Jan 4th

2004 is off to a flying start! No official LAFA fly-outs have taken place yet, but this impromptu fly-out involved enough planes to qualify.

There was lots of activity on the X51-U flight line before departure. Above: Ozzie's Aventura, Peter's Mk III, Boone's Rans and Cap'n Bob in his Ultrastar.

Tony couldn't join us, but he was at the field debuting a new panel on his Flightstar. Cesil also stopped by to say hello in his Maule.

It began with an email from PanAir's Steve Barnes a few days earlier about a "free pancake breakfast at Everglades City" on Sunday the 4th. The free word usually gets LAFA's attention, but when included in the same sentence as "Everglades City" (a favorite destination for Florida pilots), it was bound to get a response ... and it did!

As usual, the flight across the everglades didn't disappoint. As homestead farmlands give way to the Everglades 'Sea of Grass', our open cockpits provide front row seating over spectacular views of nature and wildlife that most people won't see in a lifetime. (Can you see the deer?)

Five planes departed from Homestead, three more (including two PanAir planes) from Tamiami. Other LAFA friends departed from more distant places like MacIvor's field and (thanks to Dann Gregory), four more flew in from Sundance farms Airport in La Belle.

The breakfast fly-in was organized by Chuck Gretzke, owner and operator of Wings, his partner (and able pancake chef) John Apt, Nick Saum (www.geezerair.com), and the rest of the Everglades City Pilots Association (ECPA) to celebrate the recent vote by commissioners NOT to close the Everglades Airpark.

Chuck is a bush pilot who flies an amphibious Cessna 185. His operation moves to Anchorage Alaska in June for the summer, then back to Everglades City in October for the winter. You can get more information about his operation by email at rcgretzke@aol.com or by phone at (239) 695-3296.

Chuck is not only a very experienced bush pilot, he is also an avid photographer and a historian. He is a walking history encyclopedia on Everglades City, the Florida Keys and Alaska.

The ECPA reported that a total of 52 planes made it to the fly-in. They filled the entire area East of the runway and north of the fueling station.

We had perfect weather all day and our return flight was as enjoyable and scenic as the flight across.

If you missed this fly-out, don't fret. It was only the first of many. Due to its success, the ECPA has decided to host it every two weeks from now on. The next two will take place on Jan 17th and Jan. 31st. Mark your calendars!

Click below for a short Quicktime slide-show courtesy of Felipe Marrou.

(Quicktime can be downloaded from http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/)

Thanks also to Ryan Volum, Steve Barnes and Ron Ohm for providing the photos above.