Work Day

This morning we are up and out early for our work day on the airplane. The brief respite of sunshine is gone and it is again cold and damp. This is beginning to seem like we did go to Seattle! We plan to eat breakfast at the employees cafeteria at Alliance Airport. At the American Airlines maintenance facility everyone is on the security list except yours truly but a couple of phone calls takes care of that.

Since we had skipped supper the night before, we are ready for a hearty breakfast, but, alas, we have arrived perxactkly in that no man's land between breakfast and lunch. There are all sorts of tasty foods on display, but they will not serve them. The salad bar is open so that is what we get and it is well above average so we are happy and fed.

Then it is off to the hanger where our freshly washed, buffed and vacuumed plane sits next to some huge 7something being repaired. The Flagship people are so grateful to the chairman of American Airlines, Gerard Arpey, for becoming a sponsor. The previous chairman threw George out of his office, saying he was running an airline, not a museum. The employees here can volunteer time to work on the plane and they do. They take great pride in it. The guys who built the galley come by to admire their work and see what we think of it. Our fellow member Jeff had gotten off work at 10 the previous night but returned at 7AM to tow the plane back from the wash rack. Gene and Steve start chores like loading a tow bar, rearranging the cargo room, adding oil, and who knows what else. Peggy and I get into unloading things we will not need on this trip including the tent and merchandise. We have a storage room and we get in there and sort things out. We will take two bins of hats and a bin of assorted t-shirts to give as gifts on the trip. Also we want the antique suitcase with the sticker and the boom box to play 40's music which was missing on the Columbus trip. We work until after 3PM, while also giving tours to employees and visitors who express and interest. Sorry about the sideways photo of Gene, the software has a mind of its own and keeps flipping it so I have given up.

Airplanes and more airplanes

On Sunday we visited a vintage aircraft museum located at Meacham Field. The folks had done a very good job with it. They highlighted the roles of minorities in WWII, meaning females and blacks. They had segments on the Tuskegee airmen and Rosie the rivitor as well as the women who flew the new planes from the factories to the war zones. There were lots of photos and gosh, the women of the 1940's had to be the most glamourous of all. Out there in a factory building aircraft and looking like a million dollars.

Steve keeps his Cessna 170 at Meacham and so next stop was his hanger. This plane had belonged to his father and Steve hunted it down, locating it in Florida. He flew it home, although discovered later that he should not have as the condition was worse than he thought. He meticulously restored it to its former glory. It is shiny, shiny silver with red trim. He took it to Oshkosh (fly in) in 2007 and won the Grand Lindy, which means that his plane won the top prize. This is huge in the flying world. The trophy is a statue of Lindburgh, hence the name.

We are on a tight schedule and hurry to a grocery store to get some essentials, then home to stow them and fluff up a bit before heading out to Cousin Betty's for dinner. Betty and Ken downsized about 5 years ago and now live in a small gated community arouund a little lake and next to a golf course. Their daughter lives down the street. The golfer, Jason Day, is a neighbor and I told Steve and Gene, "If you were golfers, I would impress you by telling you I saw Jason Day playing ping pong in his garage." They said in unison, "Who???"

We had a great dinner, got introduced to their two dogs, a chocolate lab and a Golden Retriever. And we went down the street to meet her daughter, who I had never met.

By Monday, we are all bored and anxious for the beginning of our journey. So the plan is to have lunch at a BBQ place near Alliance airport, then go to the hanger and work on the plane. As we arrive at the restaurant, we get a call telling us that the plane has gone to the washing rack to be cleaned and we cannot have access. Well, that was a wasted trip! No, not really, we had a great brisket meal. We recover and do some clothes shopping so we will meet the dress code for San Francisco. Then we have time to spare, and amazingly, the cold and damp has receded and the sun is out. So we went to the Ft. Worth Stockyards and learned a lot about the old days there. We went into a famous bar called The White Elephant which was very authentic old west. We were glad that almost no one was there, because even empty, it reeked of smoke. The walls and ceilings were covered with cowboy hats with names next to them. See photo of the ceiling above our table. Then we went to a nearby shop with VERY high prices but lovely things. Instead of a bench for husbands, they had a bar with free beer for waiting husbands.

The two meat companies, Swift and Armour, had a lot to do with the development of this area and the old processing plants are still up on a hill moldering and for sale. I am posting several pictures of that area.

