CAMARILLO : 11th Annual Fly-In Draws 400 Pilots

David Briggs was just waiting for the chance to show off his little, red biplane, the Pitts S1.

On Saturday, he got his opportunity.

The Ventura man and nearly 400 other pilots gathered at the Camarillo Airport for the 11th fly-in sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Assn.

Pilots from all over the county started arriving Friday evening and will stay through 5 p.m. today. Planes of all types, including a B-25 and scores of experimental planes, were on display.

Briggs stood proudly by his Pitts, which he has had only a month, talking shop with fellow pilots. “This plane flies like a shot out of a cannon,” Briggs said. “It’s the most fantastic feeling.”

Tony Spehar of Simi Valley, who hopes someday to have a plane of his own, quietly walked a row of homemade planes, admiring the unusual birds. “When you’re addicted to airplanes, it is always fun to come out and look and dream,” Spehar said.

Phil Bruner, a Calabasas man who flew his kit-built slick, white biplane to the event, said he spent five years constructing it. “It started out as a two-year project,” Bruner said. “And five years later it was done.”

Every year, more pilots and spectators show up for the event, said organizer Bill McClure. About 8,000 people were expected to attend the fly-in, up from 6,000 last year. About 100 more planes were on display.

Bob Schmidt of Fort Worth said that since he recently retired as a pilot for American Airlines, he jumped at the chance to fly a friend’s tiny experimental aircraft called the Venture to the air show. In his spare time, he is building a plane of his own.

“I’ve been dreaming about doing this all my life,” said Schmidt, 60. “Now I’ve got the chance.”