OT: Making plans for the Dawn Patrol rendevous in Dayton, Ohio.

Despite the fact I am only 3 hours away I finally plan to make my appearance after all these years.
For any prior attendees , as I have no idea what kind of attendance is expected for this 100th Anniversary - or on normal years for that matter, do you recommend making hotel reservations in advance?
If so what is a decent place, close by, that you stayed at before?

I know nothing about it but it sounds interesting. To me. To my dear beloved, it'd be

I shall exercise my Google-fu. It's be nice to meet up, if I can manage. Criminee, Mudwasp is only a couple of hours from me and the time just slips away... No, make that "roars by in a raging cataract..."

<clicks off to a Duck-Duck-Go window>

Hmmm. October 1-2, eh? Linkety goodness here - Dawn Patrol 2016

Now we went to Houston last fall & she suffered through the space center... I wonder what sort of fall trip I could plan around this... I know of at least one occasional WOFFer in the area, House Hobbit; haven't seen him here in a while.

I propose yet another sticky if this gathers enough interest.

The Dawn Patrol Rendezvous is a fantastic event, I have gone in 207, 09, 11 and 2014. Usually it is held every two years, they skipped 13 to mark the beginning of WW I in 2014. The USAF Museum is worth trip in itself, so much history, so much to see. Thousands attend the Rendezvous as spectators, fliers and RC scale modelers from all cross the country and around the world. The 2014 Redezvous was the largest attendance over the 3 day period than the others. We had beautiful weather the 5 days we were there.
There are many hotel/motels near the Museum, last time we were at the Red Roof Inn,Fairborn/center which was about a mile from the entrance of the Museum flying site. The rates were very reasonable, I usually stay 4 nights. I plan to make my reservation in late May or June. I recommend you set aside some time to tour the Museum, I would add at least a day or two just to see the Museum. You will be happy you did.
It is a 14 hour drive one way for me just to get there. I build and fly 1/4 & 1/3 scale WW I airplanes, I add as much scale details as my skill level allows. I have won several awards with my planes but I am not in the Top Gun category. I do enjoy building them and they are all flown regularly, not hanger queens.
I'll post some pictures of the 2014 event.

This is some of the full scale aircraft:






Rich

Very nice! In that last pic, though, they should drag those bodies away. My beloved would really be aghast!

Here are just some of the display and re-en-actors:

Excellent!
Thank you sir that is exactly the info I was looking for.

It really was a pretty day last time. Let me know when you get into town, and we can set up a time and place to meet.







[img]https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hph...amp;oe=578D9C12[/img]



[img]https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hph...amp;oe=575B8497[/img]

Sounds good.
Hell we oughta have a WOFF luncheon or dinner. Or just a hot dog by the plane display.
Mmmmm...processed meat by-products and SE5's.

I have some pictures of the 1/4,1/3 and 1/2 scale models that were flying. I built & flew first 3 1/4 scale airplanes Fokker D-VII's, also 1/3 scale Fokker Eindecker. The Neuport 17 is 1/3 scale and the Neuport 28 is 1/2 scale. It would great to meet you guy from WOFF,
as the date nears,maybe we set up a time & place to meet. If you have never been to the Museum or the Rendezvous, it is a once in a life time experience for WWI Buffs.

Rich

Folks;

I'm considering the possibility of making the trip. To that end, I was wondering if someone in the know could identify for me exactly where this rendezvous will take place. So far I know it is Oct 1 & 2 2016, somewhere (Over There) near Dayton, Ohio. I would also appreciate some suggestions of where to stay and since I would likely be flying in on commercial airlines, I would like to be staying somewhere close preferably walking distance.

Any info would be appeciated.

Cheers

Wright-Patterson AFB.
As for a hotel within 1 mile of the gate see the 3rd post. That's were I plan to make my HQ.
I'll probably rent a car for the drive from here to there.

I'll be there again. As Duke said, it's at WPAFB, at the USAF Museum.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/WWIDawnPatrol.aspx

Thanks for the feedback folks. I will look into this. Would be nice to get together with a bunch of WOFFers.

