Some time ago, I traded this guy, George from Spokane, Washington, a Whittaker tandem gear for a new Bushwheels tail wheel assembly. We never met. Recently George contacted me, saying that he traded his Enstrom Helicopter for a Cessna 195 with this guy, Dale, in Cleveland and that we should meet for lunch somewhere. Since I had a pipeline to fly, I suggested Mansfield since they have a nice restaurant on the field. Today was the day, we set a time. I got there first, and the place was closed due to a dragged out Easter vacation. The winds were 22 mph from 110 degrees and using runway 5.

George said that he was checked out in the 195 with only one landing.Not knowing his skills, I didn't want him to take a chance landing with no place to eat. He didn't answer his cell, so I called the tower to see if they would tell him not to land. They said no one else was in the air. Just then George called on his cell and said that he hadn't left the private strip. He agreed to wait while I flew 20 minutes there.

So there are these folks waiting for me to land, George, the C195 guy and his wife. Turns out that I had met both of them (C195 couple)10-12 years ago. He flies for Continental and has a nice J-3. The 4 of us decide to drive to lunch. As we get in the car, another couple pull in the drive, Bill and Yvette. Turns out they were new to the grass strip, and just brought in, a new to them super cub last night, and no one there knew them. ................But I did. I met them at the New Holstein super cub deal at (OSH) last August. I camped with them at East Tennessee last fall, and they came to my fly-in.

Turns out Bill is a Continental Mechanic where Dale flys. Things are starting to connect. At lunch, I find out that even though George is from Spokane, he has spent the last 25 years in Alaska. He is taking the 195 up there in two weeks and he is going to put in a sewer system in at Nulato. He used to own an airservice in Yakutat ( sp??), Gulf Coast Air Service. I told him to keep a look out for an orange PA14 ending in 60H. George has plenty of cool stories about retrieving and repairing accidents in the bush.

So, the only people here with no connection are the two wives. That was until they found out that they had both lived in Colorado, the same SE town. Turns out one of them bought their land from the other's aunt or something! Full circle. Everyone is connected to everyone, I think. JG

A good day in Ohio. I saw my first sunbather. That makes the low level waviers worth their weight in gold. In the old days a few of us had weekend flight plans in our gps's that took us over the extra friendly girl's back yards. A lot of them would wave back with their tops!!

patrol guy wrote:A good day in Ohio. I saw my first sunbather. That makes the low level waviers worth their weight in gold. In the old days a few of us had weekend flight plans in our gps's that took us over the extra friendly girl's back yards. A lot of them would wave back with their tops!!

Mind being neighborly and sharing those coordinates patrol guy?

patrol guy wrote:Some time ago, I traded this guy, George from Spokane, Washington, a Whittaker tandem gear for a new Bushwheels tail wheel assembly. We never met. Recently George contacted me, saying that he traded his Enstrom Helicopter for a Cessna 195 with this guy, Dale, in Cleveland and that we should meet for lunch somewhere. Since I had a pipeline to fly, I suggested Mansfield since they have a nice restaurant on the field. Today was the day, we set a time. I got there first, and the place was closed due to a dragged out Easter vacation. The winds were 22 mph from 110 degrees and using runway 5.

George said that he was checked out in the 195 with only one landing.Not knowing his skills, I didn't want him to take a chance landing with no place to eat. He didn't answer his cell, so I called the tower to see if they would tell him not to land. They said no one else was in the air. Just then George called on his cell and said that he hadn't left the private strip. He agreed to wait while I flew 20 minutes there.

So there are these folks waiting for me to land, George, the C195 guy and his wife. Turns out that I had met both of them (C195 couple)10-12 years ago. He flies for Continental and has a nice J-3. The 4 of us decide to drive to lunch. As we get in the car, another couple pull in the drive, Bill and Yvette. Turns out they were new to the grass strip, and just brought in, a new to them super cub last night, and no one there knew them. ................But I did. I met them at the New Holstein super cub deal at (OSH) last August. I camped with them at East Tennessee last fall, and they came to my fly-in.

Turns out Bill is a Continental Mechanic where Dale flys. Things are starting to connect. At lunch, I find out that even though George is from Spokane, he has spent the last 25 years in Alaska. He is taking the 195 up there in two weeks and he is going to put in a sewer system in at Nulato. He used to own an airservice in Yakutat ( sp??), Gulf Coast Air Service. I told him to keep a look out for an orange PA14 ending in 60H. George has plenty of cool stories about retrieving and repairing accidents in the bush.

