January 1st Fly-In – How it all began!
Since the sixties we always, for some unknown reason, flew on New Years Day. Going back to 2001 to 2009 we called it the “January 1st Fly-In”. Then, from 2010 to 2015 we named it “News Years Fun Fly”. From 2016 to 2017 we changed the name to more correctly reflect the conditions…” Thrill of the Chill”. For some reason we didn’t have a name for it in 2018! We just showed up an flew planes in the cold.
During all the previous years there was the “bragging right” title bestowed on the person “Who was first to fly in the New Year”. That kind of disappeared when more than several members lined up to take-off at exactly 9:00…even had a countdown!
In 2019 to the present, it has been given a more accurate descriptive name… ”News Year’s Day Frozen Thumbs Fly-In”.
We’ve experienced “balmy” New Year’s Day fly-ins…but mostly cold and sometimes snowy days. One year our intrepid field committee chairman Dave Brown put up tarp on two or three sides of the pavilion and had a propane fired heater to keep us warm. Along with that there were those that brought hot chocolate and delicious home-made chili. We need to do that again!
Last year we had 3 people show up, Rich Taylor, myself and Babe Raab.  This year we had a better turn-out.  Dave Brown was there at O-dark thirty and when I arrived around 8:20 I could see Dave’s fire from the road.  It was very much needed and appreciated.Â
Dave was first in the air (as no one else was around) and subsequently disappointed when his flying wing separated. Remember, electric flight is approved to begin at 7:00 a.m.
Dave Brown, Rich Taylor, Chris and Andy Sostman, Greg Tesson, Ralph Grant and myself brought airplanes to fly. Dave Harrington and Carmelo Turdo (The Aero Experience guy) rounded out the non-flyers. Photo credits to Babe Raab.
