LAKEPORT – This weekend the sky over Lakeport and and the waters of Clear Lake will play host to a colorful display of aircraft that are a mixture of high-performance aeronautics and artistry. {sidebar id=9}
The oldest and largest seaplane gathering in the Western United States, the Clear Lake Splash-In is coming to town Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-23. The event is shaping up to be the biggest and most diverse of all the previous seaplane events, with lots to look forward to – from just enjoying the seaplanes themselves to a new festival debuting this year.
Both the Board of Supervisors and the Lakeport City Council awarded proclamations to the event this week, with the council declaring Sept. 17-23 as Seaplane Appreciation Week.
Seaplanes – sometimes referred to as floatplanes – have been featured twice during local events earlier this year. During last month's Taste of Lakeport, four of the high-performance aircraft powered down Main Street and sat on display during the food and wine event.
Local promoters have organized a Seaplane Festival that will bring more than just the casual observer to downtown Lakeport. Several classic and custom automobiles will be on display as well as a full day of arts and crafts booths with many offering items for sale.
Many of the aircraft scheduled to participate will begin arriving Friday with the real action taking place Saturday, Sept. 22. This time around the majority of the action will be closer to the public.
As in previous years the large field adjacent to Natural High School will be home to about three dozen aircraft. This year the flying displays and demonstrations will take place in front of Library Park, giving more people the opportunity to view the many skill challenges scheduled for the visiting pilots.
Clear Lake itself will see more large seaplanes landing on its surface than most local pilots can recall. Expected to splash in Friday are at least two Grumman Albatross and one Mallard, true seaplanes designed and first built in the 1940s.
At 61 feet long, and with a wing span up to 96 feet, the amphibious Albatross required a small crew but its large hold could bring several thousand pounds of cargo to a wide range of remote locations at nearly two hundred miles an hour.
A few dozen collectors have purchased and renovated these amazing machines and perhaps a handful around the globe have customized their aircraft to true luxury status with interiors rivaling the fanciest land-based RVs and hotels. These magnificent seaplanes will remain in the water as no shore side egress is available.
Two regional flying outfits will offer discounted floatplane rides and many of the attending owners and pilots will be more accessible to the public. Several dozen land-based aircraft owners from the western region are also expected to attend making Lampson field and the skies around it a busy area all weekend.
Classic cars, wet planes and a ton of cool arts and crafts make for a great end of summer weekend event. But there is more to be sure. As this year’s event has grown so has the interest of three of California’s most proactive flying and safety organizations. The California Highway Patrol and REACH, the regional emergency response and transport group, will each display one of their helicopters. The CHP copter, a blue and white Eurocopter AS-350, will be on hand. The REACH helicopter, a red Bell 407, will remain on standby with full crew ready to answer questions or fly off if needed.
The third group consists of aircraft pilots and sea captains. The U.S. Coast Guard will play a pivotal role both on the water and in the air. Working closely with local pilots. the area Flotilla 88 and Splash-In organizers will be on hand to help manage the waterways as well as the airspace north and south of Lakeports shoreline. With so many airplanes in the area and more active aircraft than in past years the coordination of those in the air as well as those on the water is critical to a successful and ultimately safe festival experience.
The commitment by the US Coast Guard is considerable. Not only will they be providing logistical personnel but the Coast Guard will be sending their own helicopter. And it's not just any helicopter and not just any crew. Their crew will demonstrate actual rescue activities that are scheduled to include several low and slow passes by a C-130, the largest of all the aircraft visiting this weekend and one of the few that requires asphalt to land on.
E-mail Harold LaBonte at
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