Something for Del Johnson
 

Del had his service last night and it was a testomony of his good natured personality just by the number of friends that showed up to pay their respects.

I spoke with Lee and others from the Dawn Patrol circuit about supporting a special flying event to honor Del. Everyone agreed in support of it. With that, I am in search of an date to put it together. I want it to be sooner rather than later so that there isn't too much time between the service and the event. However, the weather still isn't to good around here yet. A date that I had in mind was May 5th. Unless someone has objection to this date, I will propose it to the GCRCC club.

This event will have a focus in WWI flying because that's what Del was about. However, this is not a hard requirement, as it is second to the main focus of gathering Del's friends together for food, flying and story telling. So if you consider yourself a friend of Del or if you have enjoyed his threads you are welcomed to join in the gathering. This is not a fund raising event and I have no intentions of charging a fee to fly or for anything else. I will attempt to find support for some lunch type of food items. Or another suggestion is doing a "potluck". This will be a picnic atmosphere with some "Fokker Flying"! I think we should have a "flight of the Fokkers" just for Del. I'm sure we could get 10 of them up at the same time.

I will update this thread as I confirm the date with the club or with any other details. I now open it up to any suggestions.

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

That is a wonderful sentiment. I wish I could attend and wish you the best of luck. I learned a great deal from Del and his threads. It is a shame I was never able to fly my Fokkers with him.

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Joe,
I am really interested in attending this and bringing my DRI. Del was my inspiration on this build and he planned on being with me for the maiden. As far as I am concerned he still will be!!

The following weekend would be better for me as I was going to attend the Bluegrass Fly-In in Lexignton but I will skip that one to attend if there is a conflict. Del planned on showing me the ropes at the Dawn Patrol events this summer. I am going to need all the help I can get.
Later!!
Anthony

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

I like the idea too. Its something a little different than making a donation in his name. It seems a little more personal.

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

I was looking at the following weekend too, but it is the start of Joe Nall week. This is a popular event around here. I forgot about the bluegrass fly. I will see what the club has in mind also when I bring it up at the meeting.

As far as the Dawn Patrol events, I can help you there. I plan on attending quite a few this year. I will be at Aeromasters DP (cincinnati), Bluegrass DP (louiseville), Hoosier (muncie) and of coarse Del's Fokker Scourge. You are welcomed to join me....just let me know.

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Thanks Joe I will definetly give you a shout.
I need to look into the dates for these events.
Later!!
Anthony

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

I can't do it on May 5th, but maybe later in the month. Also, for those of us that can't make it, I hope maybe we can have another "Del Johnson Memorial Fokker-Flight" at the other dawn patrols.

Jim

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Joe

Don't get too caught up trying to find a date which will accomodate everyone. It is almost impossible. And I agree, the sooner the better.

The date you have picked is a good start. Maybe most of the local Cincy modelers and some of us dawn patrollers (as Sir Percy refers to us) can attend.

Then at each of the Dawn Patrols, a memorial flight or missing man formation - or both - can be carried out. That way, those of us who cannot make the Memorial Fly-In that you conduct on May 5th, can honor Del and his family at each of the fly-ins that we can attend.

With this approach we can honor Del's memory through out the entire year.

Respectfully,
Art

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Ohio Dawn Patrol was one of Del's favorite.....We will for sure have several "Delby Memorial Flights"

HPA

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

I agree with King Arthur, impossible to find a date that works for all, but the sooner the better. That being said, the 5th is Derby day (that would be Kentucky Derby to the uniformed). I'd need to start working on a dispensation from my mom to miss my parents annual Derby Party. I don't want to get cut out of the will you know. :)

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

No, I understand I can't make it happen for everyone. However, I make adjustments if one date just doesn't work well. I would like to have one good date to bring to the club. What about May 12th and if not that date, what about April 21st? May 12 begins Joe Nall, but heck it goes on for a week....April 21 can be a bit chilli still, its hard to tell.

Once I get the date worked out, I can focus on other items to be discussed later.

