Editor:
Well, thanks to the help of numerous helpful folks we, my wife Grace and I, have made it through two days of the Expo. Two days of wonder and education. This show has to go down as one of the best aviation presentations in the country. I've never gotten up to the really big one at Oskosh and probably never will but the exhibits and the air shows here would have to be something great to surpass ours!
The static exhibits showed every thing there is to see in the light aircraft field and the twilight airshow was out of the book! Patty Wagstaff's show was out of this world! She showed what a world-champion aerobatic can do! Her constitution and the aircraft she flies must be the best! Some of the stunts she pulls must draw high G forces on her and the plane. I was surprised that both she and the plane survived the show! And then to have the 12 light aircrafts fly the formations they did was, to me, the epitome of concentration. Formation flying in daytime is nerve wracking in itself but to do it in semi-darkness as they did is overwhelming! Both Patty and the guys from Team Aerodynamics deserve much more credit than they received.
This was the ninth show that I attended, seems like they get better each year! Hope I live to see the next one.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the folks who helped us around the area. The shotgun toting "sheriff" who carried us in his squad car up the grandstand for the air show and the real sheriff (a lady) who took us up to the Lockwood hangar for the E.A.A. dinner and the numerous folks who offered us seats and help in getting around. It made the show a great two days for the both of us.
Another great thrill was the outpouring of support for the E.A.A. Young Eagle program by the attendance of the diners. Every table in the hangar was full and the meals were superb.
So the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we will be there for the next edition of the Sport Expo next year.
Unfortunately I won't be flying myself because the flight examiner I went to when I was 82 years old thought I might be forgetful and cause an accident, so I spend my time going to E.A.A. meeting and writing stories of the old times and of our local experiences.
Woodie Jackson
Sebring
Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - www.newssun.com/ltr-012313-Jackson