Toby
Cleared for Takeoff
Following is a recap of the awards given to all our illustrious pilots this past weekend at Gaston's, for those of you who weren't able to be there or who left before Sunday brunch. Unfortunately, there is no way for me to reproduce Steve's entertaining and generous comments. Use your imagination.
If any of you are thinking about trying for any of these awards next year, forget about it. All of the categories are going to be different.
By the way, let's hear some ideas for a name for these awards so we don't have to use the generic term "awards." We have the Oscars, the Emmys, the Tonys.....is there some aviator you'd like to celebrate?
Drum roll, please.
The Best Landing Award went to Rick McKinney
The Best Effort Award went to Bob Bement for flying from Oregon to Gaston's and back
The Youngest Pilot and Newest Pilot Awards both went to Rudy Belew, along with an inspiring rendition of "Happy Birthday"
The Good Grandpa Award went to Jim Belew for mentoring his grandson, Rudy
The Most Indirect Routing Award went to Mark Bell, who flew from Jefferson City, MO, to Las Vegas to meet up with Michael Driggs and Nick DeBrennan so he could fly back into Gaston's
The Funny Plane in the Sky Award went to Chip Gibbons, along with a CFI video on teaching successful landings and retaining students
The Second Longest Flight Terminating at Gaston's Award went to Michael Driggs
The Last-Minute Ballast Award went to Scott Shekels, who with his wife and two daughters added some weight to Lance Fisher's airplane
The Rumored to Have Flown In Award went to Barry Stratton, who landed at Mountain Home
The Most Enthusiastic Pilot Award went to Bill Jennings, who seems to be in every photograph
The Leadership Award for Keeping All the Termites Holding Hands Award went to Dave Taylor and his Viking
The Furriest Passenger Award went to Ron Levy, who brought Duke, who still doesn't remember me (sniff)
The Most Obvious Attempt to Demonstrate Airmanship and Safety In an Approach to Landing with a Recognized Safety Expert on Board Award went to Bruce Chien
The Most Expert On Board Observer During the Most Obvious Attempt to Demonstrate Airmanship and Safety In an Approach to Landing Award went to Ken Ibold
The Snazzy Sunglasses Award went to Ed Frederick
The Highest Quantity of Beer Award went to Eamon Mackenzie, and we have the photos to prove it
The Longest Distance without Stopping to Pee Award went to Carol Theiler
The Ugliest Legs Award went this year to Ed Guthrie
The Lowest Average Altitude Award went to Bill Coltharp
The Smoothest Excuse for Not Landing Here Award went to Bill Suffa
The Craftsmanship Award went to Brad Snodgrass, who built his RV8A himself over four years
The Fake Avatar Award went to Spike Cutler, who I will never trust again
The Award for Flying the Airplane that Brought the Woman Who Brought the Hors D'Oeuvres went to Lance Flynn (and they were delicious)
The Best Save Award went to Greg Bockelman
The Award for Entering the Pattern for a Nonexistent Runway Award went to Kent Shook
The Spirit Award for Teamwork went to Michael Driggs, Nick DeBrennan, and Mark Bell
The Biggest Plane Award went to Lance Fisher
The Gutsy Woman Pilot Awards went to all the female pilots at Gastons: Diana Richards, Fran Levy, Carol Theiler, Mary See, Linda Coltharp, Carol Hays, and Toby Speed (and the prizes were bottles of slut red nail polish to match Carol Theiler's Commanche)
The Grand Poobah Award for Extraordinary Ground Ops went to Steve See
And, last but not least, the Hospitality Award went to Tom and Diana Richards
Congratulations, one and all!
If any of you are thinking about trying for any of these awards next year, forget about it. All of the categories are going to be different.
By the way, let's hear some ideas for a name for these awards so we don't have to use the generic term "awards." We have the Oscars, the Emmys, the Tonys.....is there some aviator you'd like to celebrate?
Drum roll, please.
The Best Landing Award went to Rick McKinney
The Best Effort Award went to Bob Bement for flying from Oregon to Gaston's and back
The Youngest Pilot and Newest Pilot Awards both went to Rudy Belew, along with an inspiring rendition of "Happy Birthday"
The Good Grandpa Award went to Jim Belew for mentoring his grandson, Rudy
The Most Indirect Routing Award went to Mark Bell, who flew from Jefferson City, MO, to Las Vegas to meet up with Michael Driggs and Nick DeBrennan so he could fly back into Gaston's
The Funny Plane in the Sky Award went to Chip Gibbons, along with a CFI video on teaching successful landings and retaining students
The Second Longest Flight Terminating at Gaston's Award went to Michael Driggs
The Last-Minute Ballast Award went to Scott Shekels, who with his wife and two daughters added some weight to Lance Fisher's airplane
The Rumored to Have Flown In Award went to Barry Stratton, who landed at Mountain Home
The Most Enthusiastic Pilot Award went to Bill Jennings, who seems to be in every photograph
The Leadership Award for Keeping All the Termites Holding Hands Award went to Dave Taylor and his Viking
The Furriest Passenger Award went to Ron Levy, who brought Duke, who still doesn't remember me (sniff)
The Most Obvious Attempt to Demonstrate Airmanship and Safety In an Approach to Landing with a Recognized Safety Expert on Board Award went to Bruce Chien
The Most Expert On Board Observer During the Most Obvious Attempt to Demonstrate Airmanship and Safety In an Approach to Landing Award went to Ken Ibold
The Snazzy Sunglasses Award went to Ed Frederick
The Highest Quantity of Beer Award went to Eamon Mackenzie, and we have the photos to prove it
The Longest Distance without Stopping to Pee Award went to Carol Theiler
The Ugliest Legs Award went this year to Ed Guthrie
The Lowest Average Altitude Award went to Bill Coltharp
The Smoothest Excuse for Not Landing Here Award went to Bill Suffa
The Craftsmanship Award went to Brad Snodgrass, who built his RV8A himself over four years
The Fake Avatar Award went to Spike Cutler, who I will never trust again
The Award for Flying the Airplane that Brought the Woman Who Brought the Hors D'Oeuvres went to Lance Flynn (and they were delicious)
The Best Save Award went to Greg Bockelman
The Award for Entering the Pattern for a Nonexistent Runway Award went to Kent Shook
The Spirit Award for Teamwork went to Michael Driggs, Nick DeBrennan, and Mark Bell
The Biggest Plane Award went to Lance Fisher
The Gutsy Woman Pilot Awards went to all the female pilots at Gastons: Diana Richards, Fran Levy, Carol Theiler, Mary See, Linda Coltharp, Carol Hays, and Toby Speed (and the prizes were bottles of slut red nail polish to match Carol Theiler's Commanche)
The Grand Poobah Award for Extraordinary Ground Ops went to Steve See
And, last but not least, the Hospitality Award went to Tom and Diana Richards
Congratulations, one and all!
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