[Old Crow]

Well, I'm back in sunny California after a few days in sunny Ohio. I got a pretty good sunburn- who knew? I figured Ohio, how much sun can there be? I guess the Good Lord decided to honor some real heroes with perfect weather.

Now that it's all over, I thought I would express my gratitude at meeting a few MH2 members in person. You know how you always wonder how people will be the first time you meet them? Well, they were all were great guys and added some extra texture to a special day.

I spent time at a fighter pilot's reunion on Friday night with Mustangdriver and Waltz 41. We talked endlessly about fighters, pilots, diecast, wives, airshows and all manner of interesting topics. Met up with them, and some great friends of theirs, again at the show on Saturday. Waltz 41 and I braved the Tuskegee autograph lines together and came away with many special signatures and handshakes.

Met Jim (along with wife and son), Parsig and Captain Eddie at the show on Saturday in the shade of Glacier Girl and chatted for quite some time over the din of a quartet of biplanes performing stunts overhead. Captain Eddie and Parsig had their respective MH2 t-shirts on and they looked quite nice- not nerdy at all Jim may not be heard from for awhile. He is apparently on an extended holiday and on the way to Vegas.

Spent most of the airshow in the box seat I purchased from wieh9995. He, along with his father and brother and a buddy of theirs from New York, were great guys and we talked planes, pilots and diecast all afternoon. wieh9995 doesn't post often but he should- he's a pretty nice guy. And his brother should be a member of the forum. wieh9995 apparently served time aboard a cruiser escorting a carrier a few years ago- another vet owed a big thank you.

I can't decide if I'm more jealous of mustangdriver, who volunteers at the Nationaal Museum of the Air Force and flys choppers for a living, or Captain Eddie, who lives in Columbus near the museum and in the cradle of aviation.

I just want to thank my fellow forum members for the memories.

I think you all, and more, need to come to California for a show next year. Some of the things you saw for the first time in Columbus are relatively routine here- like the Raptor demo (seen it twice) and the flying P-38 (saw 4 in the air together at Chino this year). We'll have a get-together hosted by the California Chapter of MH2.

[mustangdriver]

Hey buddy, it was great meeting you and the rest of the cool model hangar group as well. Old Crow, Waltz, and a couple of my other friends really had a blast together Friday night. We actually stayed at the party 30 minutes after it was over. I was on 30 hours with no sleep, so I was not as sharp as normal(not that it is much better when I am rested). It was a great event, and meeting you guys made it that much better. I really feel that I made some new frineds at this event.

[Waltz41]

Kevin, it was a pleasure to meet you, and yes, while those lines were long, I seriously think that might be my favorite part of the show, meeting the Tuskeegee pilots! And like you said, we have a very nice piece to add to our collections as well as the memory of meeting them! And the party friday nite was cool, came away with that really nice old crow print as well.

What a show it was, I'm kind of bummed it's over. This event has been like 2 years in the making. And I honestly don't think there will ever be anything like it again. Sure you might be able to get the planes together, but the pilots that flew them........

Had fun meeting up with everyone, yes you too Mustangdriver . By the way, did you find out who the guy who likes fish was???

[mustangdriver]

No!! I never did. Cell phone coverage was so bad, that I couldn't hear what someone said that called me. I think he was trying to sell me fish.

[Captain Eddie]

Yes, it was a great show, a once in a lifetime experience. As I've previously stated, I was there all four days. Lots of great aircraft to see, great airshow, and what a thrill meeting so many WW II pilots, getting their pics, and their autographs!

I had already received Bud Anderson's autograph from his website his son runs, bought his book, and a signed pic, so I didn't wait in line an hour to get his signature. I DID, however, get his picture signing "my" book, hehehe!

[mustangdriver]

Hey Capt, I talked to y ou on Friday nigth right?

[Captain Eddie]

No, don't think so. I didn't know the the party some of you went to.

[mustangdriver]

If I would have talked to you, I would have invited you for sure. Your PBY went out this morning by the way.

[Captain Eddie]

Thanks, MD.