So, the only people here with no connection are the two wives. That was until they found out that they had both lived in Colorado, the same SE town. Turns out one of them bought their land from the other's aunt or something! Full circle. Everyone is connected to everyone, I think. JG

It's a small world, and they say the aviation world is even smaller.

Skystrider wrote:

patrol guy wrote:A good day in Ohio. I saw my first sunbather. That makes the low level waviers worth their weight in gold. In the old days a few of us had weekend flight plans in our gps's that took us over the extra friendly girl's back yards. A lot of them would wave back with their tops!!

Mind being neighborly and sharing those coordinates patrol guy?

Maybe Chris will add another section to Shortfield.com.

Where is Greg S. with the video camera when the locals are being friendly? By the way I met a doctor pilot once that said most Cub accidents happen close to pools.

Actually the last three days....

...and yes aviation is a small circle. As mentioned before I volunteer for a humanitarian organization. In addition to the Medical Air Transport we also ferry airplanes around the country that have been donated to us or purchased from us. We use the proceeds to support our charity. Anyway this last Wed. I left St. Louis in a C-150 that we had sold to a man in Scranton Penn. It was an 850 mile flight with 10 kt. headwind all the way. Basic VFR minimums enroute. I never got above 1,000 ft. all the way. Sort of reminded me of my old Pipeline patrol days. Anyhow the first stop was near Indianapolis IN. The Greenwood airport manager struck up a conversation. Found out he had gone to college in STL and his parents were from the same small rural community where I grew up in Indiana. We knew several of the same people.

On up I-70 I went until weather stopped me in Cambridge OH. were I spent the night at the local Days Inn. As I relaxed over dinner my thoughts drifted back to learning to fly in a C-150....43 years ago. Having not flown one in over 20 years.....I had forgotten what a sweet, easy to fly, totally predictable airplane the 150 is. Cessna got it right. Easy, easy airplane to learn in.

Next morning it was CAVU all the way to the east coast. I departed Cambridge around 8:30 and flew 2 1/2 hours to Lock Haven PA, where I stopped for fuel. What beautiful country that is. Of course the old Piper factory is there....where once 75,000 Pipers rolled off the assembly lines. Now is is mostly a muesum, with a few small vendors located within the building. Seem kind of sad to see such a huge facitliy sitting quietly by the river. Once again the FBO operator struck up a conversation. Guess what? He went to college at Parks College in STL and learned to fly there. He was totally familiar with the STL area. Again...small world.

Then on to a small airport 20 miles N/W of Scranton Pa. Factoryville, PA...Seaman's Airport. A small rural airport...busy with students flying. The new owner was waiting for his airplane, which had been purchased sight unseen. I gave him a quick check out around the traffic pattern. Then we went into the little office building where a bunch of airport bums were hanging out. A man in his early 70's struck up a conversation with me. Soon he informed me that he lived in STL and was a retired TWA pilot who had been based in STL. Turns out I knew him by reputation from my tenure at TWA. We knew scores of the same pilots. Again...small world.

I rented a car in Scranton and drove to Fredricksburg VA to pick up an Aztec which was donated to our charity. I was looking forward to flying the Aztec as I had not flown one for 33 years! It was a nice looking old bird which had not been flown for 6 years! However it had been hangered and maintained by the same mechanic since 1978. The mechanic went over the airplane with me and filled me in on everything that I needed to know. Soon with a "day VFR" ferry permit in my pocket I cranked up the old girl and headed to STL. She performed flawlessly. The weather was clear and unlimited vis. No wind. I cruised smoothly at 8,500 ft. making 190 mph ground speed all the way. The 830 mile trip was completed in 4:15 nonstop. What a delight to fly. Simple, solid, honest airplane....its 250 HP IO-540 engines rumbled sweetly all across the country.

Arrived at our organization's hanger to be greeted by eager pilots and mechanics waiting to see our latest donation. The trip was a lot of fun. Nice to be flying low and slow again. Wonderful to get reaquainted with old airplanes from my past and meet fellow airmen along the way.

Oh yeah....an additional note. When flying...LOOK OUT THE WINDOW !! I was cruising in the Aztec at 8,500 ft. just east of Cincinati. OH. Autopilot on....not paying much attention to anything. Suddenly out the right front window a gray and white C-210 appeared less than 100 feet away and 100 ft. above me. I grabbed the yoke but saw that he would drift over me as his heading was about 240 degrees and mine was 270. I watched him disappear over my cockpit and reappear over my left shoulder. I doubt that he ever saw me....or if so he just stayed put as I did. It was a converging course creating a blind spot....the kind where objects don't appear to move. But I WASN'T LOOKING! AND HE PROBABLY WASN'T EITHER.

