California Jets 2011

The tech and I headed out at dawn. California Jets was back. He was enthralled without coffee from the get-go. I wasn’t exactly. I didn’t quite know what he was so excited about, but the enthusiasm he was exuding eventually rubbed off on me. The alleys of Highway 46 passed and I fleetly came to a fever that rivaled his.

Soon the beelines of the Western Bakersfield thoroughfares were wandered, and we ultimately found our destination at the old runway near the aqueduct. We passed through the gates without the fee for admission even questioned.

I was treated to a back-stage pass to California Jets, and upon arrival, I quickly came to realize not only how serious these professionals take their craft as well as the performance of their crafts, but how the fascination of the general public can intensify given the presence of the magnitude and skill of the performing cast.

The tech I traveled to the event with was my good friend, Scot Sneed. Before the fair, I only partly understood what his career entailed. I fully came to appreciate it when I found myself knee-deep in the highest level of the RC Jet circuit.

Sneed is a turbine machinist and engineer for Jet Cat, USA. Jet Cat is a German-based company that is the Coca-Cola of the RC jet turbine engine industry. Exactly how Coca-Cola are they? Jet Cat provided approximately 90-95% of all the turbine engines sported at not only this event, but all remote control jet events like this, worldwide.

Early Friday I tried to keep my networking to a maximum and my inquiring to a minimum. I decided to begin with a lot of listening and deemphasized questioning.  The high sun and calm conditions were ideal for aviation, as this was the encompassing story that could not be discounted at the outset of the event.

The technology and intricacies of these so-called “toys” were as inconceivable as they were amazing. The cost to assemble these jets to perform at the elite level that that do can range anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000. Per jet.  It was amazing how steadfastly these professional and amateur pilots functioned when considering that they were flying the average man’s bi-annual salary through the heights and depths of the Central Valley air.

I began my snoop by trailing Sneed and his mentor, Jet Cat USA owner, Bob Wilcox, around the perimeter. What I observed from them was a melange somewhere between coach, trainer and team doctor. Not only did they play make-ship, on-the-fly surgeon with electrical and soldering agents, but they also had the where-with-all to advise pilots in tactic and overall engine management, using an assortment of tools, gauges and even verbal advice and guidance. The appreciation of their time and place was felt from not only their customers, but by all privy on-lookers as well. They were the true nuts and bolts of the illustriousness that was being seen in the air.

Bob Wilcox, aforesaid head of Jet Cat USA, is nearing retirement. The business of turbine engines is only a fading sliver of what he has accomplished in unique industries similar to turbine engines for RC jets.

Wilcox used to contribute during the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s in building special effects products for numerous Hollywood films. He only steered towards turbine production when his exclusive talents were replaced by the modern innovations of CGI.

After spending time with Wilcox during a Friday night dinner at the Woolgrowers Basque House Restaurant in Bakersfield, it is without a doubt that he has put his time in, and then some, to these special trades.

This dedication rings true when observing the Jet Cat operation. The product and its people sells itself, as the vast majority of the clients don’t need to be sold in a market of gimmicks.  The best engines don’t need to be sold, they sell themselves.  And the best pilots don’t need to be sold on an engine.  They simply know.

While Wilcox garners all the respect and has been around the block – his protege, Scot Sneed, is undoubtedly one of the straws that stirs the drink in the tent-pits of these world-class RC pilots during events such as California Jets. Sneed serves as a primary problem-solver in the realm of these pros and amateurs, that are flying their well-beings and toys through the instability of the skies.

As the day grew on, special privileges reaped special benefits. Here is a shot of the early Friday runway, as well as a few shots of some entry level “sport” jets that were in the show: the BMV USA, a Swiss Army jet, the Viper – which is one of the most popular “sport” jets on the market, the U.S. Navy 7-W, and a jet being repaired in the Tam Jets tent.

After blending with a few of the pilots, designers and engineers, and perusing the actual jets themselves on the runway, I decided to follow Andreas Gietz on his run with the Composite ARF AR-4 Blue Angel.  This was a great way to get my feet wet by following a true professional and his skill.  I was in unmitigated reverence throughout the process.