Fort Worth Day One

Today, there is no need to report to an airport, so we have a leisurely morning and then walk up the street to a nice restaurant for brunch. My cousin, Betty, and her husband, Ken, joined us. It so happens that Ken was a fighter pilot in Viet Nam. Jake was in the Navy. Can you imagine what the topic of conversation was? More flying stories, but lots of laughter. So good to see Betty again, it has been a few years. As you can see from the photo, she is quite beautiful. The meal lasts for about three hours, after which they leave for a dog show. The rest of us walk around and look at an art museum featuring Russell and Remington and another one of the history of Fort Worth. Remington's paintings have a lot of pallette knife work in them but to me, his choice of colors make the paintings dull in comparison to Russell whose are much brighter. The last ten years of his life Remington did a noctural series and they are interesting and haunting. He died at age 58. We admire a lot of architecture, visit a bar and finally end up at a Mexican place in Jake's building.

Fort Worth is a city that started because of cattle and prospered more because of oil. There was always a rivalry with Dallas. The railroad came to FW in 1876 which meant increased access to a variety of building materials. The town really boomed in the next decade. There are quite a number of old buildings around with very interesting decor. Many seem to date from the 1880's and the 1920's. There are a huge number of bars and restaurants and there seems to be enough patrons to keep them running. There is a very wealthy family by the name of Bass that are benefactors of the city. For instance, they have funded a private security company to patrol the downtown to make it more safe so that people will patronize the area. The building with the angels is the performing arts center they endowed. Chorus Line was currently playing to be followed by another Broadway show.

After dinner, we visit the "amenities" floor of the condo building. There is a lovely outdoor area with tables, arbors with sitting areas, a dog park, a pool and hot tub and gas grills. There is also a library where the residents take books and leave others. There is a good selection of books. There is also an exercise room. Peggy and I vow that starting tomorrow there will be less eating and more exercise. Tune in to see how this plan works out. Now the guys are watching a video of aircraft carrier landing accidents. Yes, this is an aviation trip. They are also planning the trip to the west coast and investigating whether we can make it a three day trip and stop at several aircraft museums on the way.

