Warbirds visit Conroe
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Warbirds visit Conroe
April 1, 2023 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Hello Conroe Crew and Staff and welcome to the April 1st home opener and Hometown Rides Day!
The landscape looks a lot different for this first event of 2023, as opposed to 2022. However, we are on our feet and ready to exhibit and fly our aircraft for the Hometown Rides Day. Even if you’re not named crew, come on out and let’s get the GCW back in the air!
We are holding a local Rides Day at General Aviation Services, this time hosting CAF friends the CenTex Wing’s C-47 That’s All, Brother and the B-25 Yellow Rose, plus the SB2C Helldiver.
As of yesterday, our JRB/Twin Beech was scratched from the line up, as there are still a few outstanding items before her engine change is complete. CenTex will be bringing their C-45 to take her place.
CenTex aircraft arrive on Friday March 31st at mid-day. The Diver arrives Saturday.
MEDIA DAY on Friday March 31st at 3:30 PM.
We are hosting a VIP Media flight and have confirmed County Judge Mark Keough and County Commissioner Robert Walker. As members of the Montgomery County Commissioners’ Court these are very important guests. Any members are welcome to come out and let the commissioners see the CAF in action. 😊 We will fly the commissioners and any other media/VIPs at 4:00 PM that day on That’s All Brother. Flight Ops can take this opportunity to fly any other aircraft for training or generating interest.
Rides Day on Saturday April 1st:
Essential crew report at 8:00 AM, non – essential crew report at 9:00 AM.
Gates open to the public for tours at 10:00 AM; PX also open by 10:00. First flight is 10:00 AM in the Helldiver. Second flight is the SNJ at 11:30 AM. The bombers begin LHFE flights at noon.
Passengers will begin to report in at 9:30 AM.
We are charging regular ramp admission at the door for tours: $10 for teens and adults; $5 for 12 and under; $20 for a family of two adults and up to three kids.
Last flights go up at 4:00 – 4:15.
We are off the field by 5:00 PM.
We will have a food truck onsite run by GCW COL Damon Mathews serving bratwurst and tacos. Members can purchase a $5 lunch ticket at the PX tent which will be good for $10 at the food truck. We will rely on GCW kitchen for water and sodas.
A ramp plan is attached, which may be subject to adjustment upon our arrival, depending on GAS capacity.
Loadmasters: We will need one tent, one large ice chest with ice and water and gator-ade, the A-frame signs, folding chairs, and cones and ropes to keep the public off of the hot ramp as we’ve done before.
We will also need someone to put out the new road signs at the airport entrance. (And collect them at the end of the day!) The CenTex Wing is also bringing a PX and a tent.
Tents will be outdoors by the patio. Ride Coordinators will be set up indoors. GCW will have a Rides Coordinator as will CenTex Wing.
The early weather forecast is for cloudy and chance of showers, so bring your windbreaker.
Enter the airport from League Line Road. The county fair is in progress and traffic south of League Line will be congested and certain side roads closed.
Assigned Gulf Coast Wing Crew
Pilot SNJ: Jim Ryan
Pilot JRB: Scott Williams
Crew chief: Andy Blozinski, Dennis Kwiecien
PX: Cathy Mullis, Steve Mullis, Richard Pecore
ACM: Connor Mullis
Rides Coordinator: Jane Copeland
Marshaller: Gary Herzog
MTD: Nancy Kwiecien