Image ID: AHLC3945
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com
Please mark your calendars, Clear Lake Splash In dates for 2021 have been set. The 41st annual Clear Lake Splash In is scheduled to take place from Thursday, September 16, through Sunday, September 19, 2021 in Lakeport, California (provided that there are no unexpected pandemic related developments).
The 41st annual Clear Lake Splash in was originally scheduled to take place in September of 2020. The cancellation of the event in 2020 because of pandemic considerations marked the first time in the event’s history that the annual event was cancelled since its inception.
The Clear Lake Splash In carries on the long tradition of seaplane operations at Clear Lake.
The Pan American Airlines Clipper flying boats which operated a Trans Pacific service in the 1920s and 1930s used Clear Lake as a back up landing location when the San Francisco Bay Area was too foggy for operations into the the Pan American seaplane harbor at Treasure Island. The Pan Am Clear Lake ramp was in Lakeport not far from the location of the Splash In.
Over the years, the Clear Lake Splash In has evolved into the largest seaplane fly-in event in the western United States.
The event has hosted a wide variety of seaplanes over the years including some of the largest seaplanes in the world, such as the Grumman Albatross (one year two Albatrosses participated), impeccably restored seaplanes of unique historical significance, rare seaplanes, and some of the latest innovations in the field of seaplane flying.
The event has also featured seminars about aviation and seaplane flying which impart unique information, sometimes difficult to obtain elsewhere.
The 2019 event featured three presentations by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) ambassador Kay Sundaram.
The seminar entitled Career Opportunities In Aviation outlined the bright opportunities for young people in aviation. The seminar supported efforts by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and others in northern California to build interest in the adoption of the AOPA High School aviation curriculum by Lake County High schools. AOPA makes this comprehensive curriculum available at no cost to high schools who apply and are accepted to participate in the program.
Kay also presented two other seminars, one entitled Maximum Fun, Minimum Cost: How to Start and Run a Flying Club and You Can Be a Pilot a fast paced, inspiring video presentation for prospective flyers.
As has been the tradition each year, Splash In volunteers provided a free shuttle service between Lampson Field (102), the closest general aviation airport to the event (only 4 miles away), and the former Natural High School grounds where the event takes place for those who choose to fly land planes to the event.
This year’s Splash In takes place at the former Natural High School property in Lakeport, which has been the traditional venue for the event each year. This will be the last event on the property before the City begins the construction of the Lakefront Park project, which is currently scheduled for October of 2021.
The State of California awarded the City of Lakeport a grant of $5,947,621 to fund the City’s purchase of the 6.9 acre property located at 800 N. Main Street from the Lakeport Unified School District for the Lakefront Park project. Funds also cover the construction of a new amphitheater, an exercise circuit, a skate park, a splash pad, a basketball court, and five picnic areas with shade structures and restrooms. The plan also envisions preserving the area that has traditionally been used as the ramp area for seaplanes at the Splash In for continued use for seaplanes.
Volunteers from the community have been essential to producing this event. In addition, members of community organizations have volunteered to help produce the event. The Lake County chapter of the Sea Scouts, for example, provided ramp safety services. Volunteers from the Lake County Amateur Radio Society provided communication services and shuttle services from Lampson Field.
If you’re interested in this event and would like to participate as a pilot, volunteer or sponsor for the 2021 Clear Lake Splash In, please get in touch. You can use the contact link on the top right of this page or the contacts available at the web pages referenced in the links below.
Areas where volunteers would be invaluable for this year’s event include help with event planning and fund raising, social media, seminar planning and event marketing.
If you’re a seaplane pilot and have ideas for this year’s event, please pass those along.
To view photographs of the 2019 and previous Splash In events, please visit Clear Lake Splash In photographs.
To follow the Clear Lake Splash In on Facebook, please visit Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In on Facebook.
For details about Lampson Field (1O2), the closest general aviation airport to the event, please visit Lampson Field Airport.
To plan your trip to Lake County, please visit Lake County | Clearly Different! and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
