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BLACK PILOTS OF AMERICA PROMISE EXCITEMENT FOR HOLIDAY WEEKEND

By Ezra Mann/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, May 23, 2008 1:19 AM CDT

Whether it’s for the love of flying or just an interest in the aviation community, pilots and onlookers will gather at Pine Bluff’s Grider Field for “Operation Skyhook,” presented by the Black Pilots of America on Memorial Day weekend.

Though fuel prices will limit some of those from making this year’s festivities, 35 to 45 planes should be on display and available for contests that test pilots’ skills, said retired Army Col. Palmer Sullins Jr., president of the organization.

Pilots started arriving in Pine Bluff on Thursday and competition begins at 10:30 a.m. today, formation flying Saturday starting at 9 a.m. and competition Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

“I really respect some of the guys who are flying in from places as far away as California or Detroit who have to use so much fuel to be a part of this,” added Sullins.

The event is a way for pilots, both novice and professional, to show off their flying skills through events such as the flour bomb drop, where a pilot releases a sack of flour in an attempt to hit a circle target on the ground. Other events include pylon racing and team formation flying.

The festival is for all ages, though children will be a primary focus and will have a chance to get rides as a part of the Young Eagles event from pilots each day at 3 p.m.

Dollarway High School and Southeast Middle School will also get a chance to be a part of the competition as they will compete against each other, with the help of pilots, to work on aviation projects and figure out different aspects of flying, added Sullins. An awards ceremony will be held Sunday to honor pilots, teams and one of the two schools.

Sullins, who is from Slidell, La., has plenty of experience in the air since he spent 33 years in the Army. One year he was in Vietnam, flying helicopters as well as light airplanes. He retired in 2001 so he could focus more on flying Cessnas. He is one of the BPA’s founding members and said Operation Skyhook has been a part of annual activities since it was founded 12 years ago in 1997.

Of 1,000 members historically, there are 350 active members at any given time and 12 active groups out of 18 in the BPA, noted Sullins. Anyone from any chapter is welcome whether the chapter is active or not and the Navy and Air Force will also have representatives at the air show.

“When we chose Pine Bluff we decided it was a place that would allow us to take control and not interfere with traffic and since then it has been a perfect fit,” Sullins said.

BPA pilots have also been active in other air shows and gained experience as a part of a military family. Durell Robinson, who lives near Dallas, is a pilot with the Lew-Lynch chapter, formerly the Tuskegee Airmen or the St. Louis chapter, of the BPA. Flying is something he always wanted to do. Groups like the Blue Angels inspired him.

“It certainly played a part being a military brat to help inspire me,” said Robinson. “Seeing those other pilots just blew my mind.”

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