A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP FOR THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL EVENT.
Founded by Vice-Mayor Jason Jones, the 13th annual Planes, Trains, and Automobiles was conducted at the Plant City Airport on February 1. The event began with an invocation and the crowd, hats over hearts, recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Despite cloudy skies and some early rain, the event turned into a success, recording between 6,000 and 7,000 people, including children—its highest number to date. Attendees had the chance to take a flight in a biplane, look into specialty autos, climb on military vehicles, and tour Elvis’s private jet—bought by Plant City’s James Webb, owner of Jimmy’s World, who turned it into a recreational vehicle.
“We heard about it yesterday on the news,” Alice Rodriguez said. Her family made the drive from Haines City. “We thought it would be a good outing to get my mom out, and my dad out—they are retired pilots. We figured the cars and stuff would make a great day. It is a great deal for the kids. It is a fun day out and I think it is a good thing. I am glad it is here. I want to come back next year.”
The event also offered remote controlled aircraft demonstrations, trains, bounce houses, a gyroscope ride, food vendors, and face painting.
“I brought my grandson because he is into flying, and into cars,” Lakelander Jeff Keith said. “And he is having a great time. It is our first time here, and I think it is awesome. We are actually going to get him in summer camp this year with the folks over here. We got paperwork and we are going to sign him up. We are excited.”
In a new annual feature of the event, the Tampa Bay Aviation Association gave a $6,500 scholarship for a young aviator who wants to pursue a career in aviation. Juliana Goolsby (pictured above standing by the white plane) won. “I was born and raised in Plant City, and I would drive by the airport all the time, seeing the planes take off and landing—and one day I decided I was going fly one,” she said.
When Goolsby heard about the scholarship, she applied. “I submitted an essay about why I love flying,” she said. “I love flying because as soon as those wheels lift off you feel like you are the only person in the air. I want to become a corporate pilot. The scholarship means a lot to me, to be able to finish my private license, and get into my instruments, and start getting all of my ratings so I can become a corporate pilot one day.” The scholarship will be applied to paying for licenses and flight time. “I just want to thank the scholarship committee for choosing me, and all the vendors here at Planes, Trains, and Automobiles for donating the proceeds for the scholarship.”
“She is super-excited every time she comes in to fly,” her trainer Devin Bedotto said. “Watching her progress and seeing her confidence go up as she does….every time she takes a new step is really fun.” Bedotto works for Atlas Aviation at the Plant City Airport. All of the training Goolsby needs to become a corporate pilot can be obtained through Atlas.
“I am so thrilled to be here representing Hillsborough County and District 4 for the Board of County Commissioners,” Christine Miller said. “I have been in love with this event since Jason had the vision for it 14 years ago. It has really been life changing for our youth to get interested in careers in aviation and automobiles, and all things locomotive. It has been a great event.”