Defintely!

Robert, Rendezvous is held on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on one of the inactive runways and the Museum is not far away. There are signs clearly marking the location of the event. The are not any motels within walking distance. You may want to rent a vehicle, it is just to far to get around. Will you be coming by yourself? Maybe you could ride with me from the motel to the event and hangout with us modelers. We can maybe arrange for me to pick you up at the airport. Think about it and let me know and we can talk about it.

Rich

Thanks for the offer, I may take you up on that, and yes I will be alone. A getaway from the wife for a couple of days and I will leave her with a "honeydoo" list so she doesn't get bored!

He He!

We Should At Least Do A Walk Through Of The Early Years Gallery

I can easily spend the whole day in this place every time I visit, but the airshow should remain the focus for the weekend. It really is a world class museum, and by this fall the new wing will be open too!

I'd love to get together for a group dinner while everyone is in town.

At least! I know I'll be covering every square inch of those hangars, not just the Early Years! I love all combat airplanes. But I'll be there for the League of WW1 Aviation Historians Seminar beforehand, so I'll have more time.

What? You say you are interested in the League? Look no further: http://www.overthefront.com/ Anyone can be in the League, not just "historians."

Thanks for the reminder. Keep forgetting to renew my subscription for this year.
Hopefully it will be a "Western Front" year. Now that I think about it you probably had some articles published eh JFM?
Bronnenkant referenced you several times in his book on MvR.

EDIT: Okay membership renewed. Specified my areas of interest (from the choices) as "Western Front, Squadrons, Personnel, Aircraft". Hopefully that helps drive the article types.

I went year before last. It was a great experience, though not huge like a full on air show (just so you know). Indeed the flight line is a good way from anything, so walking would be a challenge.

The weather was great when I went. I do wonder what the weather fallback plan would be. One of the Airdrome Aeroplanes owners was joking with me that they respect a wind limit of 1 knot, gusting to 3.

Would be great to see you all there!

I think I'm going to go to this. Only a seven hour drive for me.

Saying my prayers, hoping it works out. Haven't seen MajorMagee around for a while, but I'll quickly second (or third, or fourth) her motion for a dinner.

WOFFER's UNITE!

MajorMagee is a female?
Didn't know we had any in WOFF world.
Guess I'd better watch my language from now on.

Sorry to disappoint, I'm an old guy with a white beard.

Ah that makes two of us then - least on the old part. And the beard depending on my mood.
HumanDrone thinks your cute anyway apparently.
Sounds like this meet better take place if at all possible.

Maybe at the Aeronaut Books tent at a certain day/time? They'll have a big one, with plenty of books and day-long lectures. Last time they had lectures by Greg VanWyngarden, Jon Guttman, Lance Bronnenkant, Jack Herris, Jim Wilberg, Robert Casari, etc. Lots of action there and impossible to miss their tent, which was somewhat centrally located (although I can't say they'll be in the same location next time).

Book tent?
Better get the credit card ready.

It never occurred to me that the accent may be on the first syllable, like "Major McGee!"

A thousand pardons for my presumption, dear sir! My father-in-law used to tell me, "Tom, it's no use being stupid if you never show anybody!" What's worse, my wife's (thoroughly Irish) uncle went by Magee! Sheesh, I need a dunce smiley!

But yeah, I sure hope I can make it. Then you can laugh at me in person!

I like your father-in-law's sense of humor.

I am hoping to attend this year as a first timer.

Sounds like this could be a real party.
Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

Maybe we could get some WOFF t-shirts or nice polo's made up and get some walking billboard advertising going.

This, my good fellow, is a really great idea! We'll need a good manufacturer - and do we print or embroider? Print will be cheaper of course - and to use official WOFF graphics, we'll have to get permission of OBD. And we have to be careful - I don't want that stuff that peels off after the second wash...

