With some volunteer assistance from a Hornet (me) among them, the Fresno Griffens had one marvelous table of modeling fun for those who dared try at the Castle Air Museum Open Cockpit Day May 27 2012. Held in conjunction with the Region Nine Regional hosted by the Griffens on same day. See how it looks from "make and take" land. http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad35/smilodon49/Fresno%20Griffens%20Make%20N%20Take%20at%20Regional%20by%20Mick/

A diverse and wide ranging group of competitors braved the heat and met in competitive battle on the Castle AirPort to vy for awards and goodies at the Regional for R-9 hosted by IPMS/Fresno Griffens. Take a look, sorry the shots are limited in quantity in part due to my working the Make n Take for half of the day, so only took pics first thing in morning and near end of day. http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad35/smilodon49/MickB%20Quick%20Looks%20At%20Regional%202012/

Best to introduce this using Exhibit Director's own words straight from the Styrene Sheet May edition minutes : 

Chris Bucholtz proudly announced a NEW type of event will be held on September 22. The USS Hornet Model Exposition will be a non-contest event aboard the ship; modelers are encouraged to bring any and all models they’re proud of for exhibition. There will be vendor tables, and we’re being encouraged to bring kits under construction; provision of  build tables will allow you to work in front of the public and explain our art. We’ll also have an interactive game for the youngsters and a make-and-take. This will also be living ship weekend, so the elevators and other working components of the Hornet will be in action (sorry-no catapults!). A similar event at the Museum of Flight in Seattle drew over 3000 models this February – let’s show them what California can do! More details and volunteer opportunities will be announced soon.

Travel by this modelling nomad provides variety of Rotary Wing fun. In past two weeks, I've been to Mojave Airport and Half Moon Bay Airport for shows. These two well known Sikorsky shapes may not be so well known in these schemes...enjoy - mickb smilodon49                      http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad35/smilodon49/LA%20County%20FireHawk%20in%20Mojave%20CA%20by%20Mick%20Burton/?action=view¤t=DSC01898.jpg

http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad35/smilodon49/Pacific%20Dream%20Machines%202012%20show%20collection/S-64F%20Firefighter%20Crane%20%20-Delilah-%20by%20Mick%20Burton/

Abuzz, awed, entirely charmed with how special life can be when you're with friends plus folks who share a passion for matters both high technology and high spiritual. Especially when it's combined in a place many wrongly consider a sterile desert. Mojave CA is home to "America's First Inland SpacePort" as well as some very cool old airplanes. Burt Rutan and Richard Branson, both personal heroes of mine, have in California's High Desert created a very wonderful nexus in an already legendary area. On Saturday April 21, 2012, culture of old and new Aerospace blossomed in the first that I know of "Career Fair" inside the monthly "Plane Crazy Days" open airport festival at Mojave Airport. Scaled Composites LLC had on the spot interviews for massive amounts of curious passionate folks eager to check out what's happening now. As they had clearly on display, no limits on realizing your potential here. They promise a FUN place to work. Everyone I ran into echoed it's no BS...get on board while you can! Check out selected 180 of my 300+ pictures to see if you get my drift. http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad35/smilodon49/Mojave%20Spaceport%20Is%20Plane%20Crazy%20by%20Mick%20Burton/