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Joe
This is a wonderful thing your doing for Del.
He was a lucky man to have had so many friends and to be respected as he was.
I think you should try for April 21st, have as many triplanes in the air as possible.
Manfred died on April 21st! I think for Del having built Glenns first 1/3rd scale this would be a fitting date to do it.
Del, The Red Barron of OHIO!
TK

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

I'm still taking it hard that Del is gone after talking with him just hours before he went in to the hospital. It was not even 2 days prior that he had sent me the copy of GT rudder and tail skid plans so I can adapt it to my future BUSA Fokker DVIII "Bash."

He was looking forward to seeing what I could do with the Seagull Gee Bee Z ARF that I'm working on now, and was hoping to see me start the BUSA Fokker DVIII right after.

Please do me a favor one of you, and fly their Fokker Dr1 one extra flight for me in Del's honor at the memorial. I won't be able to attend and I'm not only bumbed I didn't get the chance to meet him face to face, but as well- won't be able to attend the memorial flight at the Dawn Patrol.

I thank anyone who could do that one favor for me.



Peter James Dowling

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Please note that GCRCC has its annual spring field cleanup and maintenance day scheduled for April 21.

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Pete,
I will be glad to put an extra flight on my DRI for you. I am going to have my wife make up a couple squadron leader streamers for the struts on my DRI and I will have her put Del's name on them.

I am just waiting for a decision on the date.
Later!!
Anthony

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

WOW!!!!!
Can someone please tell me what happened to Del or post a link to something? Please!
Had quite a few phone conversations with him durring my GTM Dr1 build. Along with his build thread, he never stopped helping. He was my inspiration in building my triplane. He was truely one of the nicest guys I ever spoke to and was just an absolute fountain of information on WW1 and Triplanes.

-M51

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Lee (winterhawk), which is one of Del's closest friends, gives the details in this thread.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10...mpage_4/tm.htm

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

I would if I had a tripe.

March 29th is our club meeting and I will update you with my findings. We will get it worked out soon.

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Thank you so much Anthony. I think about Del almost every day. I already miss his emails, the posts, the jokes and his phone calls. No matter what day it was, if he was home and I ran into a issue with my Fokker Dr1 modification, he was right there to give me ideas. He encouraged me when I was nervous about flying the plane and told me how his plane flew and what things I needed to remember while flying it. Right after I got home after the maiden flight I called him to let him know about it and he told me he looked forward in seeing the video.

I hope he got the MA magazine with the picture of my 2 planes on page 82. He didn't tell me he got it, but he did say he was looking for it.

What really stinks is he just retired, and he didn't get a chance to really enjoy retirement. Life really isn't fair is it? Not only do I feel bad for the Dawn Patrol loosing it's finest builder and pilot, but I feel bad for the rest of his family.

One day I will meet you all at the Dawn Patrol, when? I don't know. But every time I say a prayer I always include Del and his family among with my folks who have passed on.

Rest in peace my friend, until we meet again- just not yet.


Pete

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Ok.... So I bring word back from the club meeting. We will hold Del's day of flying on May 6th. It falls on a Sunday. We will get there early and fly until you get tired. This is a day that we will focus on WWI flying but it is not closed to other types of aircraft. After all, Del's friends were not all WWI nuts. About noon we will have some pizza and such.

If you have a Fokker, please bring it. We will have a flight of the Fokkers or "Fokker Scourge" as Del might call it.

The club site is Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club... www.gcrcc.net

The address is:
1912 Woodsdale Rd, Trenton, OH 45067

See you guys in 5 weeks or so.

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Joe,
Sounds good to me, I will be there with my DRI. Works out great I will attend the Fly-In in Luisville the day before.
Thanks!!
Anthony

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Great!

Hopefully this date works out for some of the Indiana and Kentucky boys.

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Joe, I've got that date circled on my calendar. See you in May. Art

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Great! Are you going to bring any of your projects for show and tell?

RE: Something for Del Johnson
 

Never thought of that......I guess if I don't have anything ready to fly, I just might do that.......although I should have my N-11 flying with a new engine by that time and I just might have my Hergt flying by then, too. If not, I can bring it for show and tell.