VERO BEACH — More than 4,000 people descended on the Vero Beach Municipal Airport Saturday, many dressed in their St. Patrick’s Day greenery, to ogle 50 military, service and experimental aircraft during the 9th annual Vero Beach Aviation Day. With blue skies, a warm sun and light breezes, organizers said this was the best one yet.
For the first time in its history, the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 99 of Vero Beach decided to hold its annual event in March, pushing it back by one month. Last year’s event was remembered for being so cold, many wore scarves and gloves with sweaters or heavy coats.
“We’re going to try to keep it in March,” EAA Chapter 99 President Mike David said of the event.
Don Ginter attended Aviation Day, intent on riding a helicopter – something he hasn’t done since leaving the military in the 1970s. He said that this helicopter, motioning to the one about to take off with another load of passengers, was a bit rougher than his transport helicopter – mainly because the transport was so much larger.
“I like to look. I don’t like to fly,” Ginter’s companion Camille Seminara said, who passed on the opportunity to take to the air with Ginter.
“She’s a grounded bird,” he said, chiding her.
Living just a half-mile from the airport, Ginter said he had to come out Saturday to see all the planes that had been flying overhead and take advantage of the beautiful weather. Seminara agreed.
Of those on display was a Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, which attracted a large crowd peppering pilot Larry “Worm” Elmore with questions.
The Skyhawk came off the assembly line in 1962 and was used in dive bombing missions in Vietnam, Worm explained. He flew one just like it in 1965 based on the USS Independence.
“You should’ve seen it eight years ago,” Worm said. “You would’ve thrown it in the trash.”
Worm explained that the plane had once sat as a display outside but was later replaced with a newer warbird. A couple men bought the plane and spent the next seven years fixing her up.
“It’s more than that,” he said of the project being a labor of love.
Worm had planned to take the Skyhawk up into the air in a flight demonstration but technical difficulties kept it grounded.
Ben Campbell, 15, and his grandfather, Luther Killam, both of North Carolina, were vacationing in Vero Beach when they learned about Aviation Day and decided to check it out.
“I liked seeing the World War II planes,” Campbell said, adding that he’s considering going into the Navy or Air Force.
“We had a nice day,” Killam agreed.
For Phil Ratcliff, attending Aviation Day brought back memories to his old flying days as a radar navigator and bombardier on a B-52.
“I used to fly in the Air Force,” Ratcliff said, explaining he served from 1975 to 1992.
“I enjoy looking at the aircraft – the warbirds,” he said.
His wife, Adele Ratcliffe, said she came mostly to be able to spend time with her husband and to take in the fresh air and sunshine. She admitted, though, that she had fun looking at the planes, too.
“It’s always exciting to watch,” she said.
While many who attended the event were former military servicemen and older plane enthusiasts, several children came out to watch some of the planes take off and land.
“He loves planes and want to ride them when he sees one,” said Jennifer Stover while she held 2 ½-year-old Stover Witte. All the while the child pointed to each plane and said “plane.”
Jennifer and Stover both posed in front of one plane while husband and dad Charles Witte snapped a photo.
EAA Chapter 99 President Mike David said the whole purpose of Aviation Day is to promote aviation and get the next generation excited about planes.
“We also want to people to come out and see what the airport has to offer,” he added.
Aviation Day is not a fundraiser for the group, David said, explaining that they charge only what they need to in order to cover their expenses. If there are any funds left over, they’re donated to various charity groups such as Freedom Flight, the Boy Scouts, and Civil Air Patrol.
