This RV-7A departs Livermore Municipal Airport on a perfect day for flying.
Before air show season kicked off here in Northern California, I was searching online for local aviation events when I saw a blurb for Vintage Aircraft Display Days at Livermore Municipal Airport (KLVK).
These display days occur every weekend so I decided to take a drive on a recent weekend and check it out.
While the Livermore airport has a very nice terminal building, the sight that caught my eye was a tall, covered observation platform perfectly situated for planespotting.
From that perch, I spotted a rare Bellanca T-250 Aries and a nice-looking Stinson.
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First flown in 1973, only five of these Bellanca T-250 Aries aircraft were built before the company’s financial issues ended production.
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A Stinson Voyager 150 yearns to be free of these earthly shackles. The Stinson name and assets were sold to Piper Aircraft in 1948.
Eventually they were joined by a Piper wearing French military livery and an immaculate Piper Pacer.
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A Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer in the colors of the French Marine Corps. 24 of these aircraft supported French Foreign Legion efforts in Africa from 1955-1975.
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A sharp looking Piper Pacer taxis in for display. This PA-22 has been converted to a tailwheel configuration.
The light turnout of vintage aircraft was offset by the steady GA traffic at the airport. I appreciated the sight of an Icon A5 taxiing by, my first opportunity to photograph one under power.
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First flown in 2008, more than 200 of these Icon A5 amphibious LSA have been delivered.
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A head-on view of a Cessna 177 Cardinal taxiing after arrival at Livermore. Introduced in 1968, the Cardinal was originally intended to replace the 172 Skyhawk.
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A Piper Turbo Lance II taxies by after arrival. The T-tail design only lasted two years due to handling complaints.
Having a classic Bell 47 approach low and slow was also pretty sweet.
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A classic Bell 47G, the most common model which was introduced in 1953.
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The East Bay Regional Park District operates two of these Airbus H125 helicopters to patrol 125,000 acres of parks.
With events like this, it’s hard to know in advance what you’ll see, but any airplane is better than no airplane.
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A Cessna 172N Skyhawk departs KLVK. (All Photos by Hayman Tam)
