Tribe Time

Another blogger I follow recently posted about his “Tribe.” I liked this. A tribe for wanderers; people who join together as family because they choose to do so. Then it came to me – I too belong to a tribe.

This past weekend a gathering was held in Puyallup WA. The Northwest Aviation Conference. Two days of everything aviation, except flying, as grey winter skies with snow showers grounded sensible folks. But if you cannot fly, then talking about, learning about, and buying equipment for flying is a decent substitute.

I'd driven to the home of a friend, Judy, who lives on an airstrip near the conference. Her hospitality made it possible to attend both days of the event. In a large building on the Fairgrounds, comfortably out of the weather, were booths offering services, equipment, parts, and wonderful wonderful (expensive) toys. I drooled happily over custom panels, plane covers, and glass panels. Groups were there to sign-up new members and tell about their programs. I talked to the Ninety-Nines, Angel Flight and the Recreation Aviation Foundation.

Both days a wide selection of seminars offered, so many that I had to pick and choose which I wanted to attend most. Below is a video shown at a series of five seminars offered by Lori MacNichol, owner of McCall Mountain/Canyon Flying. This tiny blonde woman probably knows more about flying the back country of Idaho than anyone. She promotes her beloved Idaho and trains pilots to visit these strips so they come back alive. Think I’m exaggerating? Take a look at this video.



Who wants to come along?

The high point of the weekend was socializing with old friends and making new ones. Sat night there was a dinner at a local eatery with the Pacific Northwest Flying Forum. This is a great bunch of pilots that meet online to discuss, learn and share.

My Tribe are a wonderful bunch of Type A personalities!