This Year’s Event Honors Pilots Fighting California Wildfires
By Terry Miller
It’s that time of year when our local airport holds the annual open house and air faire. This year on Sunday October 29th 2017 from 9am to 3pm local pilots honor our aerial fighters of all kinds, Fire, Police, & Armed forces. Gabe Lopez son of 1st Lt. Edward J. Lopez a WWII & Korean-war fighter pilot, is president of the San Gabriel Valley Airport Association. Lopez is also the chairman of the Air Fair Committee that puts on this amazing show each year.
From, 9AM-3PM, at the San Gabriel Valley Airport in El Monte you’ll get a rare chance to see vintage aircraft and learn more about this tiny jewel on an airport right in our own backyard.
You’ll also get a chance to see the two Super Scooper aircraft that have been fighting fires.
The emphasis at the Open House is always on young people hoping to explore aviation and aerospace as a career Lopez told Beacon Media, but this year a special ‘tip of the hat’ to all firefighters, police and Armed forces pilots is planned at the open house.
Gabe Lopez’ famous Stearman was in the TV series JAG for 10 years.
The airport was built in 1936, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Aviation Division Chief Richard Smith said. Los Angeles County bought the airport in 1969 for $3 million.
There are five Los Angeles county-operated airports – in El Monte, La Verne, Compton, Pacoima and Lancaster.
The renaming of the airport was suggested years ago by Gabe Lopez, a pilot who flies his 1940 Stearman regularly out of the small airport. Lopez felt that the more regional name would attract more people to do business and use the small airfield more regularly.
The airport was built in 1936, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Aviation Division Chief Richard Smith said. Los Angeles County bought the airport in 1969 for $3 million.
The annual Airport Fly-in and Open House Sunday at the small but exciting little airport includes all kinds of vintage aircraft including such beauties as a 1929 Travel Air 4000, Curtis Wright plane owned and operated by Gabe Lopez. Lopez will also be offering flights Sunday and you’ll get a chance to meet his amazing father as he signs books.
