Tehachapi News

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We would like to thank everyone who braved the icy, cold weather on Saturday October 20th and  participated in the Celebration of Flight held at the Tehachapi Municipal Airport.  We couldn’t have done it  without the hangars that Ed Pull and Marc Zietlin provided as shelters for the pancake breakfast and vendor displays.

Sgt. Mark Ebersbacher of Mountain Search and Rescue along with the  members of the Tehachapi Society of Pilots (TSP) did a wonderful job of clearing  the area and made it a safe and a clean environment for guests, aircraft and cars.

Unfortunately, due to the low clouds and poor visibility no aircraft flew in for the one-day fly-in, however, Joe Lansden Sr, of Simi Valley  flew  his beautiful Russian Yak 52 in the day before and it was on display along with some of the Tehachapi based aircraft belonging to Harry Haas, John Tumilowicz, Ed McKay, Marc Zietlin,  Dave Zwiegle & Bob Souza.  Pierre Hartman provided an informative tour of the airport, the  office and some of the open hangars.

Between the pancake breakfast, the bake sale and the aviation books and video booth that the  TSP members hosted  and the beautiful art of Mark Pestana; great photos by Mel White;  Laser engravings by Cheryl Gusbeth;  Aviation Whirligigs by Rick Onderdonk, the City of Tehachapi Police car, the balloon basket provided by Bob & Pam Schaible; the Kern County Sherriff,  CERT and Mtn. Search and Rescue Displays and the  wonderful display of cars and planes, there was plenty to keep the attendees busy for the morning. 

The raffles for airplane and  glider rides provided by Aerial Eye Inc,   Joe Lansden Sr. and  Mountain Valley Airport were won by Joe Lansden, Jr.,  Dawn Barnes & Dennis Lodge, all of Tehachapi.

Much appreciation goes to Benbow Aviation in providing the area on the airport and the City of Tehachapi’s support for this Celebration of Flight  aviation event. We apologize for not being able to fly the kids for the Young Eagles airplane rides due to the weather, however, information on those kids that attended were recorded and the TSP  will contact them at a later date.  

A special thanks to our sponsors: Aerial Eye Inc, Tehachapi Airport Industrial Park, Applegate Garden Florist, Dave’s Auto, Happy Trails, John Ables Electrical, Johnson Printing, Kelcy’s Restaurant, The Bank of the Sierras, Tehachapi Humane Society, The Plumbing Co, Village Grill & Witts. 

Thank you to all of those who donated books &  videos etc; the  baked goods; and  to  John & Becky Pulford of Apple Tree Orchards for the tasty apples.  Also, to all who worked so diligently to make this a wonderful aviation event for the community and to those that understand our fickle Tehachapi weather.

Reginald Pulley,                                                       

Chairman, Celebration of Flight 2007

Tehachapi Society of Pilots

George Sandy, President