The weather was beautiful, a sunny mix of summer-won’t-let go and fall-is-infiltrating… gorgeous.
My excitement was building as I left the main road and followed Waze to the airport. As with most events like this, it took a little while to find a parking space. No surprise that all the good ones were taken, but after some cruising, I found a neat little spot tucked away on the grass right by a hangar. From there, it was only a short walk to the flight line. My first impression rounding the corner onto the expanse of airport ramp was “oh yeah!”
It felt so good to pop out into “my world.” Let me state something about terminology. These events are interchangeably called “Wings and Wheels” and “Wheels and Wings.” Being a pilot, this was about the wings to me. I have to admit, though, the cars were incredible to see as well.
I walked onto a wide-open ramp filled with aircraft and all sorts of interesting displays. The local fire department was there, a kid-pleaser (I must still be a part kid), as was the local police and one of their cruisers (ok, I stopped there later, too.)
What really grabbed my attention, though, was the first vehicle with wings. A brilliant paint scheme on a Civil Air Patrol’s Cessna 182. It was as clean as a State Trooper’s vehicle. You know. Shiny, official, and sharp looking.
(Oh, by the way, the cockpit was as immaculate as the exterior of the plane.)