Curious on the backstory behind the photos? This is the place. You'll find not only write ups on local outings, but also reviews of major events I’ve attended.
2025 Leeward Air Ranch Warbird Round-Up
The latest adventure takes us to Central Florida at the legendary Leeward Air Ranch!
A little over a month ago, I had the privilege of attending the second annual Warbird Round-Up at the Leeward Air Ranch in Central Florida. This invite-only event was particularly exciting for me, as Leeward Air Ranch is a private airport boasting a well-kept 6,247-foot grass runway. There’s just something special about watching warbirds take off and land on the very surfaces they were designed for back around the Second World War.
The excitement was amplified by the fact that, much like Texas, Florida is home to a wealth of warbirds. I was looking forward to seeing some rare aircraft in attendance, and I wasn’t disappointed. Among the rarities that graced the event were the tip-tanked Cavalier Mustang and the slow-flying Convair L-13. While the airplanes were certainly a highlight, what truly made the event memorable were the people. From the organizers to fellow attendees, it was wonderful to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, brought together by our shared passion for aviation.
As you’ll see in the accompanying photos, I was fortunate enough to partake in some air-to-air photoshoots involving some truly special aircraft. A huge thank you to those who put on this incredible event. Enjoy!
February 28 - March 2, 2025 - Leeward Air Ranch (Ocala, Florida)
The 2022 Reklaw Flying M Ranch Fly-In and Campout
Ever heard of Reklaw, Texas? Most haven't, and that's okay. The 379 residents probably prefer it that way, but it would be a crime to not shine a light on their incredible annual fly-in.
Have you ever been to Reklaw? If not, you're missing out on one of the most exciting events in general aviation. The Reklaw fly-in takes place every Fall at the Flying M Ranch Airport (7TA7) owned by Dave and Marcia Mason of Reklaw, Texas. Reklaw is about 140 miles to the SE of the Dallas/Fort Worth area and 147 miles NNE of Houston meaning it's in a favorable location for aviators far and wide. For a few days each Fall, the private grass strip welcomes aircraft owners, pilots and other aviation enthusiasts to the ranch.
For those who have been to Reklaw or who have seen media from the fly-in, you'll know that Reklaw features plenty of "runway clearing" low passes, good food, award ceremonies, and best of all, great people - many of which participate in Oshkosh-style camping next to their aircraft. The fly-in is also known to feature an impressive variety of aircraft in various sizes. In past years, aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12, Antonov AN-2, Twin Beech, and even a North American P-51D Mustang have either flown into or over the event.
The Flying M Ranch's grass strip measures 3,500 feet in length and features a heck of a gradient as you'll see in the photos and never mind the fact that it has some pretty sizeable pine trees on each approach end! As you can imagine, this makes for some pretty exciting operations both from a pilot and spectator perspective. In addition to the runway challenges, it's also an uncontrolled event meaning that's on the pilots to see and avoid even while the event is at its busiest, and boy does it get busy!
In summary, the Reklaw Fly-In is a must-attend event for aviation enthusiasts and the 2022 edition was no different. People driving up and down the flight line on riding lawn mowers, tying their shoes in the middle of the runway, and holding up signs to egg on the pilots - you'll see it all at Reklaw! I think it's fair to say it's a wonderful event and simultaneously not for the faint of heart.
Be sure to be patient and make it to the end of this large album. Turns out the heat gets turned up as the night goes on! The 2023 edition this coming October will be the 38th year of the Flying M Ranch Fly-In and Campout and we look to be in for another exciting event.
