DaveSR71

NEWS from the FRONT YARD

The grass at the field is growing nicely.

Finally after 3+ gallons of Super Fuel I have 3 engine ,airplanes and a pilot that can do the novice pattern sort of mostly.

Dad turned 75 years young last week.
Came out for a visit Saturday while I was flying.
He watched a few flights and then said he felt up to trying a flight on the Shoestring.
Has not flown since 1977 but felt he could take it off Ok.

Take off was good and level flight was commenced, WOW this is cool... second time I have watched someone else fly in 30+ years.

Figured I should go out to center circle should I be needed.
Dad said hes doing good and no not feeling dizzy! cool.

After about 3/4 tank He wanted to hand off so I got the handle and that when the crash began.
Rapidly off to the down hill side at a steady increasing angle of no longer vertical his face met the dirt at a fairly reasonable velocity, about 20 feet from me.
Now laughing my you know where off for the next 3/4 lap as I come around again see that hes holding his knee and rocking back and forth so now concerned that Hey, he hurt his selfwell he is 75!
He said he thinks he's ok.
He layed back to watched me fly.

Finally the Fox dies and I land and give him a hand up and we both start laughing and hugged each other and laughed till we cried.

It only hurts when the flying ends.

Pictures are from today's pratice.

David

icerinkdad

What a great story!
Bob

jayseas

What a story.You have been blessed.

DaveSR71

Thanks Guys!
Yes I have been blessed.
Helping the man who built my first airplane for me in 1959-60 (I was about 5) fly agin is priceless!

Turns out he did hurt his knee, elbow and possibly a rib or 2 and still is laughing about it.

Next time he is out he goes up again!
Will bring pillows or mattress next time.

David

Kiwi

I passed my 70th birthday a couple of months ago. I imagine I probably met your folks at some point during the 50s-60s-70s around Texas-Oklahoma-Lousiiana. I went to a few contests in Oklahoma, and a few in west Texas, but more than anywhere, I contested in and around Houston, and in Louisiana. I flew Combat, some Rat, occasionally stunt, and all sorts of local variety events, such as balloon bust stuff.

As long as it was fun, I was going to several contests each year for close to twenty years, not necessarily winning much, but having a good time. Stunt could often *NOT* be as much fun, depending on the personalities involved.

I knew all of the Stubblefields, and flew against most of them at one time or another. I know George C, and Mitch, and was close to George Aldrich for about 45 years.

What are your Mom & Dad's names, and where did they live, mostly, in the 1960s?

skylark-flier

You wouldn't believe how you've been blessed, and please to extend my incredibly happy congrats to your dad on his successful flight and his surviving it more or less intact.

My dad started me in CL just a bit earlier than yours - about 1955 - but he never actually flew, himself. He did live long enough to see his one and only CL project (B-17 with 4 ignition engines, started it in 1953 and I finished it in 1997) fly at my hands (maiden flight) in 1998, but that was the extent of it.

Yeah, you're truly blessed.

Dave

DaveSR71

Yes Skylark.

Good friends and good times!


Kiwi
Will send you an Email later.



Its Good to find old friends!
Luke Roy is also from Alexandria and was school buddies with Dad.
Luke is the only person to fly speed and tether cars at +200mph.
The 200 mph man.


David

P.S.
The flying field is in my front yard (3/8th mile from house) and is open to anyone with AMA lic.
PM me ahead of time and will get you right to it.
So if passing through bring an airplane!

DaveSR71

I must be getting better!

Youngest son (24) came out and put 4 flights on the Shoestring.
Loops and wing overs, said the airplane is to pretty to do more.
He did ask about an old clunker to fly to get his rhythm back!
Clunker is hanging on wall ready for him.

He didn't fall down!



David