I traveled from Texas on Thursday and had one of the best flights ever. Not a single cloud in the sky between Texas and Tennessee. The headwind going east was a bit of a bummer but the tradeoff for clear skys made it worth while. The Lowell Sterchi hydraulic forum was in progress as I tied down and unloaded my Swift. I always enjoy that forum and hated to miss it but I was a little tired of sitting and needed to stretch a bit. After a little time of chatting with fellow Swifters we were treated to a great barbeque evening meal, served on site. The food this year was the best ever. The evening twilight hours at an airport are my favorite times and Thursday evening became one on those occasions.

Friday morning I got up early and went to the airport to have a little fun flight. Flea Carpenter was also preparing to fly so we decided on a two ship. We then saw Paul and Sandy Mercandetti fix'n to fly and asked them if they wanted to join us for a three ship. They said "yep" so we did a brief and took off for a little early morning formation hop around the city of Athens. A few of the Swift crowd on the ground saw us and concluded that they needed to be at the airport where the fun was about to happen. Friday is always a busy day with forums and an evening program and this Friday would prove to be one of the best ever. I attended a forum in the morning titled "Little things Old timers take for granted." Steve Wilson and Eddie Shields did a great job with this program and I always learn (and relearn) a ton of information. Lunch was another fantastic meal with on site hamburgers and chicken cooked by Paul Mercandetti. My favorite meal is a hamburger at an airport. My next forum was one that we all enjoyed titled "Maintaining Our Aging Aircraft" taught by Don Bartholomew. Great forum and what I will remember most is that like ourselves, our airplanes are all aging differently.

I was then involved with a briefing for a Memorial Tribute flight to honor a Mr. Mayfield (remember Mayfield ice-cream) who had passed away. Mr. Mayfield had been a strong supporter of the airport and a plaque was to be unveiled preceded by a program to honor his life. Will Roberson was the Master of Ceremonies and a six ship Swift missing man was flown, complete with smoke from the missing man. Mike Kennedy did his usual perfect job at putting the fly-by together. The Tribute also honored others "Gone West" and is a perfect time to remember our friends and give thanks for all that we have.

Following the Tribute we adjourned back to the "chow hall" (hangar) for a gourmet steak and salmon meal which was as good as any meal I have ever had at any price anywhere. Paul and Jim Roberts (Oppie) did the cooking chores and it was fabulous. The Swift ladies took care of the serving duties and we were all treated like VIP's. What a meal. The evening was just beginning at that point and we were treated to a concert from The Cleveland Community "Big Band" which Jeanie Anderson had lined up. These guys played the 1940's music just like the Glen Miller would have liked. A perfect evening with quality food and entertainment. Swift Nationals has never been better. I always hate to see Friday night end but it finally did and we adjourned back to our motels.

Saturday morning started off with the annual business meeting where we learned of the current status of the new Swift museum and other issues. I then flew in another two ship formation flight where Todd Bengston was awarded his wingman patch. Well done Todd. Ed Lloyd and Steve Whittenberger worked their tails off giving formation instruction throughout the entire event and we all owe them a thank you for helping keep our formation program active and safe. I asked Ed how many instruction rides he gave and he said, "I think about nine." Saturday evening was the climax of the weekend with the Banquet/evening program at the country club. Sparky Barns Sargent introduced some very special ladies and gave a brief biography of their lives pertaining to their aviation accomplishments. "Mama Bird" was present and inspired us all (99 years old and 55,000+ hours flying). Fellow Swifters Jeanie Collins and Sandy Mercandetti were honored in Sparky's book "Hunger for the Sky" along with five other lady aviators. Later Dick Collins said he had learned some things about Jeanie that he previously did not know. What else is that girl holding back. We have some great ladies in our Swift Association. Somehow great airplanes attract great people. (As a side note, a few years ago Will Roberson wrote a poem titled The Essence of a Swifter which he read at the Saturday night banquet. I thought it was great and just as appropriate this year so I have added it with permission here if you would care to read it.)

Sunday was going home day for most of the crowd but about six of us decided to wait at least one day since going toward Texas was not very possible unless you filed and went IFR. We had a low pressure system work its way into Louisiana/Arkansas while the weekend was progressing and it made a mess for flying VFR between Tennessee and Texas. My flight home was done "on top" and made up for my great trip going to KMMI. Maybe aviation always averages out somehow. If you have a great flight you are probably going to have it balanced with one that's not so cool. I do have the advantage of just staying on the ground for some of those days. I am now home, I have fixed my push to talk button which quit during the tribute flight (why do things always quit at the worst possible time), and am now reflecting on how lucky I am to be a caretaker of one of the greatest airplanes ever built. Swift Nationals was great. See you in 2010. Ya'll fly safe.

Stan Price

click here to see Stan's photos from Swift Nationals