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By FRAN EMMONS - GREENVILLE - Sunny days and relatively-calm winds blessed the Moosehead region last weekend as hundreds of airplanes and thousands of people dropped into Greenville for the 29th Annual International Seaplane Fly-In. While the count wasn't in at press time for actual seaplanes registered, the official numbers last year had the popular Oshkosh, Wisconsin Fly-in beat by four aircraft, according to event organizer Frank Woodworth. The sky above East Cove began buzzing with increased air traffic as early as last Thursday; and by Saturday, "The only other place you can look up and see that many airplanes on approach is Newark," Woodworth boasted. The color of the airborne visitors was spectacular, and in one case, especially meaningful. A modified Beaver, built in 1996, sported the Star-Spangled Banner across its left fuselage. Manufactured by Wipaire Inc., the 6-passenger Beaver PT 6 was flown here by owner Mark Mathison with four other passengers from South St. Paul, Minnesota. "It took us seven hours and 40 minutes to get here," Mathison said, adding that the distance was "1,050 nautical miles." The Beaver's right fuselage had the Canadian Flag on display. The reason for the dual paint job is that the amphibious aircraft was built in Canada but modified in the United States, Mathison explained. While this particular Beaver is a demonstrator model, the general public can buy one just like it for $985,000, Mathison said. While the patriotic Beaver was parked, Jon Webber, from Blue Hill, and Larry Long, from Chattanooga, Tennessee walked up to gaze admiringly. Both former pilots, the two were repeat visitors to the Fly-In. Another bright spot parked on the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) site was a yellow Beaver with graphics stating, "Mo Fishin." Speculation had it on one hand that Jimmy Buffet owned it, but another source said the plane was featured in the movie "Sweet Home Alabama." Neither colorful story could be verified. Parked right next to the mystery Beaver was a Cessna 206 owned by Joseph Siegel from Liberty, New York. His flight time from New York to Greenville was three hours and 15 minutes. A Fly-In regular, Siegel camps each year on Lobster Lake, coming to see the wildlife and northern lights as much as the aeronautical activities. Here this year with his son, Hunter, Siegel noted they "saw 11 moose, one bull with at least a 4-foot rack." "We go to sleep listening to coyote calls and the loons," he added. Local resident John Willard, owner of the Birches in Rockwood, flew in for the day, but couldn't find a spot to dock. Since his floatplane has no wheels in the pontoons to make it amphibious, Willard parked the craft "on the rocks" since there was no wind. "Another year," Willard said, "organizers should make more float space available." Visitors, which organizers believe was a record crowd, streamed into Greenville Village, hauling chairs to watch the fly-bys and the actual events. Others wandered into Stobie Hanger, which was filled with related exhibits. Food vendors did a bang-up business, hawking hamburgers, hot dogs and cold drinks. And shoppers flocked to the annual craft fair that spread from the post-office to the gazebo. Parking was scarce and vehicles formed long lines on the shoulders of the approaches into the village. The fly-in has been organized for the past four years by Woodworth of Harmony. Though not a Greenville resident, Woodworth is very familiar with the area having flown for Folsom's Air Service some years ago. He has been a part of the committee for nine years. Security was augmented by 80 Civil Air Patrol Cadets as well as another 15 members of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Woodworth said. Filmmakers on site during this year's events included PBS, MPBN and "gypsies" or freelance cinematographers, he said. Woodworth flew to Greenville for the event in his own Cessna 185, the "quintessential" seaplane. 2002 Fly-In contest results Bomb Drops - Grapefruits Spot Landing Taxi Slalom Take Off: 0 - 85HP 86 - 150 HP 151-240 HP 241 - over HP |