Now what of those of us who are <ahem> gravitationally challenged, whose wives complain that looking at that bulbous balloon belly in a T-Shirt causes them to empty their stomach in the wrong direction? October in Ohio, a jacket may not be out of the question. But I don't want to complicate things.

I have put out a feeler to a person I know that creates "Spirit" wear.

Pol, any thoughts from OBD ?

I have a fellow that works with us, whose dad owned a sporting goods shop. He has all the embroidery equipment, and I think he can print T-shirts, too. He makes all the embroidered logo workwear for our company. I'll ask there as well. WOFF Ballcaps!

Update: He says a run of 20 (printed) shirts or so would be too expensive. Anybody else have T-Shirt resources?

Just wanted to wakeup this thread to see just how many people are seriously thinking of attending the event.

Maybe we could get a list going or something like that, and post it once in awhile so we can keep abreast if interested parties and possibly communicate as time gets closer.

I for one plan to go and I guess with that in mind I'm wondering how soon one should be making accommodation plans.

Best Regards;

I plan on going. I actually have time for once to do it and don't want to miss this.

Boy, RW, that's a tough one for me. I know my poor Beloved would be bored to tears, but to make a man-cation out of it - I travel for work all the time, she never gets to go anywhere. We have an autistic son, which severely restricts our ability to go, so I have all these hotel points and airline miles just waiting for a better day. So I'm scheming how I can come to this and maybe make it a fall combo trip - go somewhere else with them while we're on the road. But put me down as "VERY interested".

If it's available, I'd probably want to stay here because they have a free breakfast and I can use my points - as long as I book it soon!

I'm not seriously thinking about it, I will be there. I will be at the one in 2018, too, at least, as the next two League of WW1 Aviation Historians seminars are collocated with them.

W-w-what? You say you aren't part of the League yet? Fear not! Anybody may join! http://www.overthefront.com/

If I am in good health I will be there with the RC group. This will be my 7th event. Would not miss it.

There are many hotel/motels near the Museum, last time we were at the Red Roof Inn, Fairborn/center which was about a mile from the entrance of the Museum flying site. The rates were very reasonable, I usually stay 4 nights. I plan to make my reservation in late May or June. See my posts on page 1.


Rich

I live here, so I should be able to be there, barring anything unfortunate happening between now and then.

Any use of our logo would need our permission of course, and for small limited numbers and no profit involved.

Wouldn't have it any other way, Pol. And despite us being a bit "barmy", I'd expect us as a group to bring nothing but respect (and sales) to OBD. The sim must go on!

heck, you guys ought to set up a booth with a PC and give folks the chance to try it out, would be nothing but good for OBD. Making me wish I was still nearby, I went once when I lived over there, great event.

Oct 1 & 2 is after Elk season in Colorado, and all of the other "stuff" looks good , so count me in.

All of the other details to be worked out later.

Holy mackeral, with all the WOFF3 activity, this is clear back on page 3! I'll fix that!

My Wing Commander & I have discussed the matter, and I will be there. It will either be a "man-cation" or I'll find something else for them to do while I look at boring old airplanes!

Anybody bringing family? I'm really looking forward to this, seeing all y'all.

Made my hotel reservation just now. I will be accompanied by the fearless Rex von Schnapps (my brother-in-law)

Love that Eindecker

Voices in the Sky...

Ok folks

I am going to be flying in to Dayton so I would like to be staying somewhere close to the show.

I am accepting all suggestions, and NO, I won't be coming in a biplane...DAMN!

Don't you dare come in that Zeppelin!

HeHe!!

RW, I'll be at the Holiday Inn Datyon,
2800 Presidential Dr,
Fairborn, Ohio 45324 , United States
Hotel Front Desk : 1-937-4267800

I have points, though. it might be pretty pricey otherwise.

This post also serves as a thread bump!

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I will be attending the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous this year and am staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Huber Heights. HumanDrone, I am also using up some of my points which will help to keep the cost of this trip a bit more manageable. It's gonna be great!

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Yeah, I actually screwed up. HI express gives you a free breakfast!

