Mojave Experimental Fly-In and giant scale model airplane races

Caleb Milburn.

MiG-21.

It was a great weekend of activities at Mojave Air & Space Port at Rutan Field this past weekend! Giant scaled model airplane races, lots of experimental planes on the ramp and an Indoor Build and Fly Competition! Props and jets were all there. A fun day for photographers with so many different aircraft types on the ground and in the air!

Teen photographer, Evan Hawley, took many photos and was all over the ramp with his friends. They were so excited when the MiG-21 came in and stole the show with a pass before landing.

Jake Riley flew the MiG-21 over from Bakersfield and parked on the ramp next to a gorgeous CF-5.

Many visitors were confused when they saw all of the giant scale model airplanes on the ramp in front of the Voyager Restaurant. Big trailers used to haul the giant scale models blocked the view and the Plane Crazy Saturday visitors were used to seeing Rutan designed Long EZs and other aircraft sitting there.

Unfortunately, the model races weren't widely advertised, so that added to the confusion. After all was explained to visitors, they enjoyed the day and were treated to some exciting flying machines of all sizes!

Evan Hawley.

Giant Scale Models.

Caleb Milburn, another teen photographer and Junior Mojave Transportation Museum board member captured some super photos of the MiG-21 in flight.

Right after the MiG landed, two F-35s visited Mojave Air & Space Port with some passes down runway 12. Evan Hawley was ready with his camera as they flew by!

The Mojave Experimental Fly-In kicked off the night before with the Indoor Fly-In Build & Fly Competition in the Witt Event Center, a very large building with a unique history from World War II. The building housed the Marine Corps Air Station Mojave Olympic sized swimming pool with a Dilbert Dunker that was used to train USMC pilots in surviving a water ditching. Of course, the pool is no longer there. It was filled in many years ago and there is now smooth cement.

Dan and Rojana Kreigh spearheaded the special night for kids and families. The competition is a fun, family-oriented event for modelers of all ages and all skill levels.

I remember years ago at the fifth annual event, Rebecca Reeder said, "It's always a delight to see the expression on a little person's face when the airplane they just built with their own hands glides effortlessly through the air."

The seeds of aerospace design and the thrill of flight are firmly planted into their minds. That moment will stay with them forever," she said.

Sponsors for the competition and Mojave Experimental Fly-In included: Mojave Transportation Museum; Mojave Air and Space Port; Scaled Composites, Stratolaunch, The Airmanship Foundation; Pegasus Hobbies; Celebrity Scholarships; Tehachapi Crosswinds; Blacksheep Exhibition Squadron; and SIG (Aviation).

Society of Experimental Test Pilots had a cockpit of an A-7 there for kids to sit in, which was a big hit!

Saturday evening was fun for everyone as we remembered an aviation legend for this area. The Pancho Barnes Banquet was held at the Witt Event Center.

Scott Glaser.

Kids in A7 cockpit.

Author and aviation historian, Barbara Schultz was in attendance with many books, plus a display of "Pancho Memorabilia!" Schultz suggested we have a Pancho look-a-like contest and Sandra Therrien came dressed as Pancho!

Barbara brought a full size cutout of Pancho, so we gathered around the cutout for a photo opportunity.

Air Force veteran and Stratolaunch Test Pilot, Glenn Graham, gave a very informative talk about the amazing airplane that carries the nickname, ROC. In the presentation, he showed time lapsed photos showing the building the giant aircraft with a wingspan of 385-feet, the largest aircraft in the world, by wingspan.

It was appropriate to have Graham speak, as the first flight of ROC occurred on the very first Mojave Experimental Fly-In on April 13, 2019.

All in all, another fabulous weekend at Mojave air and Space Port at Rutan Field, a place to celebrate the exciting aviation history, extraordinary present aerospace adventures and share in the space age future!