Is the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous in trouble?

Laserlloyd · 26 August 2008, 08:39 PM

Hi Aerodromers:

Is the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous in trouble?

The reason I ask is because I notice that The Great War Aeroplanes Association web site is no longer up.

A friend Dave Watts has had vary limited involvement here on the Drome since the last DPR.

Fred Murin has been busy since his forced landing and I hope all is well and hope that you leadership will continue to guide us to help you in any why we can.

Oh yes, Rich is still flying his Nieuport

Since the GWAA site is down what does the future hold for them and the DPR?

I hope that we can find out what going on and if they need help than I ask ALL of use to help out with this great event.

Lloyd...

RobW · 27 August 2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laserlloyd

Oh yes, Rich is still flying his Newport:

Yes, you are not kidding... at the Gardner, KS fly-in, Rick's Nieuport was in the air almost continously... I think he put more time on his plane than all the rest combined...

Rob

stephen · 13 September 2008, 04:32 PM

I'd really like to see this thread continue... I can't contribute because I don't know the answers, but maybe I can drop in a bit of useful information.

Fred Murrin has apparently taken a semi permanent job in N Zealand and may end up living there. The GWAA feels as if they have lost control of their product (the DP Rendezvous) and its been largely taken over by government after its association with the USAFM.

There was talk for a while that the GWAA would start its own event again in another location, on privately held property, where they can control their own event.

In the meantime, I've already been contacted by the USAFM and asked to host the 2009 DPR, and a date has already been set. However, the airplane count was pretty low in 2007 compared to previous years.

So, I'm dying for an answer to Lloyd's question as well... can anyone enlighten us?

Laserlloyd · 13 September 2008, 05:37 PM

Stephen:

I would like to say that you added a huge part of the DPR by talking all three days and what to seam like non-stop narration

.

I know Rick and Dave Watts would also know but after the last DPR they have have very limited presence here. I will try to contact Dave again.

I have been filled in on what Fred is doing and it sound vary exciting. I hope he finds the time to build again. I was hopping to see his beautiful Tripe at the next DPR but now I'm wondering if I have to go to NZ to see it.

Dave and Rick feel free in stepping in and letting us know whats going on.

Lloyd...

jumpinjan · 13 September 2008, 06:12 PM

GWAA's site is up, I never noticed it was ever down (Rick's father is the web master)
I visited Fred in late May and he's busy and I'm sure Rick Bennet is too. I don't know about Dave Watts. (Lloyd, you should go and visit Dave?)
One thing is I noticed is that the GWAA club needs some revitalization, the officers are off doing their own thing. That's okay, but it could be a lot more exciting than what it currently is. One issue that seem to drop is what about the Dawn Patrol off-year?
RobW, will you take up the slack with your event in Virgina?
Jan
Dave Watts told me that the AMA flying field in Muncie IN was a possiblity to hold the event, and the AMA staff was in favor of holding it!|

ONEALM · 13 September 2008, 06:30 PM

You would think the AFM would be falling all over themselves to get the GWAA guys to their event. How many other groups are organized to bring their aircraft together en-masse as they are ?

I've been the the last four of these and always had a great time, but if there are no full size, people carrying airplanes flying, the crowds are going to be pretty thin.

They drew the best crowds when GWAA ran the event on the front lawn and worse - in my estimation and a non-emprical head count on my part - when the AFM organized (and restricted) the flying event and moved the whole even to the back lawn. The front lawn had the benefit of having ALL the walk by traffic going to the museum drawn in. If you were headed to the museum front door, you stopped at the Fly-In. Relocating to the back short-circuited this excellent attendence booster.

But the prime question is still - if GWAA doesn't show - who the heck will be showing ?

jumpinjan · 13 September 2008, 06:57 PM

Mike,
There's not much one can leverage on to get the event back on the AFMuseum's front lawn. If you read my article on DPR 2007 in OTF (spring 08), there are safety issues and since 2005, the FAA is in the loop now (they had FAA on site at '05 &'07, watching. I know I met some of them).
From my standpoint, I think the GWAA needs to drum up some excitement. Do they have any business meetings, I wonder? I just see they are off doing their own thing.
Jan

Laserlloyd · 13 September 2008, 07:09 PM

I do like Jan's idea of the off year to be somewhere and the AMA area looks like it could be a great place for both full and scale flyers.

If some one could try to contact Rick and I will try to get a hold of Dave. As we now a year away there has to be a lot done now to get this going.

All I can say is my first time there was last year and I had a lot of fun all three days and hope that we can continue with this great tradition.

Lloyd...

jumpinjan · 13 September 2008, 07:19 PM

Lloyd,
Muncie is pretty cool because it's larger than one-square mile of cut grass, and so it closely replicates the WWI aerodrome "fields". So, when the wind changes, they can take-off (and land) in just about any direction, just like they did in WWI. (Plus, there is an active airport just adjacent to AMA field, to help support the event). Its almost the perfect field... Fred liked the idea too.
Jan
Another possibility, is the New Carlisle OH airport. This is a homebuilders airport and its populated with much hangar space to house the visiting aircraft. Ask "Baldeagle" about the place. He was there test flying some vintage aircraft recently.
Jan

stephen · 14 September 2008, 06:47 AM

Muncie seems a good location because many GWAA and WWI folks are nearby. And of course, I'm partial because its close to me as well.

Mike is spot on about the event moving to the back lawn of the USAFM. The event has never been the same. And that fact that they can do it with or without the GWAA's input... hello? What does that tell you? You've lost control of your own product. There are also multiple issues with the FAA's "safety" regulations inhibiting the enjoyment of attendees.

The simple truth is that the GWAA needs to remove government from their event. When they ran the show - on the front lawn, when the USAFM was still just glad they showed up - they ran a good, well attended, fun event and oddly enough, millions didn't die.

The simple fact is that any time government is involved in the show, you will lose control of your event unless you have more guns than they do. That is not political bias - that is fact. Government force trumps all. If you don't believe that, tell the FAA that they've been moved into an advisory capacity only and see what happens.

If Muncie is a private location, move the event there and give it new life. The GWAA should make its own rules and own its event. And do it now, before the 2009 event is upon us.