Light Aircraft Flyers Association   (LAFA)

 Miami, Florida - U.S.A.

Florida's First "Sport Pilot" Flying Club

October 19th, 2003 - Race Day

LAFA member Mike Chin (owner of Big Wheel Bicycles and a co-sponsor of a bike racing team), was asked to arrange for a few LAFA planes to fly overhead prior to the start of Saturday's race at the Homestead Miami Speedway.  Early morning on Saturday, six LAFA planes showed up at the field for the occasion.  The bike race was set to begin shortly after first light, so the pilots had to set-up in the pre-dawn darkness.

Dawn at X51

At first light we departed X51 and flew in loose formation towards the racetrack which lies inside Homestead Air Reserve's airspace.  When Cap'n Bob  - our group leader and designated radio person - experienced radio problems, he landed in a field so he could use his cell phone to get clearance from the base.  He called only to learn that John Bubel had already obtained clearance.

Flying out to the race track at first light

Our group arrived at the racetrack about 5 minutes before the start of the race and circled while the riders made their first lap.  The bikers then disappeared into the tunnel that leads out of the speedway, so we headed towards the Air Reserve Base.

A "Sport Pilot" view of the Homestead Speedway as the riders start the race.

...and this is the Ultralight version...

After a loooong fly-by over that loooong and empty runway (it's wider than the length of some of the landing places we sometimes use!), the LAFA flyers regrouped north of the airport and began to head back home.

On our way back we looked for Bob, but had trouble finding him because the landmark that John had used for reference was a cloud that - much to his surprise, had moved since John first saw it.  Fortunately Dick had used the jail as a reference point, and that had hardly moved at all, so we were able to locate Bob.  He was taking off as we approached and was soon part of our sky-convoy once again.

The ride home...

An uneventful landing at X51 was followed by the usual ribbing and joking around before everybody disbanded to take care of honey-do's and other comparatively mundane Sunday activities.

By the time most people were waking up, our little group had experienced more thrills and enjoyment than some people do in their entire lives.  Certainly not a bad way to start the day and work up an appetite for breakfast. 

(I'll have the western omelet please).