Heading West

On Thursday, I keep the car again and spend some hours on the computer catching up. Gene had three or four more guys to check out in the plane. They were to go to Nashville to shoot approaches and off load a few of them to catch flights home. There has been a power outage around Peggy's hotel so she has gone to the airport unwashed to use the computer. We decide to meet at the airport at 1PM and go to lunch. We plan to go to Franklin on Friday as it is a charming town and her friend will meet us.
It is 2:01 when we walk into Midway Diner, which closes at 2, but they are so friendly and gracious and say of course they will feed us. The guys are also about to break for lunch, and opt for an Italian place downtown. When we finish we head down there to meet up with them. Everyone has their iphones out (yes, everyone has an iphone) checking the weather and then they announce that we are leaving tomorrow...ok, bye, bye Franklin. Back at the airport, Gene has three more guys to check out, Peggy gets me on her buddy pass list for the eventual flight home and although they say they are headed to the hotel, we spend the next few hours talking as the plane goes by the windows, landing, taking off, landing, taking off. It is 7PM when the guys finally get into the terminal, but they have fueled and oiled the plane so it is ready for departure. Gene is really beat and some of the others complain of sore legs and knees. This plane is not easy to fly and has to be manhandled. And Gene has to be constantly alert in teaching mode, and vigilant to catch any potentially dangerous errors. The night is pretty chilly and there is a chance of frost.
Since Legends seemed to be out of everything, we opt for Ruby Tuesdays. The crowd has gotten smaller, there are only 8 of us. Our waiter, Tom, is a trip, he flits around assuring us of how well he will take care of us. Still, they are out of the beer that Steve and Peggy choose and out of baked potatoes...really??? George says there was a really big horse show there the last weekend and the restaurants probably have not received new supplies. Flying stories are being told all around the table, these guys never run out.
Friday morning we are back at Midway for breakfast where the cute blond is calling all the guys, "darling." The cockpit crew for Fort Worth are Capt. Gene Christian, Capt. Steve Jacobson, Capt. Dave Buffington and Capt. Fred Gorrell. Flight attendents: Peggy Fairchild and Sheryl Christian. It is really cold and we have all dressed as warmly as we could. There is a frost, but by the time we get to the airport, the wings are clear. Dave says he can leave his suitcase as he is wearing everything he brought. George's wife, Kay, is at the airport with him, she had been out of town. We are trying to get Fred to the airport in Dallas to catch a flight to Phoenix, but first we are about 30 min late leaving and then encounter a strong head wind. It is cold, cold, cold on the plane, but Peggy and I have the blankets I brought to huddle under and at one point Gene comes back and shares mine for about an hour. The wind causes our flight to be an hour longer than anticipated. We are flying low and it is pretty turbulent, but the head wind is worse the higher you go. Peggy is feeling the movement and she and I sing songs to take her mind off it. Gene rolls his eyes but Dave joins us in a few. The other two guys thankfully never knew cause they were wearing head sets. It has gradually gottn warmer as we traveled west but about an hour from Ft. Worth, the plane suddenly looks like a strip club as layers of clothes are being shed all over. It is in the high 80's here. On the way in we go right over DFW. That place is so huge and we see the "toy" planes taking off and landing below us.
At long last we reach Meachum field in Ft. Worth. In the old days Steve's parents flew for American Airlines out of this airport. Steve and Peggy and their luggage get off. They will take a cab to his nearby condo, collect his car and come to Alliance for us. Alliance is only 10 min by air. I move to the jump seat for a better view. Soon we are on the ground and taxi up to the AA maintenance hanger. In no time, Jeff Selby, who works here, shows up with a tug. Dave had forgotten to call him from Meachum, but he had heard the distinctive sound of our engines. Dave's wife has come to meet him and take Fred to DFW, where his chances of getting home today are slim. There are only two more flights he might get on.
Now there is just Gene and me. Jeff tows the plane into the hanger, gets a golf cart and takes us to the front to meet our ride. On the way we detour through the engine repair shop, a really awesome place. To get in and out there is a double lock door, like one has to close before the other one will open. The engines are huge. The blades on the jet engines are titanium and one blade costs $250,000. I cannot count how many there are. Steve and Peggy are in rush hour traffic so we sit on the steps out front of the facility with our luggage piled around us. People driving to and from the parking lot give us long looks.
Finally our ride arrives and we thirstily head off to a Mexican restaurant. Although we ate a salty snack or two on the plane, none of us have had anything to drink since breakfast due to the lack of bathroom facilities on the plane. (We do have portable johns on board and most of us did use them, but the turbulence is worse in the rear where the bathroom is and it would be really hard to accomplish the act.)
The term Cow Town is appropriate as we enter Ft. Worth via the old town and by the stockyards. We see several real looking cowboys and saloons etc. But as we near Steve's condo, we are definately in an urban setting with plenty of tall buildings. He lives on the 32nd floor of what was a Bank One building. The windows in his place are floor to ceiling and the vista is breathtaking at night. Peggys says that ESPN was set up in a parking lot just below us for the Super Bowl and they alternated looking down on them and turning to the TV for the close up. We look forward to exploring tomorrow but tonight we are dead tired.