And I wanna see RW come in the Zepplin!

I'll arrive Wednesday afternoon and attend the League of WW1 Aviation Historians Seminar Thurs and Friday, staying at the Hope Hotel. I'll be loitering all day/night Saturday, too, at the Dawn Patrol and the museum. Probably come home Monday, as I want to snoop more around the USAF museum (the bookstore murders my credit card) and Huffman Prairie.

Going to be fun meeting all you guys!

Well, the only murdering I expect on my credit card is to have you autograph a copy of your two volume magnum opus as an early Christmas present for my brother-in-law. Will you have any with you? Or could you just bring a set for me? I want to surprise him, so I can't be toting it around looking for you.

Sure, HD! It'd be my pleasure. Aeronaut book always has a large tent there with loads of books for sale, and I assume the same for this time. They also have several authors speaking there throughout the day--Last time I think they had Jon Guttman, Greg VanWyngarden, Lance Bronnenkant, Jim Wilberg, and Jack Herris all giving lectures on various subjects. Free as air, too. So I'll be loitering around that tent often. Plus, wherever we WOFFers decide to meet.

Great! We'll make arrangements closer to the time, I'll get you the funds in advance!

The Boss and I will be there. Looking forward to putting a face with the handles! We went 2 years ago and had a great time. You could spend all weekend at the museum only.

Well, the deed is done!

I will be arriving at Dayton airport (united flight 3845) Sept 30th approx. 10:30 am.
I will be staying at the Red Roof Inn - Fairborn/Nutter Centre
Address : 2580 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Fairborn, OH 45324, United States
Phone : +1 937-426-6116

Departing for home Oct 3rd 06:40 am

Anyone staying at the Red Roof Inn, please PM me. Maybe we can save some money on transportation costs to and from the event by pooling.

If anyone else is travelling from the airport to the hotel in the same window please let me know as we may be able to share the ride costs.

Best Regards;

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Robert, I'll be coming into town on September 30th as well but I won't arrive until mid-afternoon as I am driving all the way. Of course, this means I will have a car, and room for three more adults in it, provided we're all tending towards the svelt side, (said car is a 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage).

.

Well I am definitely on the svelt side at 160 lb, 5' 9". That said, I believe your hotel is some distance from mine so I am not sure how convenient it will be for you. Let me know what you think!

Best Regards;

.

Robert, I drive hundreds of miles a week on a fairly regular basis. For that matter I am driving 750 miles just to get to Dayton. The nine miles or so between our hotels is NOT going to be an issue.

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I'll be driving over the morning of the 1st, as I'm only 4 hrs away. I'll leave late as I can on the 2nd. I'm not far from the Red Roof Inn, (I'm at the Holiday Inn on Presidential drive, see above) and will likely have room for two more - both my son and my brother-in-law are coming now.

For my, any meet-up will have to happen the evening of the 1st, unless we form up for trooping around - a few groups that way might be nice! And we need some way to ID each other. I liked Olham's WOFF hat!

Hi, I will be staying at the Red Roof Inn - Fairborn/Nutter Centre.

Figured the $100 I save on hotel, I could spend on books.

Arriving the morning of Saturday Oct 1st 9-10am - Departing Monday Oct 3rd - 5-6pm'ish
Driving down from Michigan.

I am coming to this discussion a bit late. Suddenly it dawned on me that Dayton isn't that far from Madison. I'm in! I'll bus in to Dayton and rent a car. Done Deal.

Stache, I could use a ride to the airport in the afternoon of the 3rd. Look forward to meeting you and all of the other folks.

Quick question --- is POL going to make it?

Well, lets see what we can work out.

What time would you want to be at the Airport at?

I'll be going by it to get home (North I75).

Monday I was planning on using to go through the museum - had not set a departure time as yet.
Thinking it would be around 3-4pm

My flight departs at 5 pm, so about 3 pm or so should be OK. I'll ask at the counter when I arrive if that time line is OK.

Thanks, and going with you to the museum would be just fine.

