Toby Pennels of Windham was not around to help plan the air show at the 2007 Maine WinterFest and Derby because of military obligations, but he said this year’s planning is flying smoothly.

Ironically, the same military connections Pennels uses to get aircraft from the armed services exhibited at Maine Winterfest and Chevrolet Derby kept him from getting involved last year. Pennels, 48, is a reserve colonel in the U.S. Army 358th Civil Affairs Brigade and spent more than a year in Iraq. He came back in November to his wife and three children.

Pennels was in charge of 1,000 people and acted as a liaison between the elected government and the traditional tribal leaders, who still hold a lot of influence. Back home, he is a self-employed stockbroker and a member of the Windham School Committee.

Pennels said he has helped organize the air show the previous four or five years and didn’t have any trouble getting back into it when he returned three months ago.

Traditionally, helicopters will land at Point Sebago for viewing and jet planes will fly overhead. If the ice is thick enough civilian aircraft can land on Sebago Lake and some of the civilian helicopters can give attendees a birds-eye view of the event for a fee.

“We have a pretty good shot at getting a J-hawk (helicopter) from the Coast Guard again,” said Pennels. He said its a lot more complicated than finding an opening in the military schedule. All military aircraft need approval from Washington because participation in an event can be seen as an endorsement.

Pennels said he’d also like to get a Black Hawk helicopter from the Army, but chances are slim because of the approval process.

Pennels said he owes a lot to longtime friend Gene Hawkes who is organizing local civilian aircraft. He said to expect CR Helicopter of Nashua, N.H. again this year and the Re/Max real estate balloon.

“He’s the worker bee on this right now,” said Pennels.

Pennels said organizing an air show is expensive and it will be at the mercy of the weather.

“It doesn’t take much bad weather to screw it up,” he said. Pennels also said weather cancels appearances, not bills, so they will still have to pay even if the sky is dark and cloudy.

He said most of the air show will be on Saturday, Feb. 23 and Sunday, Feb. 24 is slated as an alternate date.

I’m hoping Mother Nature is going to cooperate,” said Hawkes, who has been a pilot for 10 years. He said if the weather doesn’t thicken the ice enough, the landing strip for civilian aircraft may be moved to another lake, or canceled altogether.

“Even though this is a lot of fun,” said Hawkes. “Safety comes first. We’re very strict on that.”