The Best Coast Flyers' roots go back to the earliest days of the Caravan. Several California-based Mooniacs started flying with B2Osh formators, then exercised those skills flying cross-country on their way to join other Caravaners for the mass arrival into Oshkosh. Their enthusiasm encouraged Caravan leadership to approve a test formation group for the 2010 Caravan that proved the concept. While "Sploshkosh" intervened the next year (
Caravan XIII), since 2012 the Caravan has maintained its current, all-formation format.
Repaying the B2Osh generosity that helped develop the expertise to convert to an all-formation format, Best Coast pilots continue to pay it forward: Our pilots have traveled to help develop expertise in other regions, including Texas, Washington, and Florida, participate in other formation organizations, and welcome and fly with Beech, Cherokee, Comanche, Grumman, experimental and warbird aircraft. Many of our pilots take advantage of opportunities to do missing man, airshow, and other proficiency flying.
Best Coast clinics are often scheduled around basic and advanced BeechBoys clinics in Northern California in the spring, at which our pilots also participate and are welcome. We will usually have a "catch-all" clinic in Southern California in June or July to enable those who missed earlier clinics, or who just want to stay current. While some of our pilots have yet to make their first Oshkosh flight, and many make it only infrequently, a strong passion for formation flying is shared.
The Squadron Commander is Larry "Joker" Brennan. If you have ever wanted to try formation flying, come on out…but be warned, it is highly addictive and a LOT of fun!