Respite

In spite of a good night's sleep in my own bed, I am dragging on Monday. Too much hibernation this winter, I am out of shape. But I force myself to get out and walk, do laundry and prepare for the next leg of our journey. Gene calls and reports that Peggy wants me to come early so she has someone to hang out with and I agree to come Wednesday instead of Thursday. On Tuesday, I am feeling rested. Go to the "Y" early and do 1.5 miles on the elliptical before yoga. I am fretting about what time to leave the next day to miss the worst of Atlanta traffic and still do all those things that I have to do at the last minute when suddenly a light bulb goes off in my head. Hey, I am feeling rested, I bet I can do all the things I need to do in three hours, I can just leave today. And so, I am on the road a little after 1PM for Shelbyville, TN. Beautiful day for a drive, but windy and I fight the Suburban all the way. I do not like driving it anyway, but Gene is donating a large water tank to the Flagship foundation.
I arrive at the Shelbyville airport about 4:30 central time. George Dennis is sitting on a bench out front, computer in lap, phone to ear. George is the founder of the foundation and originally found and bought the plane himself. He lives here in Shelbyville, a really lovely place as you see in the photos. Gene is teaching a class of 11 in the conference room and I let him know I have arrived, then sit in the lobby with my computer. George comes in and drops the bombshell that the Seattle leg of our trip is canceled! Oh, pooh!! This was going to be my favorite part. The current plan is that we will go to Ft. Worth and wait there until time to go to San Francisco. Well, a million thoughts are going through my head, most of which involve clothes and lodging.
Gene finishes teaching around 6 PM, he has been at it for 10 hours!! And yet, the guys do not bolt when it is over, but stick around chatting. As you can imagine, making plans for the evening with all these people is daunting, but we eventually we head to the bar at Legends restaurant where we hear that Steve and Peggy are having a drink. Peggy does a double take as I had not told her of my new arrival time. Eleven of us move to the dining room for dinner. The food is always good here, but for some reason, we seem to turn them into a tizzy and the service is really rough tonight, but a good time is had by all anyway.
Finally around 10PM we arrive at George's "cabin," sometimes referred to as the "double-wide," which is really his second home on a grass strip about ten miles out of Shelbyville. See photo. Some folks live locally and some are in a motel. Next morning I keep the car and arrive at the airport about 9 (the guys got there at 7:30). The airport currently is home to 4 cats, up from two last year. Luckily I have taken my meds. The guys are in for a briefing but shortly they take off and shortly land again with a broken cowl flap bracket. ( See next photo of diagnostic inspection.) George has a mechanic on site in what seems like minutes and they are soon in the air again. This is the day that many of them will do the required three take offs and landings to stay current. Gene will also school them in preparation for those who do not yet have their type ratings to qualify.
Peggy arrives in her rental car and we take off for Bell Buckle, a nearby historic town. We have a long conversation with the 40 year old owner of one of the antique shops. His parents bought what was the town's dry goods store complete with contents 40 years ago for $750. The original contents are displayed high on the walls and consist of clothing and accessories from the century before last. Wow! Now he is running this shop and his parents are running the ice cream parlor around the corner. We lunch at the town restaurant, renowned for its good ole country fare and we are not disappointed.
Then it is back to work. Our mission is to drive to Murphreesboro, 23 miles north, to Publix for vittles, as we are grilling steaks at George's very lovely in town house tonight. We get back to George's late afternoon just as the fly boys are finishing up. Peggy does a marvelous job of preparing a meal in an unfamiliar kitchen while I go to retrieve people and run errands. George's wife is off visiting a new grandchild. We return to a nice spread of appetizers and I help with final meal prep. We have a great evening and a good dinner with strawberry shortcake for dessert. We think there are around 14 of us, some how a final count is not accomplished. Pilots never run out of stories to tell and there is a lot of laughter. Many times today the phrase "herding cats" has come up and is a valid observation.
Again, back to the cabin late and tired. This morning the boys are off again to give the other half some flying time. They will make a training run to Nashville and in the process drop two guys off to catch flights home. I am taking time to catch up on email and write the two blogs. Peggy reports a power outage at the motel and so she has gone to the airport unwashed to try to use their computer to do some banking prior to her shower. So we will hang locally today and find some adventures tomorrow. Word is we do not leave for Ft. Worth until Saturday. Peggy's boyfriend, Steve, has offered us a room at his condo on the square there which is within walking distance of lots of good things.

Thunder Day Two

This photo shows the plane in its original position up against the fence and this is early before so many people started camping under the wings to stay in the shade.

Day two started with the plane in the taxi position and the second photo was taken from the escape hatch in the cockpit. Some people wonder why the hatch is there as one is still very far off the ground. But look at the position of the landing gear in respect to the nose and imagine what would happen if you were landing and pushed on the brakes too hard. The plane might nose over! And then the hatch would be in a good place to get out.

Sunday started out cool, which we loved until we got out on the tarmac in the wind, and then we were cold. Peggy, whose clothes were on the plane, loaned me a jacket. I mentioned to a couple of the guys that our tent was on the verge of taking off and perhaps we should tie it down. They mumbled something and wandered off. A few minutes later while I was there alone, sure enough, it took off. I almost caught it, but missed and it tumbled into the wing, thank goodness without damaging it. Jeff was in the plane, changing into long pants and luckily had not disrobed yet. He and Zane scurried up and we repositioned the tent and used bungee cords to tie it down. Disaster averted. Emily and Taylor arrived about 11 and we were glad to see them. This is Taylor's first air show and Emily was practically raised at them. She has been to Oskosh and Sun and Fun which are two of the biggest.