This needs to be on the front page or in some special place so all of us can comunicate in one location.

How many of you are going to the 30 Sept. 2 pm rehearsal meeting and check out "our tent"?

And I have lost our List of those going, names , phone , hotels and time of arrival and leaving
A little help hear Please!

Thank you, and looking forward to this "gig".

CW3SF, the list is in your PM Dawn Patrol Attendees List - Update 2016-07-26

And where is that??

Cw3sf

I will update you asap when I get home.

I just updated my info and need for a ride from the Dayton airport 30 Sept 2:43 pm on United flight 5602 to the early meeting ( re info from Ken O'Brien 765 208 5654 ) to be "read on" to all of the info of the event.

I also need a ride to the Dayton ariport on Oct. 3 about 2:30 pm.

I will have "Beer & Gas" money!

I got my email yesterday outlining the evens and where we are to park.

And to Stache:

THOU ART THE MAN!

Your contribution to this effort has been immeasurable. Thanks!!

If I'd known better, I'd have arranged to be there on the 30th. See you all Saturday morning, really looking forward to this!

Happy to give something back to the WOFF community.

Robert has been a big part of this also.

I hope to be there by 8am Saturday the 1st.

See you all then.


Unless... this note from the event people...

Just so you know in advance, the Federal government is subject to shutdown action on October 1 if the budget process does not pass. This would affect our event as the Museum is part of the Federal government. You will be advised as soon as we know anything if this course of action plays out.

I think I should be able to come up on Saturday late morning. Is there a rendezvous point at the show? By the WOFF tent perhaps?

I'm actually surprised that the show would be affected by a budget shutdown. I don't recall there being a lot of fed types there last year and the show was on federal property but not at the museum per se.

Hope this doesn't cancel the show. It was quite something two years ago.

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I am SOOOOOOOOOOO looking forward to this event, and to meeting all of you who are attending. And I'll add my thanks as well to Stache and his contribution to the shindig - well done Sir!

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After a quick consultation with my Wing Commander, I'm in. I'll be staying at the Red Roof nearest the airfield.

Is there a list I should 'sign up' for or an itinerary of what's going on? (Aside from what's available through the Museum website of course.) Did I see something about a WOFF tent?

Lou & Robert Wiggins, a big shout-out to both of you as well, for the hats & pins and all that you've done to make this special.


CatKnight, Deacon, Hauksbee, glad to hear you're all in! Saturday AM at the "ACES OVER WRIGHT FIELD" tent, I know I'll start off there and meet as many as I can. Stache has this amazing setup he's bringing. I don't know if we can all go out some place that evening or not, nobody's said anything.

Say your prayers for good weather, a gov't that can figure out how to run itself (don't get me started...), and safety for those in transit.

I remind our friends that House Hobbit is in the hospital in the Dayton area following a horrific motorcyle accident caused by an illegal immigrant with no insurance. He wasn't too active here, but has done a lot of mission building on the ETO mod and you couldn't find a nicer guy. Came flying in upside-down for his entrance here.

There's a message thread and an attendance survey link around here somewhere.

A get together for dinner on Sat night would be great and there are many local restaurants near by to choose from. If anyone has previous experience or can recommend one then lets put it forward in this thread.

We must talk about HouseHobbit again when we are there. Is anyone going to be at the Rendezvous who lives locally and may be seeing him? If so, please let me know.

Best Regards;

Gents, as much as I hate it real life has put a stop to my plans to attend. No illness or family tragedies, just circumstances. I was really looking forward to seeing you face to face and shaking hands with fellow WOFFers. A tip of the hat to all who are putting on the WOFF demo. It should be a big hit.
Hoping you all have clear skies and for winds!

I get to see Hobbit when I can. He's downtown, so I don't go as often as I should. I'm sure he would love to have some visitors.

There are lots of dining options not too far from the event, but nothing that's right there. The trick will be to find something that will meet everyone's food preferences and price range.

MFair, sorry you couldn't make it.