After the 210 passed over head I looked down at my altimeter. The auto pilot had drifted down to 8,400 ft. Obviously we were both intending to maintain 8,500..... proper altitude for our direction of VFR flight. Had I been exactly at 8,500 ft. and we not seen one another....you would be reading about a midair collision over north-eastern Kentucky....and my wife would be a widow!!



Bob


p.s. By the way....if anyone wants a solid Aztec it will soon be for sale. It can be had very cheaply "as is.' Needs lost of TLC but seems to be a solid old bird. You can contact me via email if anyone is interested. I'll put you in touch with our organization.

z3skybolt
Man, spent the night in a motel in Cambridge! 25 miles NW west was Graham Field and a free place to stay. Next time??

Flew into a small private strip to get some practice in the new plane. Flew like a dream!!!

Didn't fly anywhere today. Went to Merrill Field and got the bird ready to awaken from its sleep this winter. Pulled the wing covers, tail cover, and engine blanket. Cleaned the plane up generally and checked it over closely, pulled the batteryminder, stashed the survival gear back on board and cleaned the volcanic ash off of it with lots of water.....used over 3 gals on the windshield alone, but it's clean now. After that, I just generally putzed around with the bird. Tomorrow, I'll see if it remembers how to fly when I go up to make sure noone stole the Matanuska Valley and Birchwood Airport over the winter........

Left MMV at 7 AM to pick up a Friends newly purchased C170 from CLM.



Olympic Mountains on the way home.



Pretty round tail in flight.



Stopped at 0S9 for breakfast, aviation is busy up here, with lots of tail dragger's out playing.

Were you in a Stinson, came into 0S9 right before the 170? I was just taxiing out from my hangar to leave when you guys came in. Both airplanes were looking good. How's the new owner of the 170 like it?


Eric

Looks like a nice airplane, and the price sure was right! Your friend beat me to it...

--Tony

patrol guy wrote:z3skybolt
Man, spent the night in a motel in Cambridge! 25 miles NW west was Graham Field and a free place to stay. Next time??

Patrol Guy,

Wish that I had known. However the ceiling and vis. was coming down to the point that I had to give it up where I was. I'll try to remember next time.

Bob

went for my morning flight to check on the elk. They are moving further up into the hills now that the grass is greening up. When i was loading my Kitfox up back at the airport a P3 Orion Submarine Hunter made a low pass. I feel lucky to have gotten this picture because I have never even seen one of these that wasn't converted to a retardant bomber already.

hotrod150 wrote:Were you in a Stinson, came into 0S9 right before the 170? I was just taxiing out from my hangar to leave when you guys came in. Both airplanes were looking good. How's the new owner of the 170 like it?


Eric

That must have been us. The new 170 owner landed a little long ahead of me and I ended up ahead of him in taxi to the restaurant.
I wish we could have met , you are very fortunate to live in such a strong aviation community. I could not believe the activity there. We seen 3 different radial engine aircraft on the move. I would guess that there were more taildraggers moving around than nose gear planes.
This is my 2nd time flying to your area, the first a little further north around the islands, what an amazing area to fly, it reminds me of SE Alaska.
He is very excited about his new plane, still being a student he can rap up his private with his own plane that he paid no more for than a typical C150.
If I remember right you fly a 150/150hp taildragger, I wish I could have seen it.

Dirt biking, quad riding in the Bosie, Id are. Having a great time. Had the best day of rat shooting ever. Met a friend with a Super Cub on 35" sweet. He also has a Cessna 180. Big hangar with the beginnings of a apartment in it.

Cheers...Rob

It was a nice day to fly. Went over and practiced some landings at a private strip about 18nm SW of us. (6980ft elev, 2600ft long)

TTD-TMK-PFC-TTD 1.6 HR. TMK Tillamook is the site of a WWII blimp base. The have a restaurant and museum. Most of the planes fly and are owned by the Jack Erickson, of Erickson Air-Crane fame. http://www.tillamookair.com/


You can see hangar#2 that burned down in the back ground.

PFC pacific City is one of my faviort stops. 30X1800, get off the pavement and things will get interesting real fast.
PFC Cam. http://www.innatcapekiwanda.com/pages/live-cam.html

Flown a couple times in the last few days. Went up Saturday in the Champ just flying around locally and saw more deer than I care to count, a couple of turkeys. It was a Goobler trying to "get a little" from a hen. Also saw a nice sized black bear walking out to a river. Circled it a few times and it just stood there looking at me.

Today I flew from Park Rapids up to Cook to pick up a fellow site member. Gave him a ride back to Park Rapids so he could pick up his Plane with floats. Had a nice flight and enjoyed the company.

WW