Cranky Dorkfest is Saturday and the 2027 Date is Set


In three days, hordes of avgeeks will descend on LAX for Cranky Dorkfest, and I’m excited to see you all there. We’ve had a ridiculous number of people say they’re coming this year… more than 1,400 at last check, and that’s with several cancels. Even with a 50 percent no-show rate, we’ll be on track for a record year, which is only slightly terrifying to imagine.

If you’ve submitted an RSVP but you can no longer come, please email cf@crankyflier.com to let us know.

The morning ramp visit at LAX filled up within 24 hours of opening RSVPs, and the waitlist is long. I wish we could do more, but LAX had us send the final list last night. Please DO NOT just show up since same day waitlist clearing isn’t happening.

The Cranky Dorkfest Main Event will be held, as always, from 11am to 1pm at the park across the street to the south of the In-N-Out Burger at 9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

  • The giveaway drawing is planned for 12pm, but you must have pre-registered to be entered to win prizes that airlines and other companies have generously donated
  • If you have signed up already as part of your ramp visit registration, you are entered in the raffle
  • If you have not signed up, you are still welcome at Cranky Dorkfest, and the RSVPs for the giveaway have closed
  • We will pick names in advance and announce the winners at the event
  • You must be present to win

With so many people potentially coming, parking may be an issue. I’m very pleased to say that The Parking Spot Sepulveda has stepped up to help us all out with a flat $12 special rate (plus tax) which is a huge discount off the regular price. The garage is right across from the park. How close is it? Look:

If you want to park there, you have to reserve in advance using the promo code CrankyDorkFest26 at theparkingspot.com. More detailed information is available on the recently-updated page at crankyflier.com/dorkfest.

With this year’s event ramping up, NYCAviation and Cranky have finally achieved a goal we set long ago. See, NYCAviation holds the annual SpotLAX event the same weekend as Dorkfest as we’ve jointly designed. We wanted to have next year’s date set before everyone shows up this year. With the second Saturday falling on September 11 next year, we will again wait a week to hold the event, but the date is now firm.

Cranky Dorkfest 2027 is September 18, 2027

So, mark your calendars now, or mark them when you come out this weekend. Either way, just know that the new date has been set.

If you have any questions, leave a comment here or email cf@crankyflier.com. See you in a few short days!

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Brett Avatar

12 responses to “Cranky Dorkfest is Saturday and the 2027 Date is Set”

  1. NYCAviation Avatar

    We’re thrilled to once again be teaming up with Cranky to hold 2 great aviation events the same weekend. We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend and again next year.

  2. Bill from DCA Avatar
    Bill from DCA

    You lucky bastards! I renew my request for Dorkfest East, you can all stay with me!

    1. Kilroy Avatar
      Kilroy

      I know it probably won’t happen, but DorkFest East at Dulles with a special tour of the Smithsonian Annex there and/or some of United’s facilities would be fun… Maybe they’d even be able to convince the airport to raffle off a chance to drive one of the famous people movers a few hundred yards under strict supervision. :-)

    2. CraigTPA Avatar
      CraigTPA

      I’d like to nominate Tampa for Dorkfest Southeast – the airport does various things across the year and this could fit in, plus everyone would be able to see Phoebe! Phoebe Dorkfest plushies for everyone!

      Unfortunately, having a tiny apartment I can’t host…

      (And yeah, ATL would be a bigger deal, but how many DL planes can you look at before it gets boring?)

      I just put 2027 on my calendar, 2026 didn’t happen because of work issues…

  3. Brett Avatar

    As much fun as it would be to do this elsewhere, it has become an ENORMOUS amount of work to put this on, and there is no revenue component. I do it for the love of the game, and that’s fine for one event a year. But doing it elsewhere where I’m not local? Man, that’s hard to justify.

    I suppose I could add a revenue component, but that kind of takes away from the spirit of the event.

    1. Bill from DCA Avatar
      Bill from DCA

      Or it could be a stripped down, no frills version with volunteers. You call United, I’ll take care of the Smithsonian and, boom, Dorkfest East!

      Where else could you see a Concorde, Boeing Stratoliner, 707 and a Lockheed Constellation under the same roof as a space shuttle, F4, F15, FA18, B29, X35B and, the coolest plane that was ever or will ever be made, the SR71?

      1. Brett Avatar

        Bill – If only it were that simple. It never is. But feel free to license the name from me! ;)

        1. Bill from DCA Avatar
          Bill from DCA

          tell you what, I’ll wing in for CD 2027 at LAX next year and talk you into it ;)

    2. Ian Avatar

      I think the formula for having regional DorkFests at other locations would require a local organizing crew to do all the same work Brett does at LAX, and Brett’s approval of the plans and planners to use the name DorkFest.

  4. DesertGhost Avatar
    DesertGhost

    I hope every “Dork” in attendance has a fabulous time.

  5. Matt D Avatar
    Matt D

    I admire and respect the time and effort that goes into organizing something like this (I would never even attempt it), I’m almost always socially averse and not a fan of crowds and so will not be attending this year. Or the next. Or probably ever.

    I may or may not be found one or two days later this fall at one of the famed picture spots toting my Canon. But it requires schedule and weather to line up, which is always a roll of the dice.

    That’s the closest I’ll ever get.

    To those who are going to endure it, have a great time.

  6. Lynette Avatar
    Lynette

    2026 Will be my first DorkFest at LAX. BEYOND EXCITED!!! Don’t know what to expect, but will expect it all!

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