DOGS, Biff's thoughts

[Biff]

The Dayton Ohio Giant Scalers meet at the National Museum of the United States Air Force was a blast. Okay so it rained a ton. Soaking feet, planes under tents, a bunch of time was spent with buddies just shooting the bull. It had all the ear markings of a disaster. But IT WASN'T!!

The DOGS event is pretty much a 9 to 5 demo for the public. In the past we've come to expect up wards of 20,000 spectators. Mostly these folks are aviation savvy. Either modelers, full scale folk or those with a passion for flight. It's a real treat to be able to share our passion with folks and bring more pilots into the hobby.


The museum folks are always super to deal with. General Metcalf, Leslie Greaser, Dave Thomas and Teressa Lacey are can-do folks who are pretty stoked about what's going on with models. Their support and flexibility are unrivaled. THANKS GUYS!!!

So what happens at the DOGS? Well first of all, anything that meets the giant scale criteria is welcome to fly. Warbirds, Huckers, sport fliers, turbines,RACERS, the list goes on and on. The meet is a just go fly kinda deal. There are meets who have worked out time slots for each type of planes to fly, but that can be problematic. Here you just roll up to the flight line and roll. Wanna fly with other 3Ders or have an all warbird gaggle? Just line up. You might have to let somebody go before you, but you'll have your time.

This works extremely well as the goal is to keep planes in the air at all times. Let's face it, there will always be a pilot who feels his type of plane doesn't get enough flight time, but in the long run, the event is all about treating pilots like welcome guests and the folks who come to watch as the main reason we're flying.

The demo Sunday was almost 2 and a half hours long! Warbirds, Huck-A-thon, helis, jets, sport models, sail planes, turbo props, freestyle, racers, candy drops and even a truck or two! Frank Noll did a great job of keeping the demo going with minimal down time. Pale rider VA was there as well lending his vast knowledge of the scale ships. THANKS PAT!!


What really went well this year was pilots getting planes in the air right after the demos ended. The crowd stayed and we simply had a ball. MadMAx did his usual job of getting FGTV out to the masses! That was a blast! Having special guest stars and answering your funny questions was a real treat on Friday and Saturday as there was simply too much rain to fly. What a hoot!

Saturday night, the museum was opened to pilots for a couple hours all to ourselves. The US Air Force museum is one of the best in the world. Spending 2 hours in this museum is much like having one pickle of Thanksgiving's spread! 3 days would probably do it. You can tell the staff doing restoration on these birds REALLY care. The are not only immaculate, the display areas are well lit and in a bunch of cases are in a "natural setting". Regardless of how many times I see the museum, it never fails to remind me that our men and women of the armed services used these machines to keep our freedom intact. Thanks!

The IMAX theater is the spot for the annual pilot raffle. This year the prizes literally went from one end to the other of the mega screen! The companies who donated all of these prizes were all asked to stand and received a tremendous round of applause. It was AWESOME seeing so many pilots getting so much good stuff. The fact that all of these goods go to pilots just goes to show that you folks are the key ingredient for the success of the show. GIANT ups to all companies who gave SO MUCH!!! We'll have a complete list posted on the DOGS page. As always, we STRONGLY encourage folks to support those companies who support the hobby!


All of the prizes were raffled and on with the movie! The IMAX theater is wonderful. This year a movie about helicopters was featured. It was a hoot! So realistic that I was close to airsick. I love this part of the event as it's a good time and folks get a pat on the back and prizes. WAY cool!


Sunday was the big day this year. Great crowd and pilots were about to POP to fly! And fly they did! We flew all day and Dave Thomas from the museum extended the flying! We had a real great time and the best part was spectators respected the grounds! The field looked great as I blasted out towards SC.


My hat's off to all involved in making the show a success. The DOGS did a great job, the pilots were REAL troopers and it was a hit with all involved. The real story of an event is told in the number of folks attending who had a great time. So it rained, so pilot numbers were down slightly,so I had a brain splitting sinus head ache Sunday (still can't breath,,,happens every year!) it was fun on a GIANT scale!