Gietz is the owner of the German-based design company, ARF Composite. They supply most of the RC Jet world with composite-made scale and sport jet-frames, which range from $1,500 to upwards of $5,000 per specimen.  I was fortunate enough to be ad hoc next to their tent when they sold a $1,900 frame to a pilot that was exhibiting joy and mania at his purchase.

“Aside from the P-47, the Blue Angel is probably our most popular scale jet,” said Gietz.  “The fans in the crowds at all events we go to just love them.”

Gietz and his Composite ARF team spend roughly half the year traveling the world and working events congruent to California Jets. There are numerous comparable events to California Jets in the United States alone, annually.

“It is hard at times, but it is our life and our passion, so it makes it all worth it,” remarked Gietz in a distinct German accent.

I then corralled the tech I rode in with, and Mr. Wilcox, who were attempting to get one of their most intimate customers, local pilot Gary Banducci from Arvin, California, back up in the air.

Apparently there was initially a problem with the fuel pump and fuel line. Turns out through a series of tests, that the problem wasn’t the fuel pump or line at all, but rather a fuel component called a solenoid. After a purge of the fuel line, a quick installment of a replacement was all that was needed, and Banducci’s Jet Cat was back up in the air.

I then wandered back over to the German tent, which was the most popular of the function, and was conveniently located right next to the Jet Cat tent in which I was fortuitous enough to be welcomed. It was time for the class of the event to take out their duel jets that they feature in a team-type show, their Canadian Snowbird scale jets.

It was quite a display to watch ARF Composite centerpiece, Gietz, as well as arguably the best overall pilot at the event, Thomas Singer, use teamwork in the air and bring both jets back home with flawless landings.  It is something quite charismatic to see two of the best RC jet pilots in the world deliberate these gorgeous declarations as not only what they were personally, but rather who they were as the jet within themselves . The sign of a good pilot is one who flies what he is flying foremost, and almost truly becomes one with the satellite that he is controlling, rather than simply portraying the tendencies of his own bare-individualistic tendencies.

Gietz then unveiled his gem for the show, a P-47 Razorback that was a primary vessel that was embattled in World War II over the skies of Europe. I felt the buzz from the crowd in the distance as well as from the pilots and high-ups that were near me on the runway. This was a spectacle to behold in the world of hobby aeronautics.  The P-47 lived up to its billing and undoubtedly stole the show.

The crowd that was present for the Saturday show was constantly at attention and truly appreciated the dexterity and majesty that was on display.  They packed in all over the site and were “ooo’ing and ahh’ing at the marvel that was being demonstrated.

The best American pilot of the event, and perhaps the superior pilot present, was David Shulman, a native of Florida, who heads Schulman Aviation. His company specializes in teaching RC jet pilots not exclusively how to fly, but predominantly how to fly in the coop of the elite. Shulman travels the world with his instruction, and his mastery and tutoring is in extremely high demand in the realm of the RC jet universe.

“Just in the past year, I have been all around the United States, as well as South America, Europe, Dubai and even to Asia,” described Shulman, as he commented on the far-reaching market for his topflight discipline and guidance in the field.

Shown below is Shulman according his talents for all that were modern to the event.

Shulman came across as a dedicated family man that has been fortunate enough to parlay a childhood dream into a world-class career in his field. When asked how much of his time he spends on teaching and how much of his time he spends on actual recreation, he poignantly asserted, “It’s all work for me now. Between traveling and teaching, there is little time to spend with my kids, so I try to keep all the time spent within the business focused on the business, and the remainder alone is for my family”

When I asked him about how he came up in the sport, he smiled and reminisced, “My father taught me from as far back as I can remember and I have been flying since I was three.”

This “family business” mentality resonated with a guy like me who is currently engulfed in such an enterprise.

When I asked him about his children and if they are involved in Dad’s business, he replied, “yes, my daughter just started flying, too.”

I then asked him how old his daughter was, and he quipped with a grin, “she’s only three!”

It was then time to experience a meeting with Tam Nyguen, or “Tam baby” as he is affectionately tabbed by all within the industry.

Owner of Tam Jets, Nyguen is a virtual phenom in the industry of design and engineering. Tam also works for Nascar in designing the cooling systems for their braking components.

