Bonnie Carroll
Classic Auto Lovers and Aviation Leaders welcomed Visitors at Atlantic Aviation
The Montecito Motor Classic 2025 IMAGINE attracted auto and aircraft afficionado’s and experts from around the area to experience IMAGINE, the Airport Day dedicated to exploring the exciting world of STEM Education, embrace curiosity and ask questions of industry leaders at Atlantic Aviation Hangar One.
Dana Newquist, wife Andrea Eltinge Newquist, and a small army of volunteers and auto enthusiasts, as well as Santa Barbara Airport staff representatives, volunteers and sponsors presented an educational, exciting, and illuminating day of innovative technologies among a backdrop of beautiful classic autos and aircraft. Raquel Quittner and Nancy Newquist-Nolan, YourSBTeam.com were busy selling fun items at The Montecito Motor Classic booth.
Attendees learned about scholarship programs and spoke with pilots, air traffic control experts, in-flight staff, engineers, mechanics and enjoyed delicious food, great music, and opportunities to support and learn more about the event sponsors. It was a who’s who of locals including Mayor Randy Rowse, wife Janet Rowse, a volunteer at Launch for Children. Sheriff Bill Brown, former interim Police Chief Barney Melekian, John Blankenship of Pierre Claesens Veterans Foundation who was manning a Veterans art & artifact collection, countless members of the Antique Automobile Club of America Santa Barbara displaying their autos, Wellness Connection Club members, (SBA) Santa Barbara Airport staff and pilots, and more.
Special guest pilot and author of book “Bird” spoke on her three extraordinary one-woman flights. Her interesting and inspiring talk on her life as one of Britain’s foremost female adventurers and the challenges of her amazing flight experiences from Cape Town, Goodwood, Farnborough to Australia and across the USA, was thoroughly enjoyed by event attendees.
American Airlines Captain Tom Jordan LAX 777 International was busy sharing information with guests on Santa Barbara’s #1 flight school and training program, private plane scenic tours and chart flight operations and inviting them to sign up for an opportunity to experience a free flight with Above All Aviation Santa Barbara, who offer scenic FAA approved flights in Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez.
It was such a wonderful day at the Santa Barbara Airport Atlantic Aviation Hangar One, and watching aircraft take off was thrilling. Special thanks to Dolores Johnson, Montecito Motor Classic talented event coordinator, who is also the creator of IMAGINE, the staff, and outstanding volunteers from all the group participants for bringing this fun and amazing information to area families and youth who hope to make their flight dreams come true.
Pretty tenuous connection to actual STEM. Looks more like ego massage.
What a beautiful plane! That alone would’ve been worth the drive over.
And ANON – mechanics, pilots, Engineers, flight technology, etc…. Uh… that’s ALL STEM.
Looking at pretty objects teaches you nothing about the principles behind them.
Uh…. true, but speaking with/learning from “pilots, air traffic control experts, in-flight staff, engineers, mechanics” DOES. You even bother to read the article? Doesn’t sound like it.
Yeah, riiight.
No pictures or mention of Straw Boss 2? That was the main attraction of the entire event.