Classic Jet Aircraft Association Blasts into Yolo County Airport - By Clark Cook, Editor

Davis, CA - On May 15th, the serene farmland around the Yolo County Airport roared to life as classic jets from all around the Western United States arrived in what was the inaugural event for organizer and pilot Greg Colyer. The event had a multi purpose - To qualify aircraft owners in formation flying by F.A.S.T. (formation and safety team) instructors, type rate pilots in a specific aircraft, photo opportunities over the Bay Area with professional photographers and to give the general public a chance to get "up close and personal" to these aircraft.

Colyer, who owns and flies a Korean era T-33 Lockheed Shooting Star dubbed "Ace Maker" has been a popular attraction at air shows on the west coast and also started the T-33 Heritage Foundation. The event was hosted by the airport's fixed base operator Davis Flight Support, a five star facility which also houses Ace Maker. "The guys on the ramp ran the operation like a carrier deck" said Colyer.

The types of aircraft that participated were 3 L-29 Delphins (Czechoslovakia's first locally designed and built jet aircraft), 2 T-33 Shooting Stars (the U.S. Air Force's first operational jet trainer), 2 Czech built L-39 Albatrosses (one of them from the Patriots Jet Team), A Canadian CT-114 (the same type flown by today's Canadian Forces Snowbirds), A German Built Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet (currently flown by the Patrouille de France, air demonstration team of the French Air Force) and a very rare de Havilland DH.100 Vampire jet, flown in WWII by the British.

The three day event kicked off on Friday with the arrivals of most participants, check rides and a photo shoot. The event crested on Saturday with the continuation of check rides, formation training throughout the day and a photo shoot of several participants over San Francisco on a picture perfect day. The event wrapped up on Sunday with the departures of the remaining jets. Due to the unprecedented success of Yolo Jet Blast 2009, Colyer says "next year promises to be even bigger and better." For more on the T-33 Heritage Foundation, please visit www.t33heritagefoundation.org.