Inyokern Airport Fly-In Draws Nearly 1,000

by Fredrick Gary Hareland
Special to the Daily Independent

The Inyokern Airport flightline is crowded with airplanes and people at the first Inyokern Airport Warbird Fly-In. Photo By David Rosenthal

Monday, April 18, 2005 10:16 AM PDT

I love the smell of jet exhaust in the afternoon, there's nothing like it, especially when its coming from a ward bird.

Many locals had the opportunity to experience the same thing April 9 when the Inyokern Airport hosted an aircraft display of war planes.

One of the most successful war bird pilots featured, at the fly-in event, was Frank "Houndog" Haertlein from California City.

Haertlein, flying a 1988 Russian Yak-52, was the first pilot to land his aircraft at Inyokern Airport at 10:15 a.m. last Saturday.

Haertlein was followed by retired airline pilot Pete Bobbigleo of Thermal who was flying an L29C Delfin jet.

The balance of the 20 aircraft arrived in rapid succession within the next hour. Seven T-28 trainers, seven L-29 jets, four L-39s, a T-37, and the Yak 52 lined the parking area at the Inyokern Airport for people to see.

All of the visiting war bird pilots are very interesting people, however two deserve special mention.

Retired Astronaut Bill Anders, who flew in Apollo 8, which was the first manned flight to the moon in December 1968, was on hand. Apollo 8 orbited the moon, and on Christmas Eve, the three-man crew read the first 10 verses from the book of Genesis to the world.

Anders also took perhaps the most famous photograph in the history of spaceflight - the Apollo 8 earthrise over the moon photo.

Female Pilot Kari Cameron from Arlington, Wash., also deserves special recognition for being an inspiration to children in our community, such as 8-year-old Shyanne McGowen, who came to the fly-in to see the lady jet pilot and now wants to be just like her.

As a matter of fact, Cameron had quite a crowd waiting for her. When asked for advice for the young ladies of our town, she said they should "just go for their dreams and not let anything or anybody hold them back."

Pilots and spectators enjoyed a beautiful Inyokern day watching the "Roses and Renegades" dance troupe, airplanes, classic cars, motorcycles, visiting with friends and eating.

The war birds began cranking up their engines at about 2 p.m., performing formation flybys as they departed.

The Cessna T-37 high speed fly-by marked the end of the event at Inyokern Airport that can only be described as a great community function.

Despite competition from at least four other concurrent community events, the fly-in was attended by at least 1,000 spectators.

Inyokern Airport Manager Nancy Bass was very pleased with the outcome of last Saturday's activities and would like to thank all those who made the first war birds fly-in possible.

Copyright © 2005 The Daily Independent*
Reprinted with permission.

*The Indian Wells Valley's daily newspaper.

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