Around noon the sun came out and the temperature rose dramatically. Now we are all sweltering. Never satisfied!! The crowds also started to swell. Just as we were starting to get enough people to form a line, at two PM we had to close up shop in preparation for flying again. This time we put all the gear on board as we were not returning. After a graceful flight complete with waggling the wings, the plane went to the refueling area in readiness for departure. The passengers and remaining crew joined her there. They will go to Shelbyville, TN where Gene will teach a three day class and do some flight training. More people will be flying in for this. I took two of the guys to the terminal to catch a plane back to Dallas and then head for home to prepare for the remainder of the trip.

Thunder in the Valley

Good name for this show as there was a whole lot of noise!!
We are on target this AM, get to the show and get our table set up outside while others are cleaning the plane. We are positioned next to the fence separating the airplane parking area from the runway, with our right wing actually hanging over a good bit. And right there opposite our table is a loud speaker. Great! We ascertain that we have wire cutters on board should the situation become unbearable. Then we head off to a great breakfast catered by Waffle House where we meet lots of nice folks, especially the crew of the old Berlin Airlift DC-4 parked next to us. The interior of their plane is fixed up like a museum. We ask them how they make money since they do not do rides and they say they are from New Jersey and so it is not a problem (Mafia). Of course, it is obvious what crew we (and everyone else is) as we are all wearing our identifying T-shirts except Zane and Peggy who are dressed in their vintage look pilot and stewardess gear.
Because our door is on the right, it faces the fence and we are not getting many people, especially once the people start lining up chairs along the fence and under our wings to get in the shade. One has to wind amongst them to get to us. We fret. But then around noon, they say they are going to move us in preparation for our 2:30 flight. So we pick up our tent, table, cooler, about 15 plastic totes and move away from the plane so it can be towed. Then it is positioned facing the runway, the door is now where the throngs are headed right for it. We haul all our gear over to it and set up again. The traffic picks up, but still it is the slowest show I have worked. The crowds seem to have come to watch the show.
And it is a great show with skydivers, parachute teams, areobatics of several types, the old comedy routine where Roscoe in a cop car chases a by-plane all over the place, and military jets thundering by at what looks like about 5 feet off the runway. The height of the entertainment is a by-plane flying low as two motorcycles jump over it. This really was impressive. The high was predicted at 82, but when we know it got much hotter. Thankfully there was a breeze and we had the tent to hide under, but it was still HOT! The air show people come by with water and ice for our cooler. There is also a lunch for us back in the hanger and we go in shifts to that.
Then it is time for our fly-by so we have to move the gear again.....so glad there are 9 of us to share the work but several of the guys are out pushing on the plane to keep it aligned as it is towed.
Then she finally flies while they play 40s music over the PA and the announcer tells the crowd all about her. We are enjoying the PA now that it is no longer right by our right shoulder. When they bring her back, the alignment is slightly different and so we end up moving the tent, table and gear two more times. We are feeling like those Arab nomads. At about 3PM, Zane and Peggy are overwhemed by the heat and change from their wool uniforms into more comfortable clothes. Our financial take is still not good. We have only sold about $50 in merchandise, but are nearing $300 on $3 tours (kids are free). After the performances end at 4, the crowd mostly clears out so 9 weary, sweaty warriors pack up and head for a cooler place ahead of the official 5 PM ending. The way to the motel leads us through the same intersection where we had the cooincidental meeting and this has now been dubbed "Shery's intersection."
Tonight there is a dinner and silent auction fund raiser at the airport and some folks are unsure if they want to attend. We load up and go there and find out the menu is Southwest chicken and looks only so-so. So we leave and consult a chamber of commerce dining guide, and opt for a place called Meritage that specializes in wine. One iphone becomes the GPS while another calls the restaurant and tells them of our impending arrival.
When we arrive, they have set a table for us on an upstairs balcony where we have a good view later of the super full moon of that evening. The owner, Faye, herself is there to greet and chat with us. Her daughter, the chef, comes out also and we find out what her specialties are. There is a drink on the menu called a Fayetini created for Faye. We order one and pass it around...and around. Seven different entrees were ordered and all were excellent. We had an iphone playing Frank Sinatra and a good time was had by all. The group consisted of two retired and one current American Airlines pilots, three general aviation pilots, one of whom is a mechanic with American, one retired flight attendent, one long haul trucker (friend of current pilot) and me(wife of Gene).
As we prepare for day two of the show, we are thankful for a cool front that promises a day when the high is 76. Daughter Emily and fiance, Taylor are coming today. Two of the Dallas people will catch an afternoon flight home today. I will drive home and the rest of them will go on to Shelbyville, TN to be joined by more folks for a semi-annual training school taught by Gene. Come back here later for photos. I left the camera in the car yesterday but have it today and others are emailing me pics.