Guys if you want to fly 73 times a day with 9 of your buds who fly the same type of plane, my suggestion is call your buds and have them meet you at your home field on Tuesday morning at 7 AM. There will always be a couple folks who feel there's a better way of running an event. That's true of all events. If you'd like to fly at an unreal facility, be an ambassador of the hobby, have a private tour of one of the best museums in the world, have a chance of winning some awesome prizes and just plane share some quality time with like minded buds, BRING IT TO THE DOGS!

You'll be treated like a welcome guest (as it should be!) Fly a ton and be blown away by the diversity of flying machines and just flat enjoy yourself, do it!

PLEASE READ THIS PART,,, the DOGS meet shares the Flying Giants vibe; be cool and have fun!! Invite your buds to come next year, but invite your buds who "get it"!!!! We leave the attitudes and waaaaaa at the gate !!

It was AWESOME running into all of the Flying Giants members!! You guys are the best and never fail to keep everyone laughing. It's really cool to see all the FG shwag being sported at the events we are attending. I can't tell you how proud Max and I am to sport the Giants colors. Being a part of such a cool bunch of guys is something we're SUPER proud of. FLYING GIANTS BRINGING THE FUN VIBE TO FLY-INS AND CONTESTS ALL OVER THE WORLD BABY!!!

PS....Chris Fry wasn't there Saturday afternoon nor all day Sunday.

See you guys next year!

Flying Giants staff

[Larry Lewis]

Well said Biff,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
THATS WHAT I'M TALK'N ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Craven]

Very well said BIFFSTER!! I was there as well, and it is truly a fantastic event you guys don't want to miss! Thanks to all the DOG members and to Wright Pat Air Force Base!!!.......I love Labor Day weekend!! See you again next year!!!

[tony-amps]

Great story Biff looks like i missed a good one.

Tony

[Biff]

Right down your alley Tony. Nobody hollering at you, just flying with buds!

[snap a saurus]

I will definitely be back next year, people were very friendly, met old friends and made new ones as usual, can't say enough good things except it was a blast. Biff did a great job as always, I have no idea where he comes up with all the new stuff, it is always entertaining to hear him, he can fly also, Max and the FG crew outdid themselves with the live feed, I think it was the best ever.I wish there was an event like this one every weekend but I guess I will have to wait till next year .

[wizard]

I hate that I missed it. Unfortunately, I had to work. This is one that I will attend next year. I am already making my list for vacation days for next year. My vacation will be spread over a few different events including the DOGS.

[Bunky F. Knuckle]

HEY!!!! I was there Sat. morn. I was a bit of in-cogneto............ But none the less, I was THERE!!! I have WITNESSES(ask Bill Cline and Marian Berninger)!!!!! Rolled in there at 830a, and out of there by 930a!!! I was enjoying an adult beverage with a friend at 9AM!!!! See, we haddn't had a brewsky since June together. She knows who she is!! Exceptions were made for OUR rules!!!! Thanks Marian!!!! 2 thumbs up!!!!! Got me weekend off to a GREAT start!!!!!


Chris~

[LeadingEdge]

Elie, you got pics of that newspaper article you can post?

[King]

Right on Biff......sniff sniff

[Boulder]

Great write-up Biffy,

Of course I missed another good one...

[AEROCOLOR]

Man, That was a work of commentary art, Biff. I`ve been involved with this event for the last eight years. We`ve had killer years with lots of pilots and some weather related off years but never a rainout. Friday was windy but the rain held off and the guys flew all day. I was totally amazed at the number of planes in the air on Saturday with light rain going on from 10 am `til dusk. The spectators came and watched a full show standing in the rain. High dollar planes were put through their paces with no complaints about flying in the conditions. What a bunch of guys!
General Metcalf was astounded by the all weather show demonstrated for the Museum and told us so.
This year was significant as the blend of aircraft had to be the best we have ever had and everyone stood beside each other and flew everything they brought. At any time you would see jets, aerobatic, warbirds, scale(the King was there), gliders and even an occasional turbine powered aerobatic in the air at the same time. The feeling of being among friends and buddies was stronger than ever before. I`ve never worked an event and had so much fun at the same time. Thanks to so many people for contributing to the show and hope to see all my friends again next year. I`m really looking forward to it. In the past I`ve always been relieved when it was finally over. This year I was saddened because it had to end.
Thankyou to all that attended.
Bill Cline