“It’s like Top Gun!” exclaimed 12-year-old Tony Mora, waving up at the plane as he rushed to catch a better view. He was amid hundreds of other onlookers, many of whom were relaxing in lawn chairs or standing.
Later, all eyes, all cameras and binoculars were turned to a WWII-era AT-6, piloted by John Collver, roaring in a right angle before trailing a stream of smoke that formed a circle above the wowed crowd. The weekend show, highlighting a variety of aircraft, celebrated the 100th anniversary of U.S. Marine Corps aviation and benefited the Santa Maria Museum of Flight.
The museum’s mission is to preserve the aviation and aerospace history of the Santa Maria Valley. “Santa Maria is very unique in that it has been a big supporter of our military through all the wars and peace time,” said the event coordinator, Mike Geddry Sr.
The airport itself has a rich military history: it was used during World War II to train service groups to support Army Air Force activities overseas. The nearby Allan Hancock College stands on the site of the former Hancock College of Aeronautics, which was founded by Capt. Hancock and provided training for pilots during the war.
“Before the barracks were built at Cooke Air Force Base, Santa Marians took soldiers into their homes, fed them,” Geddry said. “When troops passed on our other side, locals were there with coffee, sandwiches, cigarettes – anything they could offer to help our troops.”
Geddry, who toured in Vietnam in 1970-71, said he didn’t get the same reception.
“It hurt,” he said. “That’s why with this event we have the marines and all members of the military, including our Canadian brothers, to come down,” he added. “It’s one solid brotherhood. It’s hope that maybe people, especially our youth, can understand that their freedom that they’re enjoying today comes from the military.”
Pilot James Bergman, 63, said preserving history also means preserving the aircraft. Bergman is the owner of a North American SNJ-6 Texan, but he prefers to call himself a caretaker of the generations’ past.
“The U.S. made almost 400,000 aircraft in a five-year period, which is a lot considering the whole Air Force today has 5,000,” Bergman said. Air shows weren’t popular until the mid-1960s. The scars of the Second World War left a lot of people preferring to simply forget about that period.
“It took thousands of airplanes to be scrapped before people realized there’s an importance of saving them,” he added.
Pilot Daniel Wotring II, who flew his black T-6 Texan in a show with three other planes, said he hoped the show would get more people excited about aviation.
“That feeling of being airborne today was the same feeling I got when I first started flying,” Wotring said. “There’s a certain freedom there; you’ve got more control on your outcome than any other point in your life.”
“I want to share that feeling,” he added. “So for me, it’s not just about flying, but also seeing all the little kids out here on the ramp – seeing them getting excited at the age when I got excited to fly.”
A crowd favorite was the “Pacific Duel” re-enactment between World War II American and Japanese fighter planes. Before the end of the air show, a Marine Corps V-22 Osprey took to the air. The hulking helicopter-plane hybrid is known for flying as fast as some airplanes, and during the show it hovered low so the crowd could take in its entire splendor.
Another crowd-pleaser was a trail flight by the Santa Maria 99s, female pilots who celebrate aviator Amelia Earhart and other women pilots. “I think everyone is inspired by her,” said Santa Maria pilot Pat Viker, who earned her pilot’s license in 1985 and only recently stopped piloting because of vision problems.
Viker stifled a laugh when asked if female pilots get the respect they deserve. “Yes and no,” she answered. “Some had to break the glass ceiling for others. For gals like us, the challenge is getting your husband from the left seat over to the right one – and not to bug you when he’s there.”
Viker was among several pilots who had her aircraft on display for onlookers. Many vintage planes had informational displays and many pilots were on hand to talk about their aircraft. Attendees also had the chance to enter larger craft, including a hulking weaponless plane named the E-2C Hawkeyes (so-called because it provided planes a big picture of the battlefield).
Bradley Pirman attended the show with his fiancée and his five children. “It’s really cool because they get to meet military personnel and see some of the military planes they’d only seen on television,” he said. “It’s been very educational, and the military men and women have been very friendly and accommodating with the kids.” jfoster@syvjournal.com