MajorMagee, we'll see about that. If I didn't have my son and brother-in-law with me, I'd go see Owen in a heartbeat. But I'd be happy to chip in to his fund, maybe you could take something to him.

Gotta get to bed, long drive in the morning!

Stache, and RAF28Jenkins

Oberursel Engine Video

https://www.facebook.com/andy.magee.58/videos/1475629285786864/

Group Dinner

Link To Picture

Very jealous. My regards to all. Have fun, guys.

.

Thanks MajorMagee for posting some photos. I was going to post a few of mine but the quality of yours is much, much better. I did add names to the dinner photo you posted earlier just so folks here can connect faces to the names.



Hope the weather tomorrow is as good as it was today. And dinner was a hoot!

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Gents,

Sorry I couldn't make it with you tonight!!!
Bob Evans sounded great! I will be up again tomorrow however.

was great meeting you all, see you in the morning!

Salute!

-Jenks (Bobby)

[quote=MajorMagee]
Hey there I am!

Thanks MajorMagee

Thanks to Robert_Wiggins as well for the Cap!

-Jenks

BTW, that's Stache on the left with RAF28Jenkins on the right.

Where were you? Apparently my navigation skills need work, because I never found the tent!

Directly across from the announcer's platform and the food trucks. It was the same tent where they were playing an air war strategy board game, and were teaching kids about the physics of aerodynamics with little copter toys. The ping pong ball machine guns were out front.

Ack. I did pass right by there. Either you hadn't set up yet or I was blind.

Oh well, next time!

Beautiful shots Major. Especially the ones with the WOFF type clouds as a backdrop! Thanks for posting the pics. Very much appreciated.

Well, my visit was brief (just up for a few hours), but was very happy to meet Stache, Robert, and CW3PJ round the WOFF area. It was a good looking setup there and would have done WOFF proud.

My shots were all on the iPhone and so not up to Major's quality, but for those who are interested (I also, took a quick spin in the museum itself):

Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing!

WOW, cool photos and stories guys! Very nice.

Deacon, you beat me to it and stole my thunder!

Here is a link to my dropbox where I stored all the photos I took of the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous and the museum.

Dawn Patrol Rendezvous pics on my DropBox

There is a MP4 video of the Gnome engine in operation and hopefully it will run for you. If not, just let me know.

Had a great time meeting everyone in attendance and am happy and humble to say I met some great people and made some friends. Robert Wiggins, thank you for the hat, spotting me the extra cash for the banquet dinner, and for the beer!!!
Louvert, thanks for bringing my BoC Membership pin on short notice!!! Major Magee, Hauksbee, CW3FS,HumanDrone, thanks for the great company and friendly conversations. A very memorable trip for me indeed.

Finally Stache, the success of the event was catalyzed by your time, energy, and passion; you created a great set-up that made it easy to introduce a lot of people, adults and children alike, to the game and grant the the ease of access to try it right there. Really above and beyond as I know you spent a large majority of your time on station and far less of it tending your own enjoyment of the outside event. I hope the folks at OBD know you really went all out.

Looking forward to the Dawn Patrol XI and hoping to get the chance to see you all again. As for that day, the first round is on me gents!

Warm regards, and Salute!
- Jenks

Jenks, great to see you on line again- it was great meeting you and the rest. And I agree, Stache really carried the day. My son made off with my WOFF cap, but thanks to Robert Wiggins for providing them. And RAF_Lovert, for the pins - and some great war stories. Matter of fact, dinner give some great conversation and stories from all.

I spent the entirety of the second day at the museum, which was still not enough for the museum, but I'd hoped to get back over and say goodbye, maybe help Stache tear down. But I'd brought my brother-in-law and son, and they had to get back. To be forewarned is to be forearmed - we'll be better prepared for the next time. Heck, I might even get some serious stick time by then!

Very, very glad to meet you all, And I sure hope we can do it again sometime.

Hehe, sorry Robert! Still you have many shots that I didn't get, so maybe I only stole a little rumble of your thunder.

