Waltm
08-09-2004, 10:11 PM
If there's one thing that I can say about Ernie Baugh, his family, friends and the whole Sho-Me Chute flying club is that they REALLY know how to put on a show.
The 4th Annual Sho-Me Chute Flyin was held this past Thursday thru Sunday at Baugh Flightpark (MO16) just outside of Reeds, MO - a stone's throw to the east of Carthage. Ernie and co. did an outstanding job of putting on a safe, fun and informative flyin. There was literally something there for everyone and, although the weather didn't cooperate to the fullest (does it ever??!!!), everyone involved had an opportunity to get in some primo flying!
A BFI refresher was given on Wednesday with the competitions and flying starting on Thursday. I had to work, however, so it wasn't until Thursday morning that Judy and I was able to hitch up the trailer to the RV and make the 425 mile kidney-rattling pilgrimage up Hwy 69 through Oklahoma (I'm serious - that road SUCKS if you're in an RV) on to I-44 through Joplin to Carthage and then over to Reeds. One kidney-transplant and two brain aneurysms later (just kidding - but that road sucks!!) we pulled in late Thursday night to find the place PACKED with RV's, campers and tents. Luckily, I was able to find a parking place just close enough to run my electrical cord to the last available electrical outlet. :-)
Pilot briefing was set for 6:00am on Friday morning. I awoke about 5:30am to find it unseasonably cool. Cool??!!! Heck - it was COLD! Apparently, Hell froze over and the devil just dumped out all that cold air right over the top of us when he evacuated it from "down below". And guess who only brought t-shirts and shorts?
Luckily, I had ONE long-sleeve shirt available that I'd stuffed in my motorcycle bags (which was along for the ride). It was a pullover that I'd bought down in New Orleans with a logo on the front that I won't repeat. I'm sure that I had a few comments made about me but at least I was warm!
A morning cross-country flight to a private airfield 16 miles to the south was planned for those who didn't want to start the competition. It was a BEAUTIFUL morning for flying. A very light low-level fog was hanging over the airpark but it wasn't enough to cancel the flight. 21 planes took off and headed south. I was the last to leave.
As I climbed out of the airpark and turned my nose south, I could see a number of 'chutes in the distance. Interestingly enough, there was only one machine with a smoke system at this flyin and he was giving the truckers on I-44 a show as he passed overhead.
The countryside in southern Missouri is beautiful in that area. The skies were clear. We were bucking a headwind out of the east and made slow progress. As I made my way to the south and our landing site, I passed a lot of the other pilots that were flying square chutes. I had added a link to the back of my Thunderbolt 340 and was flying significantly faster than just about everyone else in the air.
I made my way to the private field, landed and taxied long up to the planes at the end of the runway. Ernie had, thoughtfully, sent a fuel truck for the single-seaters with 5 gallon tanks and anyone else who might need extra gas. Did I mention that he thought of just about everything? After spending a little time to fuel everyone up and warm up in the brisk air, we all took off and headed back to Baugh airpark. 21 planes out - 20 returns. ONE errant soul (I won't mention any names, Bill) somehow took a wrong turn and ended up lost waaaay to the East at a public airport. No harm. He was returned safely to us. :-)
By the time that we returned, the competition fliers had finished and the winds had picked up enough that the red flag was out, so we all retired to airpark's meeting hall/lunchroom to listen to Tim Mccord from Performance Designs - one of the major chute manufacturers for ppc's. Tim is a genuinely nice guy who's incredibly knowledgeable on the PD line of chutes.
As the afternoon wore on (and the winds kept us on the ground), I took the opportunity to walk around, meet old friends and make new ones. John Wilson, the current world champion, was there and he and I started our usual friendly bantering. Anyone who knows us both will know what I'm talking about. :-)
Powrachute showed up a little later on in the afternoon with Bill Amyx's newest toy in tow - a JET-powered Powrachute. I couldn't wait to see that thing start and burn up a little kerosene!
A little later on that afternoon, I heard the sound of an airplane, looked up and saw an old Stearman biplane making it's way around the airfield. Ernie had asked the owner of the biplane to make a pass around the field and he had obliged by putting on a little airshow for us. I sat on the ground and watched in envy as he did a series of aileron rolls, snap rolls, immelmans and loops for the gathered crowd. He finished with a low pass over the airfield and headed back off to the northwest. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! Being an aerobatic pilot myself, I was impressed with how much control he had with that big old slow Stearman. More on him later, though.
As the afternoon wore on the winds finally died down enough to get some flying done. I headed into the air and flew until dark. Dave Krause, who also flies a Destiny with a Chiron 340 chute, happened to be up at the same time. Dave is one of the very few pilots that I know who is just as capable as John Wilson of winning the World Championships. This guy is GOOD. He and I flew around until after sunset. We watched the "Jet-Chute" start up from the air and both flew through the massive cloud of smoke that it generated. I think that I was IFR there for a while...
