LAKEPORT — Spectators lined the railing that overlooks Clear Lake at Lakeport”s Library Park Saturday for the 29th annual Splash-In showcasing 29 seaplanes.
Aircraft from throughout California and surrounding states put on a show, dropping half-full water bottles at a floating target and attempting precision landings on the water.
Each was equipped either with floats on the regular landing gear, or with a boat hull built into the main fuselage with retracting landing gear. All aircraft were amphibious, meaning they were capable of landing on water and on dry land.
“This is one of the freest forms of aviation,” Sierra Madre resident Frank Kromka said.
Kromka, an attendee for 28 years, was among other pilots who came without an airplane this year, but nonetheless footed the gasoline bill to see friends he had made at the annual event on Clear Lake since its inception in 1979.
“It”s a central place for everyone in the Western United States to come to Clear Lake. The Splash-In is the oldest and by far the largest seaplane event west of the Mississippi River,” Organizer Chuck Kimes said.
Minden, Nev. resident John Fuller III flew a red and white DeHavilland Turbo Beaver with his father, John Fuller Jr., marking the fifth generation of pilots in his family.
“We come every year, and it”s a lot of fun. I”ve made a lot of friends I don”t see but once a year, and I get to see them here. It”s like a little convention of seaplane people,” Fuller Jr. said.
This year, Kimes estimated 2,000 spectators gathered to watch the shows, take free rides and view the planes on the field adjoining Natural High School, north of Library Park on Main Street, following the air shows. Next year will be the event”s 30th anniversary, and Kimes said he expects both attendance and the number of seaplanes participating to rise.
Winner of the people”s choice award was Carson City, Nev. resident Steve Lantz”s rebuilt Republic Tahoe Special, featuring a Corvette V-8 engine, heating and air conditioning from a Corvette and a royal blue paint job. The runner-up was Minden, Nev. resident Steve Hamilton”s 1945 Grumman Widgeon, one of two twin-engine seaplanes at this year”s event.
Standing next to his bright yellow Super Cub, Bend, Ore. resident Brandon Wilcox said the event is a highlight among weekly flights he takes year-round.
“Clear Lake is great ? it”s so big. There”s lots of room and it”s very safe, and everyone here is so friendly,” Wilcox said.
Ray Shipway of Santa Rosa won first place in the precision landing contest in his agile Quicksilver MXII, a rebuilt version of a used sport craft he and his wife Sher Shipway bought in 1992. Bob Stebbins of Saint George, Utah and his Lake Buccaneer won first place in the water-bombing contest.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