Sorry that I didn't get to spend more time with the boys. I had some friends meet me there and one has some serious ADD, so we had to keep moving, like sharks...with ADD.

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Super photos Deacon211, much better than anything I took. Sorry I missed meeting you there but glad you were able to make it. And CatKnight also, glad you made it but sorry I missed meeting you.

I had a great time and it was a lot of fun to finally put faces to names. Thanks again Robert for the caps, they were a hit.

And thank you to our man of the hour, Stache. You really went the extra mile setting up those flying stations Sir and to say that they were a hit would be a gross understatement. And the cards as well, I lost count how many of those I handed out over the course of three days. OBD owes you a very large thank you, perhaps a free copy of WOFF UE - devs - yes?

Jenks, welcome again to the BOC, you are the first victim - er um, member - we have ever had the pleasure of bringing into the fold in person. Too bad we didn't have the cricket bat with us.

Jim Miller, a personal thanks to you Sir for inviting me to the League of WWI Aviation Historians dinner on Friday and for the opportunity to meet so many of the authors whose works I've read over the years. I'm sending in my application and first year's dues today.

Also, as I said in an earlier post here, dinner on Saturday at the Bob Evans was a hoot! Great company, great conversations, and great stories. The place was cleared out by the time we left, I wonder if we were being too loud.

Again, it was a pleasure meeting all you folks and I sincerely hope we can do this another time in the not too distant future.

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Hey, everyone. Back home to fight Matthew.

As said above, I too had a great time in Dayton (except for a few cold soakings during long parking lot walks, thanks to Mother Nature). Great to meet some BOC/WOFFers. All were great/friendly/nice guys. At the airshow I spent my time mostly between the Aeronaut book lectures and the WOFF tent, and every time I visited the latter there was a cloud of people around, flying. I was glad to see many kids there! Much of the WW1 crowd is aged so it's good--and, commercially, important--to sink the hook and reel in the kids. I was kindly presented with a great WOFF hat and BOC pin (which is now on the hat, and the hat is now my new TrackIR-doodad support)--thank you guys for both!--and I got to fly for a minute but managed to spin a DH2 down for the dirt nap. As usual.

I'll add a few photos:










And for those interested in more than just World War One airplanes:

Wow! What a weekend...

Even though I ended up spending most of my time in the tent showing off WOFF, I had a blast at the Dayton Dawn Patrol WW1 Rendezvous.

It was unfortunate that the weather during the preceding week kept the crowds down and kept away the full size WW1 aircraft that have attended in years past. But we were blessed with great weather Saturday and Sunday.

Still, the WOFF team was constantly busy both days. We handed out a lot of WOFF business cards.
I really need to express my thanks to Robert, Jenks, Lou, CW3SF and others for helping out with the demo's.

When putting this on. was first brought up, the idea of introducing kids to flying for the first time, never entered my mind.
I was really surprised at the turn out and the enthusiasm. It was great explaining to them all.

And there were plenty of big kids (eg. Adults) there also.

The WOFF team received a big thanks from Ken (Aces over Wright Field coordinator) for saving the simulator aspect of the event.
Ken was incapacitated Saturday, showing up on Sunday to demo ROF, but no other ROF people from years past attended.

The WOFF team also received a call out from David Thomas, the Dawn Patrol Event coordinator, during the Sunday night banquet for it's contributions.

I learned a lot about how to make things better the next time around.
And if any other attendees have thoughts, please pass them along.

We have received an emphatic invite (From both Ken and Dave) to return to the Dawn Patrol event in 2018.
We have also received an invite to attended the WW1 Centennial Event - Camp Sherman Days, in Chillicothe, OH in July of 2017
A coordinator of that event was scoping out the Dawn Patrol event for ideas...
http://www.campshermandays.com/

Life events permitting, I hope to attended both.

I also need to thank OBD for their support in making this happen and for the spiffy graphics used for the cards and banners.
(And for making a superb simulation!)

