Dan Gryder Pitches Whiteside Airport Board On Another Vintage Event

2010's great reunion of DC-3 and C-47 aircraft and crews was dubbed "The Last Time," and there's little doubt the event, which commemorated the type's 75th anniversary, will be the last time such a large gathering of those planes takes place. But DC-3 fanatic and airline pilot Dan Gryder, who spearheaded The Last Time reunion, doesn't want it to be the last time the Whiteside County Airport in Rock Falls, Illinois hosts a major gathering of vintage aircraft.

Gryder tells the Sauk Valley Newspapers he envisions a World War II-themed aviation event in July, 2012, with "12 to 15 DC-3s, several B-17s and B-25s, numerous P-51s and a smattering of flying aircraft. There will be a static display and aircraft will fly a tremendous amount during the day. We can expand based on the experience we gained in the last production. I would like to see it 20 percent larger in terms of aircraft and visitors."

As part of his pitch to Thursday night's meeting of the Whiteside County Airport Board, Gryder will note that The Last Time broke even financially on its cost of $42,000. "We raised 42 and we spent 42. Look at what we did, and it didn’t cost anything."

David Murray, an attorney for the airport board, predicts a warm reception. "We had so much great publicity and so many people expressed gratitude for jobs. Pilots themselves and crew members wrote back. Several national articles were published. They gave tremendous credit to airport volunteers and the great reception that we gave to all the participants. This is going to be exciting if we can duplicate it again. I'm pretty excited! I know the board will be, too."

FMI: www.thelasttime.org