
One of the pilots, Pat Driscoll, who has been flying since he was 16, said "it's just fun" flying the experimental plane.
Driscoll, 44, of Centerville, who pilots C-5A transport planes in the Air Force Reserve out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, said it took him 4½ years to build his plane that cost about $50,000. He's been flying the experimental plane for about 3½ years.
Because of the forecast of rain today, the clinic's activities were canceled, Bevis said.
"We had a lot of people and a lot of fun today," Bevis said. "I'm calling it a success. We had a lot of formation and performance flying all over Middletown and over the airport. It was impressive. I've got to say I'm happy."
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com.
