Old Guys & Their Airplanes: Debriefs - Winning A COVID Dogfight

Rick Lingberg directs John Mollison at OGTA: Debrief live streamed from Sioux Falls Country Club.

In March of 2020, Old Guys and Their Airplanes had several history film projects ready for take-off in hopes that once they were posted on line they may go "viral". We got viral, but not the way we had hoped. Instead, the Coronavirus had made its way from China and was rapidly infecting all activities in the United States. All projects were grounded.

Old Guys and Their Airplanes is the brainchild of John Mollison, aviation artist, writer and producer. I quite literally mean "child", as John began drawing fighters and bombers at a very young age. Later he would meet and interview the men who flew these planes. It was then he realized it was no longer simply about drawing flying machines, but learning lessons in character, morals, history and patriotism that these "Old Men" had in common and were willing to share with young John that would prove to be most valuable. Years later I would meet John and suggest the idea of making films of his old guys and his airplane drawings.

The films began with a couple of South Dakota "Old Guys" but would rapidly expand to pilots and stories from across the country and around the world. More films would follow. Film festivals began to recognize these historical productions. John's artwork would find its way into private and public galleries. Educators kits were produced and made available to history teachers in classrooms across the country. OGTA films were picked up by Public Television networks and online plays were exceeding millions. Then COVID hit. We knew we were in for a dogfight.

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