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Van's Homecoming Heritage
Jeremy
Benedict
Van’s Homecoming Fly-in is the centerpiece of the 
RV pilot’s year. Usually held on the Labor Day
weekend, pilots and builders of RVs were invited to
Sunset Airpark for three days of food, fellowship and
flying. In 1998, one hundred and thirty one RVs arrived
from all over the USA and Canada (for the first time in
three years an RV did NOT fly in from Australia!) Some
had flown from the East Coast, others from the Maritime
Provinces, some from airports four miles away.
Saturday night, Van’s backyard was filled with RV
builders who had flown or driven in with their families
for the catered  Backyard
Buffet. Hundreds of people ate, talked and walked up and
down the strip, examining airplanes. It was easy to see
who was building what! New builders clustered around the
tail, those partially through their wing kits were
looking at both the top and bottom of the wings and
builders deep into the Finishing Kit were pleading for
owners to take their cowls off and show how they’d
installed the engine. Photos were taken, sketches made,
techniques explained.
Sunday, the day was filled with
organized fly-outs to Mt. St. Helens, the Oregon Coast,
and various scenic spots, usually with restaurants. By
evening, everyone was back and getting cleaned up for
the more formal Banquet, held at a near-by club. Van and
several members of his staff spoke, talking about their
roles in the company and what the future might hold.
Many builders were recognized for outstanding
achievements or workmanship. (Several had flown their
second or third RV projects.) At least one wedding was
announced.
 Monday
was get-away day. Many pilots were planning trips of
1500 miles or more, but there was still time for saying
good-bye to old friends and exchanging addresses and
phone numbers with new ones. All morning long, RVs
departed into a bright blue Oregon sky and turned for
home, wings waggling.
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