Air Show Fans Are Revved Up

A swamp cooler. A generator. A 50-gallon barrel of water. Those were all basic supplies on hand Friday for greeting arriving aircraft at the annual Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo.

At least that is what one die-hard gathering of about 50 air show groupies have at their encampment this weekend.

Organized by Jerry Pugmire, 63, of Van Nuys, the group began its preparations a week ago by spending a day cleaning their location--a prime dirt strip on Hayvenhurst Avenue adjacent to the airport’s main taxiway at Arminta Street. That’s where the clan reunites every year to celebrate five days of eardrum-shattering noise and camaraderie that began on Thursday.

In need of a Port-a-Potty? Don’t worry. The clan has that, too. But it will cost $2 if you’re not one of them.

Pugmire, a retired heating and air conditioning repairman, is known as The Mayor. He earned his title by staking out the clan’s territory every year for the past 25 years.

Other spectators refer to the clan as “the pirates,” because of a black flag with a skull and crossbones waving over their encampment.

Over time, the pirates have developed tight friendships. Nick Scarpelli, 48, of Reseda, is the group’s social ambassador. He has developed close relationships with a number of pilots who fly warbirds in for the show, then visit with various encampments around the show grounds.

On Friday, one of Scarpelli’s pilot friends neatly landed his F-18, then stopped dead as he taxied in front of the pirates, whipping out a camera to photograph his fan club from the cockpit--a gesture that triggered wild cheers from the crowd.

Pugmire furnished the swamp cooler, which on Friday contained ice, a generous supply of chilled beverages and blasted a steady stream of cool air from a flatbed trailer. A generator that powers the cooler was supplied by someone else and yet another saw to the barrel of water used for dunking and dousing.

Amy Porter, 22, of North Hills, prepared a supply of food ahead of time for the clan’s nightly cook-outs. Like most in the group, she rides a bike between her house and the show grounds to circumvent the traffic jams.

“This is beautiful,” Porter said Friday, sitting under the shade of a tent pitched by another in the group. “It is turning out to be one of the best.”

A loudspeaker from a scanner hung on a chain-link fence, amplifying the chatter between air traffic controllers in the airport tower and approaching pilots.

“Four F-16s are going to be arriving all at once,” excitedly announced Rick Lewis, 23, of North Hills. He was wearing his “air show costume”--camouflage trousers, bare chest, a sterling crow’s-head ornament dangling on a chain of talons around his neck, and a leather and spiked semi-gauntlet on one wrist.

Similar clans could be seen gathered Friday all around the airport--in parking lots, on balconies and rooftops--cheering wildly as each noisy jet screamed over the runway in a pass before landing, the thunder of engines periodically setting off car alarms.

“I like them all,” proclaimed The Mayor, dousing his head with water as he stood in the afternoon sun. “Each plane is like a person, unique in its own manner.”

Similar enthusiasm is expected to be generated Monday when an estimated 70 aircraft on display for the two-day show will depart the airport.

“I’m going to be here when that thing takes off,” said Sammy Rodela, 37, of Pomona, pointing to a B-52 bomber. A veteran of the past nine shows, Rodela said, “It has eight engines and they have to be revved up to full throttle before they let go of the brakes. What a roar! And it kicks up a dust storm you wouldn’t believe!”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Schedule is subject to change. Each demonstration runs 10-15 minutes, except the 2 p.m. Golden Knights performance, which runs 30 minutes.

Today

10-10:30 a.m.: Opening ceremonies: Flyover by Condor Squadron; Honors to Bobbi Trout

10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.: U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team jump; Pilatus Turbo Porter demonstration; Pitts S2S “Patriot” aerobatics routine; hang-gliding demonstration; L.A. Fire Department water drop and hoist-rescue demonstration; Tim Weber aerobatics demonstration; AV-8B Harrier demonstration; Sean Tucker aerobatics demonstration. Aerobatic Flying Circus.

2-3:30 p.m.: Tim Weber aerobatics demonstration; Dan Buchanan Airwave Glider demonstration; AV-8B Harrier demonstration; Aerobatic Flying Circus demonstration.

Sunday, July 18

10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.: U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team jump; Pilatus Turbo Porter demonstration; Pitts S2S “Patriot” aerobatics routine; hang-gliding demonstration; L.A. Fire Department water drop and hoist-rescue demonstration; Tim Weber aerobatics demonstration; AV-8B Harrier demonstration; Sean Tucker aerobatics demonstration. Aerobatic Flying Circus.

2-3:30 p.m.: Tim Weber aerobatics demonstration; Dan Buchanan Airwave Glider demonstration; AV-8B Harrier demonstration; Aerobatic Flying Circus demonstration.