Rinteln
Organised by Wolfgang Rieber
GRUMMANS, RAPE FIELDS AND RED WINE. The European American Yankee Association gathers at Rinteln Airfield in Germany (EDVR) for its traditional annual convention.
Beer in hand, Walter Gibson had said at the conclusion of his event: “Goodbye to you all – next year in Germany.” That was 2007 in North Weald (north of London), when the worst possible weather forced even the intrepid Grumman pilots to make their way to the European convention by car.
One year later, Wolfgang Rieber, Country Coordinator for Germany & Poland and AYA Europe 2008 project manager, stands on the terrace of the aero club in Rinteln in the bright sunshine and watches with fascination as the approaches near EDVR from the west. There, lined up like the proverbial string of pearls, come the Grummans. “Utterly fantastic,” he murmurs. Following months of preparations, a dream is finally coming true. High pressure has been dominating in Europe for days, and is guaranteed to hold for the coming event.