Send Off For Oz

V

vanhook

Around The Moon
We're going to have a gathering to wish Oz Iftikhar, aka Sky God, well as he heads back to Pakistan. You Old Timers will remember Oz as one of the Founders of BAC and organizer of the first annual Falcon Field Fly-In.

We're going to gather at EKY in Bessemer, AL for the send off. EKY is home base for Bob Steward, the moderator of Musketeer Mail and another of the Founders of BAC. See the calendar for more details.

Oh, the date is August 7 (extending probably to the 8th).

We want to give everyone time to sober up after celebrating Oz's departure.
 
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Should make for a grand occasion. We never did have all seven of the Founding Directors gathered in one place at one time. The most was six at BAC East in Dayton, OH. Sadly, with the departure of Mike Rellihan, a full gathering is no longer possible.

For those of you unaware, the seven Founding Directors of BAC were, alphabetically: Tom Corcoran, Tim Flight, Oz Iftikhar, Brad Mitchell, Mike Rellihan, Bob Steward and Cloyd Van Hook.

Hope to draw a nice crowd to Bessemer, Alabama (KEKY) on August 7.
 
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Bessemer is in What state? I figure I might as well ask here and save the rest that would need to look it up also. Thanks. It would be great to see as many of the originals as possible.



Thanks for bringing that up Paul. We have edited our posts to indicate Bessemer is in Alabama, about 20 miles south of Birmingham.
 
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As of now, I am planning on attending. Looking forward to it. The field at Bessmer is really a great airport and there is a nice restaurant right on the field. For those of you staying, Birmingham is not far away and has a lot of nice hotels, for those looking to stay closer, there are several nice places in Bessemer.
 
Oz, Cloyd and I booked rooms for Saturday night (August 7) at Sleep Inn, located in Bessemer about 3 miles from the airport. Anyone wishing to do the same can check their website: www.sleepinn.com $74.99 is the going rate. Oz will be driving from Atlanta, so he'll have a vehicle. If we need additional transportation, it appears Enterprise rentals are available at the FBO.
 
Please take LOTS of photographs. This is likely the last time that many founding members will be able to get together. This is fairly historic, I only wish I could make the trip.
 
I plan on coming. Short haul for me. What time to start? Lunch and dinner or?
 
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Aarrgh! I can't even come close to making it.
Oz, be well, stay safe, and enjoy life, my friend.
 
Eddie,
Oz, Cloyd and I plan to arrive between 11:30 and noon (Central time) on Saturday. It's 3 hour flights for Cloyd and me and a 3 hour drive for Oz. We'll plan on lunch shortly after noon. The three of us will be staying overnight. You're welcome to join us. Hotel info is in an earlier post.

Steve Maggio is planning on coming. This is Bob Steward's home field and he said Tom Kinstler is going to try and be there. Sounds like we may have a few others coming, too.

Look forward to seeing you again and hearing about your trip out west. Bring pictures if you have them.

Brad
 
All are welcome.

Steve Maggio told me he is coming from Gulfport and I think Tom Kintsler is coming from somewhere in Alabama near B'ham.

Come for lunch, stay for dinner and stay overnight and get an early start back in the am.

Those of us staying over have reservations at the Sleep Inn near the airport.
 
Grady Welch and Bruce Kerr planning on coming down in the a.m. from DYR in NW Tennessee. Hope the wx holds up......we know the heat will!
 
Grady, it will be good to see you and Bruce again. Last time was at Rough River back in November. Definitely a bit warmer weather than what it was in November!
 
Looks like you guys coming from the north will have better WX than us guys coming from the SOUTH.

If it's too bad I'll just overfly it and land where you guys came from.
 
We had a great turnout in Bessemer today. 7 airplanes brought 13 people to enjoy lunch at The Hangar Restaurant and the opportunity to share in some great BAC camaraderie. Attending were Bob Steward, Tom Kinstler, Bill Moran, Rick Chandler and Chris Iddins from Alabama, Grady Welch, Bruce Kerr, Shelby Smith, Eddie Smith and Ron Benton from Tennessee, Oz Iftikhar from Georgia, Cloyd Van Hook from Louisiana and Brad Mitchell from Kentucky. A great BAC time was had by all.
 
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