By the end of the day, the full scope of what had happened began to settle over them. Several of the staff and escrow agents had lost portions of their homes, or had relatives wiped out. Others took in friends that lost everything.

Their world is normally one of taking chaos and making it streamlined – corralling loose ends and details and making our aircraft buying and selling transactions a miracle of competence.

Today, their personal lives are utterly disrupted.

CNN photo

The story is the same for people at other escrow and title companies in OKC, for workers at the FAA or aviation companies in the area – FBOs, airport staff and others.

The friends we depend on at aviation firms in OKC need our help!

The OKC Aviation Community Fund will donate all monies received through June 1, 2013, directly to the victims who are a part of the aviation community. “The generosity of the aviation community is amazing,” adds Robin Eissler, Sky Hope Network Founder and President. “Now, it’s time to give back to this incredible community and help our friends in need. If you have ever bought or sold an airplane, you have worked with these professionals in Oklahoma City, and now it’s our turn to support them.”

The fund is being managed by Sky Hope Network – a business aviation non-profit that responds to crisis and disasters with aviation resources. Sky Hope will lead the effort to provide direct and immediate assistance to those aviation industry workers that need assistance. With the larger relief response underway on the ground in the region, the fund allows us to take care of our own during this disaster.

Donations can be made via www.sky-hope.org or by mail at: Sky Hope Network, PO Box 1459, Georgetown, TX 78627. Please contact Sky Hope Network directly at 561-714-3070 for large donations.

Any amount will add up as we work together to help our aviation community. PLEASE DONATE NOW!

What reportedly happened: The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he performed a straight-in approach and subsequent landing with a gusting crosswind.

As the airplane slowed, and the tail dropped, he applied full aft elevator control input. He applied brakes and then initiated a turn onto the taxiway.

He stated that during the turn a gust of wind caught the right wing, tipping the airplane onto the left wing and causing the left aileron hinge to scrape on the runway. The airplane then bounced two times on the left main landing gear. The airplane came to a stop.

The post-accident examination revealed that the left landing gear mounting box and the adjacent fuselage structure was bent and the left wing was buckled. The damage was consistent with the left main landing gear being subjected to an excessive side load.

The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by either slowing the airplane down prior to exiting at the chosen taxiway or continuing to the next available taxiway.

Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to exit the runway while still traveling at an excessive speed and his subsequent loss of directional control.

NTSB Identification: WPR11LA216

This May 2011 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

That’s true on every level. Personally, professionally, and even in our hobbies. Somebody has to have their head on a swivel looking out for threats and finding methods of mitigating risk. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. So hang in there.

Lately the news has been dominated by failings in Benghazi, at the IRS, and in the Justice Department. On the right the narrative paints the president as a devious mastermind who is bent on the destruction of our way of life. On the left, they portray the president as a hapless man of good intention who had no knowledge of any wrongdoing.

I certainly have no special insight into any of these issues, but as with most complex issues, I suspect the truth is somewhere in the middle. Neither of the warring parties is squeaky clean. Nor are they working for the benefit of the public. As is usually the case, they prefer to spend massive volumes of time and money to slap each other in public in an attempt to make points. Serving the people is a secondary concern, I assure you.

If your primary allegiance is to your career, and your secondary allegiance is to the party you belong to (and that is the case for many in politics), the good of the country falls to your tertiary allegiance.

Now seriously, when was the last time you accomplished your third highest priority when your plate was already overflowing with problems that pertained to your first and second priorities?

Solving problems is the least of their concern. Given the choice between a solution for their constituents and an insult for the opposition, most long-term office holders will go for the insult every time. It’s quicker, easier, and makes points with the base back home.

This matters to us because this behavior is not a problem of the political class. It is a problem of human nature. This human tendency to taunt and fuss rather than nurture and assist is why Green Bay Packers fans boo at total strangers wearing a Chicago Bears shirt in the parking lot at WalMart, and vice versa. But sports rivalries are small potatoes in the bigger scheme of things. This is politics. And politics intrudes on our lives in a potentially debilitating way. So heads up, we’re getting into the meat of the message now. Prepare to become livid.

