LAKEPORT, Calif. – On the shores of Clear Lake, the annual Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17.
The seaplanes will come out of Clear Lake onto land at Natural High Grounds at 810 N. Main St. in Lakeport.
Seaplane pilots throughout California and beyond are registering for this annual seaplane gathering that began in 1979.
Spectators will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with pilots and get up close and personal views of the planes.
The Splash In Committee has arranged for a sound system by City of Light so everyone on the field can hear what’s going on including the pilot briefing, what planes are there and descriptions of aerial demonstrations over the lake demonstrations later in the day.
This year's field marshall is Ray Shipway of Shipway Aviation. He will be assisted by Lee Cook, a longtime Splash In volunteer.
Shipway will oversee the Scouts of Sea Scout Ship unit 711 as they direct planes entering and leaving the field.
As the Sea Scouts camp on site from Friday through Sunday, they and their leaders do 24 hour security for the field.
The day’s activities include a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. ($7/person) put on by the Lakeport Kiwanis Club to benefit Boy Scout Troop 42; a pilot’s briefing at 9 a.m. to cover what demonstrations they will be doing over the water beginning around noon; a display of classic cars and trucks, Lakeport Fire District will be on site with one of their trucks and firemen to talk about their great work in our community.
Seaplane rides over Clear Lake with a couple of our commercially licensed pilots will be available for purchase. Two seaplane rides on Sept. 17 will be raffled off. Raffle sales close at 2 p.m.; winners must be present at the time of the drawing.
Representatives of the National Seaplane Pilots Association from Lakeland Florida will have a booth where anyone interested in learning more about flying seaplanes can talk with them. Additional aviation industry vendors will also be on hand.
The Clear Lake Modelers will have many of their models on display as well as a simulator where visitors may try their hand at flying a model. The club members will answer questions and demonstrate how to build models.
Commemorative Splash In T-shirts will be available at the Konoctee’s of Clearlake booth. Don’t forget to check out the many arts, crafts and food vendor booths.
This event is produced by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the city of Lakeport and the county of Lake.
Since its inception the Splash In’s official headquarters has been the Skylark Shores Resort in Lakeport. For those seeking accommodations to attend the event visit the Lake County Chamber Web site at www.lakecochamber.com . For general questions call the chamber at 707-263-5092.
Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In set for Sept. 17
- Lake County News reports
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