Day One

At 2:30 PM we wait at Covington Airport with Art and Sandra Norred who are eager to see "our" plane. I think I hear the rumble of radial engines and cut my eyes to Gene who is cutting his to me, so I know I am right. And sure enough, the Detroit appears over the trees and sure enough my eyes tear up as they do everytime I see her flying. She is so magnificent.
Upon landing I see that I know everyone except two new members who had caught a flight to Dallas the day before just to fly back with the plane. So we all have a short reunion and I give the Norreds the tour. Then I load up John Thatcher, the previous pilot of record and a young man who currently flies for American and we head for Hartsfield. The young man, Robby, lives in Cartersville and had left his car at the airport. John is turning the pilot in charge job over to Gene and flying back to Dallas. With pilots in the car, there is never a shortage of conversation. We are soon at the airport and I head for I-85 south and Columbus.
Everything goes wonderfully well, until I am 5 miles from my exit and the signs are forcing us down to one lane and here I am going 5 mph, thinking I will be an hour getting to the exit at this rate. Gene calls and tells me to go to exit 7B where the hotel is. Once we are in a lane, we move up to a whopping 15 mph and a sign announces that this is a Drug Stop. A WHAT??? As I approach the area, there are a lot of vehicles of all types in the median and on the roadside. There are lots and lots and lots of people, many are police. There seems to be activity going on, but I cannot look and drive so I opt for the latter. They do not stop any of us and I see no dogs, but as I approach the end of the area, I see three wreckers being loaded with cars, so obviously they were catching folks, but I never could figure out how.
OK, now, three miles from destination, there goes exit 7 and the next one is 6, Whoa! I call Gene and no answer. I pull off at 6, thinking I will U-turn. The light is red and I notice that in the car next to me a woman has rolled down her window and is waving and smiling. She looks vaguely familiar. Then I notice Gene in the back seat. What a cooincidence! They are also going back. The woman is Peggy Fairchild, a retired flight attendent. I knew she was coming but did not know she was meeting them in Columbus. Northbound, there is a 7B. We are at the largest Holiday Inn I have ever seen. It is only two story but wanders on back forever. Like we are told to drive to entrance E!
And in the air show world everything is hurry up. Gene greets me with the news that we have 30 minutes to leave for a dinner the airport is putting on for us. So we stretch that a little and load up in the new Kias which I guess dealers have loaned the show and head to the airport. Ours had 44 miles on it at the start. There are nine of us so we have two of these cars.
In a hanger at the airport they are serving a great BBQ dinner with ribs and pulled port which has been cooked on site and donated by someone. It was yummy but no one lingers long. Then it is back to the hotel where some of us gather in the bar and renew friendships.
Peggy and her boyfriend, Steve Jacobson are with us for the entire trip so we shall certainly know each other well by the time this is over. She has had a replica made of a 1937 flight attendant's uniform which she will wear tomorrow and Zane has one of a Captains uniform.
We will be up and out tomorrow at 7:45 in order to clean the plane by 9 when we will be served breakfast. Then there is a pilot's briefing at 10, and the rest of us will be at our posts as the doors open at that time. It will be a long hot day, but we are excited to show off the Detroit and this will be a big show with lots of performers and therefore, lots of visitors.

Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder

As a child raised in the Army, we brats prided ourselves in being able to sing all the military anthems at the tops or our lungs. And somehow the Air Force one was the most exotic.
Well, here Gene and I go off in the wild blue yonder on a real adventure. The Flagship Detroit restored DC-3 has only three pilots who have enough experience to be covered on insurance and Gene is one of them. He was asked to take the reins for the next month as we hit the spring air show circuit.
Tomorrow they will come through Covington and pick up Gene, leaving off the other pilot, John Thatcher and head to Columbus, GA for Thunder in the Valley air show. If you are anywhere near Columbus, this is a real air show and should be a lot of fun. I will drive John to Hartsfield to catch a flight back to Dallas and then drive on to Columbus. Emily and Taylor are to join us there on Sunday.
After the show Gene will go on to Shelbyville, TN with the plane and teach three days of classes. I will join him there on Thursday and on Friday the real adventure starts as we head across country.....tune in for further news.