While you were all eating BBQ...

[RNC]

Moazzam and I were saving North Carolina.

No, really!

We had over 450 pilots sign up to fly for Operation Airdrop this time. The locals came out in force, too. Which is fitting, I suppose, considering the airplane was invented in North Carolina.

At the end of one week:

• 519 flights
• 284,000 pounds delivered
• A few lives saved
• Over 1,500 ground volunteers
• And one single engine Commander

The NASCAR charter service Victory Air showed up with a 145. Joe Gibbs showed up with a CRJ (personally, twice). LabCorp gave us four PC12s. The state gave us a King Air 200 and multiple TBMs. As we were getting ready to leave they were talking about giving us tasking of a couple of Blackhawks.

On day five, Joe Gibbs literally got to turn the water back on at Cape Fear. W.H.O. sent a solar powered water filtration system that can make between 1500 and 2000 gallons of day to get them by until the roads were repaired this week.

https://www.operation-airdrop.com
https://facebook.com/opairdrop

I made sure that the lone Commander was well-represented in the video .

https://www.facebook.com/opairdrop/videos/851609441895349/

 

[Jamesdub]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

Sure missed you former TC owners, think we had 2 x 114TC's this year.

Thanks for your community service. BBQ was not bad this year . . .

 

[aworldnervelink]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

There was a second Commander nearby. On the way to the flyin my alternator failed and I diverted to RDU... I was parked on the TacAir ramp Friday night next to all of the relief aircraft. The US Army Golden Knights parachute team was hanging out in Signature... I don't know if they were part of the effort or were on other business.

 

[alim]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

I saw your airplane on the ramp at TAC-AIR Friday night after I came back in after my last run of the night ...

I was pretty sure it was someone headed to the fly-in. Texted it to Sherman

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[alim]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

Btw - thank you, Neal.

The operation out of RDU was really well organized.
I would fly with them any day.

 

[RNC]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

Btw - thank you, Neal.

The operation out of RDU was really well organized.
I would fly with them any day.

Thanks, we try.

Those guys you likely met at RDU are all aviation professionals, we just do this during hurricanes because it's what we know how to do.

As it turns out, airplanes are pretty on the evening news and draw a crowd. All of those locals showing up to help on the ground is what makes it work.

 

[Guy Maher]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

Neal,

I was there with my 310 flying trips to SUT. Top notch operation you have with OAD. My feature story and photos to appear in November issue of Cessna Pilot’s Association Magazine.

Sorry I missed meeting you. Did meet Brian. No doubt, our paths will cross again.

(Oh yeh, I still got to enjoy the BBQ, see a bunch of beautiful Commanders, and make some new friends.)

Guy

 

[RNC]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

Neal,

I was there with my 310 flying trips to SUT. Top notch operation you have with OAD. My feature story and photos to appear in November issue of Cessna Pilot’s Association Magazine.

Sorry I missed meeting you. Did meet Brian. No doubt, our paths will cross again.

(Oh yeh, I still got to enjoy the BBQ, see a bunch of beautiful Commanders, and make some new friends.)

Guy

Guy, your name is familiar, I saw it on my list. Thanks for coming out.

That's awesome, when you get the article share it to us on social media or send it to us at contact@operation-airdrop.com and we'll circulate it to our non-aviation audience. In addition to helping those in need we see ourselves as ambassadors of aviation to the non-aviation public. Everyone loves airplanes, even if they don't realize it yet .

Unfortunately I'm the guy who gets to stay back in Texas on the emails and phone. Trey's business partner is my counterpart in Florida. We don't get to do those live videos and bullhorn speeches, but on the upside we do get to accidentally text airline exec cell phone numbers to reporters (whoops...).

 

[Guy Maher]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

...... when you get the article share it to us on social media or send it to us at contact@operation-airdrop.com and we'll circulate it to our non-aviation audience.

Will do, Neal. although it's a piece aimed more at aircraft owners and pilots - describing the experience and how to prepare for such an activity. But as soon as it publishes, I'll be happy to send a PDF of the story you, along with a link to a bunch of photos my friend/photogrpaher/loadmaster for the day took.

Guy

 

[RNC]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

Will do, Neal. although it's a piece aimed more at aircraft owners and pilots - describing the experience and how to prepare for such an activity. But as soon as it publishes, I'll be happy to send a PDF of the story you, along with a link to a bunch of photos my friend/photogrpaher/loadmaster for the day took.

Guy

Yep, I understand. The way we see it, our biggest potential benefit to aviation in all of this is showing people who have never been to their municipal airport what general aviation is.

Most of them have no idea. Not only are we feeding and clothing people who need feeding and clothing, we're seeing college kids who volunteer to handle ground logistics take a look at those airplanes and the flight school and ask "can I do that?"

Yeah, you can...

 

[Guy Maher]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

Great point. If it’s ok, I’d like to add that as a quote.

Guy

 

[RNC]

Re: While you were all eating BBQ...

Absolutely!