Back to Vintage Mooney Group Home Page Oceano, CA Fly-In
December 6, 2008

Hosted by Jolie Lucas & Mitch Latting
Click Here for the Video
 

Well our 4th Annual Toys for Tots Fly-In came off wonderfully, with exceptional weather, 29 Mooneys, 2 dogs, and lots of kids.  All week long the weather was iffy.  But on Saturday. it was sunny, in the 70s, with a whisp of a wind, and severe smooth flying.  Jolie Lucas thought of practically everything including Poinsettias, snacks before lunch, a special Toys for Tots banner, a fantastic catered BBQ lunch, cheap gas, a Toys for Tots cake, Free Hearst Castle tickets for 2 couples, Stearman biplane rides, and a fantastic performance at the Great American Melodrama.  Thanks to Jolie, Mitch, and Gabriel for planning and executing a great day for everyone.

Usually good upstanding citizens, these VMG Mooniacs appeared to be enjoying the seasons a little too much with our reindeer antlers.  In all truth however, Jolie forced most everyone to wear the Red Christmas antlers or the natural color antlers.  Regardless of the choice, it sure made us all look pretty festive.

      

More and more often, people have been flying in on Friday afternoon for informal get togethers.  Here you can see some of the folks that flew in and enjoyed dinner together.  Here is Mitch & Jolie in front of the VMG Toys for Tots "cupcake" cake.  We even had a choice of chocolate or vanilla

Before this fly-in, I had one opinion of John Deptula and Donn Larson.  After this fly-in, that has changed.  It's hard to believe that these guys use to help run the VMG.  Then Ed Shreffler showed up again (mid morning even) with his Christmas socks in the correct FAA positions.  This is Ed's second annual "wearing of the socks" fly-in.  And Ish and Christine brought their grandkids to the fly-in to make friends with the other kids and puppies that joined us all.

     

How cool is our VMG Toys for Tots banner which was donated to us for this fly-in and also to use for our future Toys for Tots fly-ins.  Current and past Marine Corps veterans joined us for a flag ceremony, the singing of God Bless America, and then a rousing "Oooh-Rah Semper Fi US Marines" from us all.

There was no mistaking that this was a Vintage Mooney Group fly-in complete with not only our own banner, but a decorated cake.  We had quite a contingent of other people who joined us as well from locals, to Piper and Beech owners.  Even the Sigma Kappa Sorority from Cal Poly came and donated 3 big boxes of toys.  There was definitely a giving spirit in the air, in addition to our Mooneys.  This was especially appreciated since it is a tough time for everyone, which is when charity means even more to those who can use the giving.

 

 

 

Bailey was able to join us and bring Paul and Gina with him.  I think Bailey looks good with the headset.

   

Phil did a review of our 2008 fly-ins which included our first 2 multi-day trips to Mexico and outlined our initial plans for 2009.

   

Then it was off to the daring Stearman rides with JR.  Jolie Lucas and Linda Corman were the first intrepid riders followed by Kevin and Darci Smith, as well as others.

 

You knew this would not be a normal flight when JR initiated a nice steep climbing turn to the right just after the wheels left the runway.  And that was not all, followed by barrel rolls, wing overs, and a loop.  Even the Marines came back with stars in their eyes.

What a great fly-in!  Thanks Jolie, Mitch and Gabriel (who invented and showed us all his "Secret VMG Handshake").  You'll have to ask Gabriel if you were not there.

Photos courtesy of members Phil Corman, Jolie Lucas, and Ed Shreffler