Livermore LVK Open House October 2017

By Lt Col Juan Tinnirello and 1st Lt Karin Hollerbach, photos and video by Lt Col Tinnirello 

Our beautiful Cessna 182

On Saturday, October 7, members of the Civil Air Patrol East Bay Cadet Squadron 18, based in Hayward, and Oakland Squadron 188 came together to participate in the Livermore Airport (KLVK) Open House and Air Show.

Squadron 18 and Squadron 188 combined booth

Squadron 188 members at the air show: SM Rainville (L), Maj Luneau (2nd L), 1st Lt Hipp (3rd L),
Capt Stevulak (2nd R) and Lt Col Tinnirello (R)

Opening the event, airport manager David Decoteau welcomed all participants, followed by the presentation of the colors by cadets from Squadron 18.  Ms. Bea Miille sang the National Anthem. City mayor John Marchand welcomed everyone and thanked all the people that had contributed so much to make the event a success.

DJ Davis (L), Lt Col Tinnirello (C), and a member of
the KKIQ team (R)

Squadron 18 Color Guard: C/SSgt Ilyana Crespo (L),
C/SMSgt Varsha Penumatsa (C) and
C/SrA Mylo Crawford (R) 

DJ Mark Davis from KKIQ transmitted live on 101.7 MHZ to radio listeners, announcing participants of the show, as well some of the events as they occurred.  Lt Col Tinnirello, as he has done for several years, had the opportunity to do a one-minute presentation on KKIQ about CAP and what we do.





For the airshow, there was a parachute jump team as well as three aerobatic planes doing fantastic maneuvers all over the morning sky. They repeated their performance once more in the afternoon.

Parachute team member

In between, there were fly-bys, warbirds, experimental and other aircraft. Many aircraft were on display and, as we usually do, we too displayed our Cessna 182 at the event. Hundreds of kids and grownups sat in it and took many selfies to show to their friends and families.

The opportunity to sit in a real CAP aircraft, along with the chance to talk with current members, is always an attraction for members of the public, particularly those that would like to put their aviation interests to good use in community service: We had several people that displayed an interest in joining CAP and we look forward to getting to know them better.

Lt Col Tinnirello taking a selfie

There was also wine tasting, community booths, plenty of food trucks, as well as an EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) “Young Eagles” sign-up.

All the fire, sheriff and police personnel and equipment were there too.

Visitors waiting to sit inside the plane and have their pictures taken by parents/friends. 

On the day before, several members from Squadron 188 scrubbed the aircraft to make it shine:

• Lt Col Tinnirello
• Maj Luneau
• Capt Eichelberger
• Capt Stevulak
• 1st Lt Hollerbach
• SM Rainville

With so many hands to help, we made short work of the grease on the belly of the airplane, as well as the dust and bugs on the fuselage!  Thanks to everyone who helped!

All in all, it was a very enjoyable and fun event, with excellent cooperation from Mother Nature ensuring warm (but not too hot) temperatures and generally fine weather!

Aerobatic participant

Aerobatic participant