A shy and introverted man, it was hard to get many words out of him – but the amount of attention his tent was engrossed in told me all I needed to know about the respect he garners within the patronage.

Heading back out to the runway, I viewed a couple of jets that peaked my interest and were different than most all that were being flown. These cumbersome yet sleek hulks bellowed smoke as they passed low and had smooth ascensions and turns around the field that weren’t the norm for the day. They stood out something solitary.  They didn’t need steep climbs or axis-spins to boast. They were subtle and majestic, which peaked my personality.

The model was the Victory, and it was my opinion that they lived up to the name, and then some.

These were my favorite jets of the meet. The Victory is the model of a private jet that is usually reserved for corporations or the privately wealthy. They have room for five to six people and can be piloted by only one. The price tag for a real Victory? Only a respectable $1.5 million.

I described to the owner of the silver Victory that his jet was my favorite of the entire meet.  He expressed his appreciation, as he was already aware of who I was and what my purpose entailed, and responded, “you saying that makes this all worth it.”

I assume he meant that my comment made all the time and thousands of dollars that he had expended in his passion, somewhat accounted for.

The aforementioned, world-class German pilot, David Singer, then broke out the grand finale. The trick plane he walked to the platform was amazing. It dazzled the crowd as it seeming defied gravity, rivaling only the astonishing agility and racket of a UFO.  It was a great way to close the entire weekend.

After the closing show, all the pilots still remained to get a few more runs in before the sun receded under the Western range.

While unfortunately, I was not present on the runway during the one and only crash that occurred during the entire event, I saw the burst and reverberation out of the corner of my eye while lounging in the Jet Cat tent.  Upon the distress, I quickly sprung to the scene.

A Tam Jets pilot lost control of his Viper and wrecked the entire $7,000 machine to close out the day.  He was subsequently awarded a booby trophy and playfully mocked at the Saturday night banquet.

What this humble reporter took from the experience eventually cultivated into an understanding that kids of all ages can still admire and dream, eyes pointed to the sky with radar-like attention.

California Jets was a success, as the Fansmanship from last year to this year gained momentum. Next year it is surely to gain even more moxie and clout.

The weekend was then topped off by a classy banquet on Saturday night at the Double Tree in Bakersfield, one in which I was lucky enough to attend. The backdrop was an outdoor patio that was garnished with ponds, fountains and palm trees.

I was opportune enough to sit at the first table from the podium and rub elbows, as well as jokes, with the vital parts of the exposition such as: Sneed, Banducci, Shulman, Orlando native and elite pilot Pablo Fernandez, as well as son of Jack Diaz, the South American godfather of the sport, Geraldo Diaz.

Geraldo and his 4-year old son provided entertainment for the entire table. Father was incensed at the fried food that was being served on the children’s menu.  His nutritionally-regimented son wasn’t used to a spread such as this.

His son and I had already exchanged an intellectual dialogue regarding my Boston Terrier, Dino, earlier in the day.  He couldn’t believe how well the dog listened and heeled to my voice.  The boy was fully bilingual, and conversationally well beyond his age of four.

As dinner concluded and the announcements ensued, Andreas Gietz swept the major awards, as the other pilots around the front of the banquet joked that they should just get him a chair up on the stage so he doesn’t have to keep coming up time and time again to accept his accolades.

The banquet concluded with an auction that displayed donations from all of the companies present, an integral income that fuels the California Jets event. The spectrum of items that were auctioned off ranged from $20 parts to $1,500 components and full electric jet packages.

Auctioneer, Dave Presta, that was present on the runway at the field, and had a lot of good one-liners that garnered laughter from the party.  “Tam-baby’s” young son made a lot of bids on the items up for tender.  His bid was perpetually a jubilant, “free!”

It was a real pleasure and thrill to be a part of this event, and see the inside story that entails the family of elite jet pilots around the world. And that’s just the feel that everything had, like a family. A family that displays their expensive hobby for the thrill of romanticists.

Two days is all that it took to get this newly-spawned fan hooked. The energy of the event rubs off on you.  It was the same vigor that was gained en route to the event as the vivacity that was being enjoyed amid the extravaganza.

I cant wait  to venture out to “The Willow” next year, for California Jets 2012.