(CatKnight - yeah sorry we missed you, we did not have the banner outside the tent until noon on Sunday, next time we will have the little banner inside and a big banner outside.)

Finally - I need to give a really big thank you for my friend, since we were 10, James Reading for all his help lugging the equipment around and the use of his system and controls.

Some of my pictures...




Borrow from Hauksbee

Borrowed from Hauksbee

Great pics Stache! It was a pleasure meeting you and I think you and Mr Reading put out a great showcase for WOFF.

As I was standing there the one thing I thought would have been way cool was to have WOFF projected up on...something. A couple of sheets to darken the area and one of those presentation projectors and you would have had a wall size WOFF movie.

Don't know how feasible it would be, but WOFF on a big screen (even a rudimentary one) I think would really attract attention.

Pie in the sky probably, but it would be pretty awesome to see!

Thanks for your work again and great to meet you!

Deacon

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Super pictures Stache, I snapped a bunch of the bomb sights as well. Thanks again for all your efforts at this event.

BTW, for those interested, the SPAD XIII replica in James Norman Hall's livery that was on display at Dayton is an outstanding piece of work and was constructed by the folks at the Vintage Aero Flying Museum with sponsorship from the Hall family. Here is the link to that organization's website:

Vintage Aero Flying Museum

At some point in the not-too-distant future I plan on making the sojourn to Colorado to take a look at their collection and perhaps even see some of their planes fly.

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Woooooow!!! What a GREAT way to present WOFF to a wider public, Stache, Jenks, Hauksbee, Robert and Lou!
Did you guys organise all this together, or how was it done?
Gee, great to have these photos - I will save them on my rig!
Good to see you guys together, having fun with showing off WOFF!

I see in tent-pic 1, that you have also been a visitor, JFM !
Damn, I wish I could have been there!


EDIT: Great pics, Jim - only saw them now!
I had no idea that the B-29 was so "low-legged"!

Incredible work gentlemen. It looks like you put on an amazing display and really helped to get the word out by allowing WWI enthusiasts to try out WOFF for themselves. Nothing gets the feeling across like actually putting a stick in someones hand and giving it a go. You have done a wonderful service for the community gentlemen and I salute you.

Great pictures too! There's one shot of a little kid flying who has a huge grin on his face and everyone standing around watching him is smiling too. To me, that says it all right there about what you were able to accomplish.

If at all possible, I would like to attend next years event and help support it, if only to stand in such fine company.

Olham. All we needed to do was show up.
The tent we were in was already planned as part of the event.




Would love to have you Hellshade, but for this particular event it is only held every two years... so you will need to plan for the fourth weekend in September in 2018.

Now there is the other event I mentioned previously in July of next year at Camp Sherman in Ohio.
I still need to get more information on that event, but we were invited.


Should anyone here of other WW1 events - please post some info.

Thank you! But who set it all up, with all the gear? WOFF Branch USA?

Someone with some Photoshop skills needs to take this photo and put everyone in it into WWI aviator gear.

Well Robert brought a notebook to show videos on and provided the hats.

I brought two systems with 27" monitors, trackIR, pedals, throttle and stick. (and a UPS)
I also had the banner and business cards made with graphics from OBD.
Everyone helped to set it up and tear it down, which was done both days.

The third system in some photos was being used to show ROF on Sunday by Ken - the organizer for the Aces over Wright Field Tent.

I did not make the group photo, as I was handing out the WOFF cards buy the handfull.

To bad, my hat was "cool" and discribed my military history. If any one has a photo of me "photo shop"
myself into the group picture.

I chose to approach a adult with kids and ask the child "would you like to fly a airplane?"--- YES was the
responce most often. I gave them a WOFF card and directed them toward out tent. Soon our area was a buzz with
kids and dads "doing WOFF"!!

It was fun to do, and see the kids and dads get into WOFF.

WE are moving back to AZ from Colorado soon, so I will cover more on who we spoke with and the two USAF officers who bought Rob Wiggins and I drinks later on at dinner.

Your Picture Is Here