The 2020 Falcon Flight Formation Clinic took place May 29-31 at KTPL Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional in Temple, Texas. It was an unparalleled success. After having slipped the event from April due to the nationwide lockdown, and worries over possible bad weather, we were treated to the best possible late-spring weather; an outstanding airport staff and EXPANSIVE large hangar, ramp, and briefing facilities; and nearly three dozen pilots and RVs raring to formate.
Ron “Shorts” Walker and Bobby “Luke” Lucroy led the event, surrounded by Falcon Flight premiering our new all-blue uniforms. I think it’s best to lay out the event through numbers:
34 RVs and pilots, some from as far away as Wisconsin, west Colorado, and even Tucson. And Arkansas.
6 check rides
- 3 Wingmen check rides
- 3 Flight Lead check rides
Luke and Shorts earned their Large Formation Certifications
1 Red Scary earned his 2-ship solo
1 2-Ship wingman earned his 4-ship solo
4 new Red Scaries (welcome aboard!)
MANY outstanding safety pilots (thanks, y’all!)
Between noon Friday and noon Sunday (48 hours) we launched over 180 RV sorties including 2 go’s Friday afternoon, 4 go’s Saturday, and the 30-ship-plus-photo-bird all-up Sunday. That’s a busy 2 days for any USAF and USN fighter wing!
Guest help: Thanks to the Lone Star RV Formation Team of Houston, and Bulldog Formation Team of Little Rock…what talented formation pilots!
Special Thanks to:
- Shorts and Luke for being the driving one-two punch that led us all to victory.
- Sean Parker, KTPL’s airfield manager, who made this amazing hangar and ramp available, and supported us with a top-notch FBO crew.
- Mike Mayeux, his (and my) nephew Evan Mayeux and his wife Morgan, and chef friend Jason Ard. This powerhouse team spent the entire day preparing a heavenly Texas barbecue banquet of mesquite-hickory smoked brisket, Mexican street corn, proper Texas beans, and German-style red cabbage slaw. Even that mean old tough Arkansas Bulldog crowd remarked at how much better it tasted than their beloved pulled pork barbecue (the 10% rule applies). Slats Schlatterer went back for seconds. I saw him do it.
Now the photos:
The ramp...
...and the hangar.
The flying.
The people...
To be continued...
Ron “Shorts” Walker and Bobby “Luke” Lucroy led the event, surrounded by Falcon Flight premiering our new all-blue uniforms. I think it’s best to lay out the event through numbers:
34 RVs and pilots, some from as far away as Wisconsin, west Colorado, and even Tucson. And Arkansas.
6 check rides
- 3 Wingmen check rides
- 3 Flight Lead check rides
Luke and Shorts earned their Large Formation Certifications
1 Red Scary earned his 2-ship solo
1 2-Ship wingman earned his 4-ship solo
4 new Red Scaries (welcome aboard!)
MANY outstanding safety pilots (thanks, y’all!)
Between noon Friday and noon Sunday (48 hours) we launched over 180 RV sorties including 2 go’s Friday afternoon, 4 go’s Saturday, and the 30-ship-plus-photo-bird all-up Sunday. That’s a busy 2 days for any USAF and USN fighter wing!
Guest help: Thanks to the Lone Star RV Formation Team of Houston, and Bulldog Formation Team of Little Rock…what talented formation pilots!
Special Thanks to:
- Shorts and Luke for being the driving one-two punch that led us all to victory.
- Sean Parker, KTPL’s airfield manager, who made this amazing hangar and ramp available, and supported us with a top-notch FBO crew.
- Mike Mayeux, his (and my) nephew Evan Mayeux and his wife Morgan, and chef friend Jason Ard. This powerhouse team spent the entire day preparing a heavenly Texas barbecue banquet of mesquite-hickory smoked brisket, Mexican street corn, proper Texas beans, and German-style red cabbage slaw. Even that mean old tough Arkansas Bulldog crowd remarked at how much better it tasted than their beloved pulled pork barbecue (the 10% rule applies). Slats Schlatterer went back for seconds. I saw him do it.
Now the photos:
The ramp...
...and the hangar.
The flying.
The people...
To be continued...
Last edited: