Rob Harrison stands by the new yellow plane which he plans on flying at the Cable Airshow. The white and red one will be a back-up plane.
(Photo courtesy of Eric Van Gilder)
Pilot and Claremont and Lake Arrowhead resident Rob "The Tumbling Bear" Harrison plans to retire in 2013 but not before he performs at this weekend's 38th annual Cable Airshow for one last time.
"Well, that's the plan," Harrison said in a recent interview. "The caveat there is I've said that before.
This time I'm serious. I've been doing it over 20 years. I'm not getting any younger. As you can imagine, this takes a lot of energy."
Harrison will perform at the airshow and car show in Upland on Saturday and Sunday at Cable Airport.
A pancake breakfast starts off at 8 a.m. both days while airplane rides begin at 9 a.m. An air demonstration kicks off the event off at 10 a.m. before skydivers, Frank Donnelly (Dr. D) Old Time Aerobatics and more.
Afternoon performances, featuring many of the same acts, start at 2 p.m.
The complete schedule can be found by clicking here.
Another performer to watch both days includes Sammy Mason, who is about 18.
Harrison said Mason was "among the best" and the show itself is "one of the best airshows anywhere" with acts like Jacquie Warda, Donnelly and more.
For his last cable airport show, he will display "a couple" of new maneuvers that are "hard to describe."
Harrison recently put his Claremont home up for sale but will live in it for the Upland show. In 2008, he crashed and broke both of his ankles but has continued flying.
The injuries and his age has not contributed to his decision to retire.
"I'm fine, the airplanes are fine, I have every bit of passion I used to have. I want to travel, see my friends in Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic. I'm getting busy in my engineering consultancy."
That's not the only reason for Harrison to leave.
"It's getting harder and harder to make any money much less break even at air shows," he said. "The price of gas, the price of parts and maintenance and promoters don't have any money. As long as we have a depressed economy, it's hard to justify flying without making any profit."
As part of his retirement, Harrison will sell his two airplanes Zlin 50 airplanes (the 1992 one is about $160,000 and the 1978 one is about $70,000).
Harrison said giving up his flying career and "The Tumbling Bear" image is hard.
"I've been a success as a lawyer, as an engineer, and I've been successful as an athlete at the university level," Harrison said.
"But the only thing I've ever done in my life where I'm one of the best in the world is flying airplanes. And that's kind of my identity" `The Tumbling Bear.'
I'm kind of sad. I'm giving up the one thing in my life where I really excel. It's hard to sit on the porch when you run with the big dogs. But sometimes the dog gets old, hips get stiff and all the dog wants to do is sit by the porch. You can't run with the big dogs forever."
Susan Newman-Harrison, 48, has been married to Rob for six years after they met at an airshow.
Newman-Harrison said Harrison proposed to her at an airshow and had an airshow wedding.
She added she earned her pilots license in 1990 and still flies.
After the Cable airshow, Harrison said he would perform at the Chino airshow on May 4 and 5.
"I have a great affection for the airshow community," Harrison said. "All my dearest friends are airshow people. It tears my heart out to be leaving them."
If You Go
38th annual Cable Airshow
Where: Cable Airport, 1749 W. 13th St., Upland
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Cost: $7 for adults; $5 for youths age 5 to 12; kids under age 5 receive free admission
Information: www.cableairport.com
Story and Photo: http://www.dailybulletin.com
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KCCB
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