It doesn’t really matter if the left’s description of the president is accurate, or the right’s description of the president is accurate. It matters that we out here in the world recognize that government is not our friend.

It makes no difference if those in charge mean well or not. Bad things will happen either way. If the individual at the top of the power pyramid doesn’t overstep his (or her) authority for nefarious reasons, someone below them will. It’s human nature.

History is full of examples of government power being misused for less than noble reasons. Be they Republican, be they Democrat, be they Green, Libertarian, or members of the American Socialist Party, they are all subject to human nature, and they are all bogged down in a system intentionally designed to be sluggish, impersonal, cold, and wield tremendous power.

The government is not a warm caring force for good. It is a lovely velvet slip-cover thrown over a mace that prickles with thorny spikes. At a distance it is beautiful. Up close it is a fearful thing.

Now for the good news. You’re not alone. None of us are, unless we choose to be. And that matters because whether the issue is landing fees, tower closures, property tax increases, fuel tax increases, TSA rules, or military intervention, government responds to pressure in the form of numbers.

When the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Seaplane Pilots Association, the California Agricultural Aircraft Association, or any private side organization gathers its resources and goes to the halls of Congress or the state house to argue their case, they have their own velvety mace tucked away in a briefcase. Their mighty club implies numbers, votes, financial support, or the lack of those tidy treats that politicians are so enamored of.

This is how things get done in politics at every level. The process can be ugly and self-serving, but there is no mystery to it.

In short, most people don’t do the right thing because it is right. They do the right thing when it is shown to be in their best interest. That’s sad, but it’s true. Plenty of scientific studies bear out that assertion. Alone, we are vulnerable. Together, we have clout. That is equally true for aviation enthusiasts, firefighters, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and the teacher’s union. Organizations do not band together because their members have an abiding love of bake sales. They organize to benefit politically.

Politics matters. Here’s hoping you get involved in a meaningful way. Because whether you like it or not, there is somebody, somewhere, making plans to take away something that matters to you — because they can. Let’s hope you’re not standing out there all alone when that happens.

The program now enjoys record participation, with 2,500 ASN volunteers at airports nationwide, AOPA officials said.

“We should all be very thankful for our airport volunteers, because they are the eyes and ears in our communities,” AOPA President Craig Fuller said. “They are the early warning system. Nearly half of the almost 5,200 public-use airports in the United States now have an Airport Support Network volunteer, which is remarkable.”

Enlisting more than 2,500 volunteers brings the ASN program to a new level, allowing AOPA significant outreach in its ongoing mission to protect the freedom to fly and to maintain the nation’s public-use airports.

“This program is a really powerful force within AOPA,” said Greg Pecoraro, AOPA vice president of airports and state affairs. “It’s at the very heart of what we do – protecting our airports.”

Virginia Department of Aviation Director Randall Burdette, who has taken a leadership role in encouraging Virginia airports to participate in the ASN program, was recognized by AOPA for his achievement. He was previously an ASN volunteer at Stafford, Va., Regional Airport and said he understands the value of having volunteers in place at Virginia’s public use airports.

“It’s beneficial for the airport, its customers and the Commonwealth of Virginia to have enthusiastic volunteers help keep track of what’s happening at Virginia’s airports and to share that knowledge,” Burdette said. “We’re always looking for ways to improve our airport communities.”

With this in mind, Burdette set a goal to assist AOPA in recruiting a volunteer for each of the Commonwealth’s 66 public use airports.

AOPA began recruiting volunteers for its airport network in 1997. The original idea was to identify AOPA members at public use airports who would be willing to notify the organization regarding threats to the airport.

These timely updates have helped AOPA staff intervene with information for airport sponsors about the value of the airport, the airport’s grant obligations if it has received federal or state funds, or guidance on best practices for land use or airport management that would keep the airport free of operational restrictions.

ASN volunteers have also played key roles in organizing pilots at many airports to help provide airport support groups to meet these challenges.

