‘Dodo Bird Flight School’ readies for takeoff after passing inspection
“Dodo Bird Flight School” — the 42nd Rose Parade float produced by La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. — was given the all clear Saturday, passing a crucial second inspection that brings it one step closer to being ready.
The construction lot behind the Foothill Municipal Water District building was abuzz as the float’s designers and construction team gathered for the moment of truth — a drive test along Hampton Road during which inspectors would be checking the engine, drivetrain and animation.
Saturday’s test included fire and safety drills designed to minimize mishaps along the 5.5-mile parade route on New Year’s Day. All birds bopped and flapped to Lenny Kravitz’s 1998 rock hit “Fly Away.”
Following the behemoth main entry, a small satellite float features an ostrich pedaling a gyroscopic contraption. The tiny car is powered by a driver and a passenger controlling the bird’s movements with a pistol-grip control.
“It’s a challenge having a satellite, because it’s building a second float, said Vice President of Float Development Tim Rahtz. “This [float] has a lot of characters and there are a lot of things to screen — we’re always looking for more volunteers.”
Mayor Pro Tem Greg Brown, who serves on the local float association’s board of directors, helped the construction team this year by trying his hand at screening, spreading and affixing the material over the giant 14-foot-tall welded zeppelin upon which the flightless flock perches.
“You don’t appreciate the thousands of hours that are behind the scenes until you see it,” said Brown, listing all who lend their technical, building and engineering expertise to the effort. “This is one complex piece of machinery.”
After a dry run, which included a couple of tests of the main vehicle’s fire exiting procedures, the float went back to the construction lot so volunteers could get back to work on the remaining details before the decorating committee takes over after Christmas Day.
Although “Dodo Bird Flight School” cleared Saturday’s inspection with “flying” colors, Rahtz said there’s still one vitally important test for it to pass.
“My test is really simple — do the kids like it?” he posed. “If the kids like it, I’m happy.”
For one La Cañada kid at heart, Mayor Len Pieroni, this year’s float gets a solid endorsement.
“It’s a really great portrayal of La Cañada Flintridge. It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of volunteer hours and a lot of talent,” he said of annual effort. “Is this float awesome or what? It’s so cool!”
