edenvale classic aircraft foundation
Hangar F, Edenvale Aerodrome, 5195 Hwy 26 E., Stayner ON, L0M 1S0
705-818-2223
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Déjà vu
with a silver lining
by Peter Walpole |
(The following is an edited version of a feature article scheduled to appear in COPA Flight, later this year.)
The weather forecast, a week ahead of the Gathering of the Classics, at Collingwood, was superb. But as everyone in southern Ontario knows, the weather patterns this year have defied common experience. Just ask the people of Peterborough.
The rain was expected on Friday. It arrived around midnight and settled over the southern end of Georgian Bay with rain, fog, mist. Further south, where many of the visiting pilots are based, Saturday's early morning forecast called for up to 75 mm of rain (that's three inches in American). Almost everything was rightfully grounded.
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"Wheels up, smoke on" Harvard C-FWPK's signature departure |
But the Classics went ahead on Saturday morning with a good number of aviation enthusiasts visiting to support the Collingwood Classic Aircraft Foundation. Many knew this was a great opportunity to get up close and personal to the CCAF's collection of antique planes. It was a superb chance for the youngest kids to experience planes without the crowds. With Sunday's forecast looking absolutely 'brilliant' the decision was made to go with day 2 and hope the crowds and planes would arrive.
This year the CCAF had made some remarkably strong partnerships with local media. The DJ's, weather people, and news readers all publicized the Classics was on for Sunday!
What a change in 24 hours: a dark blue cloudless sky, a very light wind, low humidity, warm air, and crowds. By opening time the airport parking lot was filled with volunteers. Spectators were streaming through the gates and enthusiastically paying the nominal entry fee. The airport restaurant was serving coffee and breakfast to those in severe need. And the sky was filling with planes. I counted ten aircraft in the circuit or on the runway at one point. Then it got too busy to be watching the sky-I had photos to take!
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High noon and a crowded display area |
Planes backed up waiting to be handled into suitable parking spots. The PA, manned by our own Larry Quinton, gave a detailed history of each plane as it was moved into the viewing area. And still the public swarmed in, and more planes arrived. Wow. After last year's disaster with the weather, and after Saturday's wash out, the Classics was a success.
By noon the professionally manned Unicom was reporting about 150 visiting aircraft. A number of planes without radios went uncounted in the rush.
Pilots and volunteers enjoyed a delicious bacon-on-a-bun lunch, thanks to our sponsors. Ticket sales on various gifts and experiences were brisk-thanks to our sponsors and volunteers.
Weather is only part of the equation
A large aviation event, like Collingwood's Gathering of the Classics, is heavily dependent on three groups to make it work: members and their families and friends, local businesses, and national organizations and businesses. This year's Classics displayed that essential cooperation prominently.
Last year's dreadful weather kept the planes and visitors away. A financial disaster was narrowly averted. The key to early planning was a business plan stressing the need to enlist local and national sponsors.
Canada Trust and a local Consulting Engineering company, C.C Tatham & Associates, soon became Gold Sponsors. Blue Mountain Village, (a local ski operation), and Collingwood Toyota sponsored at the Silver level. Georgian Bay Club and Canadian Tire became the Bronze Sponsors, while the Township of Wasaga Beach & Clearwater, and The Town of Collingwood, along with the local Radio Shack store became Event Suppliers.
COPA, and AeroShell were joined by a number of Media Partners in supporting and promoting the event in a number of very significant ways.
Why?
All of this effort came together to promote the Classics, a fly-in event (not an air show) that stresses classic, antique, and 'interesting' aircraft, and their pilots and owners. There are a number of purposes in hosting the Classics. The Collingwood Classic Aircraft Foundation, collects, rebuilds, and flies classic aircraft. So the event is a chance to display their workmanship.
The foundation believes in projecting a positive image of small aircraft flying. Inviting the public to the airport, letting them see, smell, hear old planes (not to mention the pilots) is both fun and educational. Experience has shown that all ages can thoroughly enjoy a few hours with elderly and interesting planes (and people).
Increasingly, a prime objective of the gathering is to help raise funds for a new home for the CCAF. The foundation needs to move from the existing hangar and workshop. Time is running out!
How
The Classics takes over the airport for a solid day. In so doing it tends to disrupt the other businesses and operations at the airport. So the members work very hard to lessen the conflicts this might cause. The best way is to involve all the affected businesses and organizations, and make them feel part of the excitement, by promoting themselves. This has been successfully achieved over the years. The CCAF needs and values their support.
Of course, the hands-on work (before, during, and after the event) generally falls to foundation members, their families, and friends. With a series of phone calls, a little cajoling, and arm twisting many dozens of volunteers turned out to do all the jobs required-pounding posts for safety fences, selling tickets, hosting and guiding media and dignitaries, wing-walking, manning the UNICOM, marshalling planes … There is so much to do, and excellent volunteers to help.
As you can see, the success of the Classics is dependent on a large circle of people, businesses, organizations. The CCAF acknowledges the support (financial, in kind, and in hard labor) provided by its friends and supporters. An event like this is totally dependent on the owners and pilots who flew to Collingwood for a day of excitement and meeting the public.