Those who are interested in becoming an AOPA ASN volunteer can explore the program further here.

“Sandbar Mitchell”

“We traveled to Alaska four weeks ago to examine this B-25 and determined that the remains are in good condition and worth the effort the recover and restore to flying condition,” said Mihalek. “We are headed to Alaska on June 22 with a team of twelve people to start the recovery effort.”

Mihalek is in need of funds to complete the mission. He launched a Kickstarter.com project hoping to raise $20,000. As this is written, 165 backers have committed $11,051 with 20 days remaining.

The layout is compelling and makes flipping through the book easy and enjoyable. If the importance of a history book is judged by its weight, “Airport” should rank near the top at nearly four pounds. The binding, printing and paper are top grade.

From the Entertainment Marketing Group press release, “Aircraft: The Definitive Visual History traces the history and role of the aircraft, cataloging the diverse spectrum of flying machines from the first prototypes to today’s supersonic jets. The book will not only cover the technological developments and manufacture of aircraft, but also the cultural backdrop against which the various models arose, and the enduring impact that aircraft has had on society as an object of curiosity, a symbol of luxury, and an essential weapon of war.”

The book retails for $40, and can be purchased at dk.com.

Everyone took the power outage in stride and the power came back on about 12:30 pm. Luckily, all twelve display aircraft were already inside the 30,000 square foot hangar.

The aircraft and nearly 50 exhibitors made for a nice presentation area.

Friday lunch attendees were treated to a wonderful history of Idaho backcountry airstrips by author, Richard Holm. His book, Bound for the Backcountry, is filled with 1,200 pictures and countless stories and history of how the network of backcountry strips came into being and made for an inspiring talk.

Saturday’s luncheon kicked off with the Idaho Aviation Association annual meeting and was wrapped up with a talk by Mark Petersen, a resident of Boise, Idaho, and current owner of “Hell-er Bust” a P-51D Mustang.

The expo ended with a Saturday night banquet at which Flying magazine’s Martha Lunkin entertained the crowd with stories from her many years working for the FAA and years since.

Forums on backcountry flying, weather, avionics, and more were sprinkled throughout both days of the expo. One session of particular interest to many was Colleen Back’s “Rebuild Big Creek“. The popular backcountry destination was destroyed by fire in October 2008. The Idaho Aviation Foundation seeks to save, and rebuild, “an Idaho Treasure”.

The Idaho Aviation Expo won’t set any attendance records, but that isn’t the point. Having a chance to connect with old friends and make a few new ones makes the trek to Idaho Falls worthwhile.

“We are very pleased to appoint Stanton Sport Aviation as the distributor for a territory including Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota,” said Flight Design USA president Tom Peghiny. “In our years of work with Kent and his team, we have discovered that some very pleasant people are also very good business people, a great combination in a customer-centered enterprise.”

As a distributor Stanton will place orders for aircraft commonly arriving three to an overseas shipping container; they will sell these aircraft as well as supply them to other dealers in the territory. The Stanton Sport Aviation team reassembles these aircraft under the quality control system of the manufacturer. They follow an extensive pre-delivery checklist and fly the aircraft before declaring them suitable to turn over to a new owner. As Stanton is also an active flight training operation, they can provide the customer the five-hour LSA checkout that has made the insurance industry so willing to provide coverage for Flight Design aircraft.

“I’m proud to take on this new responsibility for Flight Design USA,” said Kent Johnson. “I’ve been associated with the brand for several years but formerly worked under another distributor. As our business has grown and our knowledge of the product increased, we look forward to accepting this new role.” Johnson is highly qualified for the new position with CFI, CFI-G, and A&P credentials.

Also operating the Midwest’s largest soaring club, Stanton provides tailwheel instruction, offers maintenance service and hangars many aircraft of all kinds. The charming all-turf field is a short drive to the Southeast from the major metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul with a population of more than three million. The Twin Cities are the 15th largest metropolitan area in the nation and is rich in outdoor sports enthusiasts, offering a ripe market for Light-Sport Aircraft sales and service.