2009 SOPA Meeting Branson Mo.

[Ed Kalis]

The 2009 sopa meet is now history! Members arrived both Wed. and Thur. Taney Co airport was supportive, and weather was great. Herb had a rental minivan for shuttle to the hotel. Herb explored the area and found a dinning spot for later at the Hard Work University. Everyone gathered at Ernie Briggs Dueling Piano Bar for a drink or drink and dinner, then we enjoyed the entertainment. Our guest speaker arrived with Paul and Mary, Captain Denis G. Murphy. Denis ditched twice and has written a book about his life " Pan, Pan, Pan! A Survivor's Story" We now know you need good equipment and must be knowledgeable as to how it is to work. Everyone had hands on practice in the Hotels pool Thur. We also had a local guest show his lighting equipment for our birds. and the final guest speaker told us about flying pets to new homes in the U.S.A. The river ride on Thur. on the Branson Lake Queen actually was on Lake Taneycomo. The lower deck was enclosed and air conditioned and the upper deck was open. We traveled several miles north then back to Branson Landing where the water and fire show was going on and band playing. Everyone dined at the Texas Land and Cattle Steakhouse at the landing. Friday we ended our meeting and traveled south three miles to Hard Work U for lunch, then back to Taney County Airport to see a hanger full of many aircraft that a fellow has collected. Sat. was the grand opening of the new Branson airport. Construction started 7-07 and now complete, first airline landed Fri. "Sun Country Charter" with a fire dept. welcome of water sprayed over the airliner . This airport was funded by capital from developers and not any public funds, the city of Branson pays them $10.00 for each passenger that arrives. Air Tran will schedule Branson also. Highlights were the Thunderbirds, Golden Knights, A-10 Team, F-18 Hornet, CF-18 Hornet, Legacy Flight: F18 & Bearcat, John Klatt Air National Guard, Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, sailplane Manfred Radius, Patty Wagstaff, Iron Eagles, Gene Soucy and Teresa Stokes wing walking, Matt Younkin with his aerobatic Twin Beech 18 and eight aerobatic shows. On display were C130J, C-17 Globemaster lll, Sea Fury, B-17 Yankee Lady, P-51 Quicksilver, B-25 Panchito, P-47 Thunderbolt, AC-47 Gunship, Lockheed 12a Electra Junior, KC 135, F-15 Eagle, Beech C-45 "Arctic Annie" T-GA Texan ll, T-1A Jayhawk, C-47 Skytrain , PT-17 Stearman, PT-19, Piper HE-1, L-39, T-38, C-45, FAA DC-3, LT-6 Mosquito, L-19 Bird Dog, (no O-2s) and much more.
Shirley and I had a good time at the theaters (we took in three shows) and seeing and meeting with everyone. Edward Kalis