As we neared our legal 30 minutes after sunset limit, we turned on our chute and landing lights (we're both tricked out that way), did a formation flyby of the airpark, turned around and landed in formation - dropping our chutes at the same time. Anybody with video of that?? I WANT A COPY!!!
After the flying is over is NOT the end of the day at the Sho-Me Chute flyin however - that's when it's just getting started. The Sho-Me Chute fliers had contracted with a professional karoake vendor who was set up in the meeting hall. THIS is where the real fun is at this flyin. Dr. Dale Moore, PHD/SOB, who was also the announcer for the flyin, is worthy of a paying money comedy show JUST to watch him perform. Dale's a respected department head at the <Name Deleted> University but he lets his hair down once in a while and REALLY puts on a show. (Don't worry, Dale - what happens in the Sho-Me, STAYS at the Sho-Me). :-) He's got a good singing voice, too - all of 'em. You haven't lived until you've heard Dale give a rendition of the Statler Bro's. "Elvira". Suffice it to say that the "apres-flying" activities make this flyin a hoot!
Saturday morning started out with a Poker Run. Dang it! It was cold for that one, too! I made my run, froze my butt off and then headed back to do the competition.
The morning winds picked up again so we all went back into the hall for more informative seminars. Ernie had talked Nancy ??? (Sorry, Nancy. Forgot your last name) from the local Flight Service office into coming down and talking to us about how to get a proper weather briefing. Nancy was one of the weather briefers who had been giving pilot briefings for the last 13 years. It was sure nice to meet her and listen to her talk about how to get a good weather briefing.
After Nancy was finished, Ralph McClurg gave a presentation on the new Sport Pilot ruling that takes effect Sept. 1st. A lot was learned here also. Afterwards, a Rotax seminar and then Tim Mccord from PD had everyone outside by the hangers showing how to rig a PD chute. Did I mention that there was a LOT of information to be learned at this flyin?
The winds became cooperative at about 3:00pm on Saturday and the field was opened up again. I did another poker run with Judy as my co-pilot. Afterwards, we then headed off across the country to fun fly and do a little "adventuring". We headed to the east towards the Rt. 66 airfield which was marked on Ernie's map of the area. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Stearman that had given us the airshow the day before sitting in the grass. The owners waved to us as Judy and I did a low pass so I came around, landed and went over to visit with them.
The owner of the Stearman was wheeling a pretty little J-3 Piper Cub out of the hanger. Buck must have been about 70-74 years old. The Piper Cub belonged to his 96 yr. old father - who was STILL alive and had been STILL flying it up until last year. He was the one who had given us the impromptu airshow the day before. Both being aerobatic pilots (him with a LOT more experience than I) we hit it off immediately. We watched other ppc's fly over without stopping and did some "hanger flying" for the better part of an hour. Apparently, on weekends, he brings out the airplanes, sets up tables and a bunch of his friends fly in for a little get-together. Judy and I had dropped in on his preparations. I didn't want to impose but he wouldn't let us leave - LOL.
I finally got away and headed back over to my machine to get it ready to take off. Buck came over a minute later and said, with a wondering tone, that Judy mentioned that I could do aerobatics with my PPC. Well... I hadn't done any sharp maneuvers at the flyin because it was forbidden and I was really jonsesing to show off so I agreed to show him what an elliptical chute and a properly crazy pilot could do. I made a quick take-off, climbed to 700 feet and looked around to make sure that noone was nearby. 3 barrel rolls and one loop later they were all clapping from the ground (I am NOT advocating aerobatics in a ppc. Do NOT try this.). Judy and I took off to return to the airfield as the first of Buck's guests flew by us in a C-172.
We landed and got out so that I could refuel for another flight. John Wilson and I had a little "grudge match" to settle. All day, we had been asking to have an engine-out competition. (Did I mention that we're both hyper-competitive? - He had beat me earlier *barely* in arm wrestling) No such luck. It had been decided earlier that there would be no advanced-pilot-required type competitions this year. I could understand that but it didn't hurt to ask - over and over and over again.
Finally, Ernie couldn't stand our whining anymore. He agreed to a "gunfight competition". Ernie, John Wilson, Dave Krause and I tied fiberglass "spears" to the noses of our machines and headed out to the field right at sunset. The object was simple. A helium balloon would be released and the pilot would have three attempts to fly into the balloon and stab it with our "spears".
Ernie was first. Darn it if, on the second pass, he was successful at spearing that darn balloon!!!
I was next. The sun had set and the light was going fast. I let the balloon drift fairly high so that I could see it better before I made my first pass. I *barely* misjudged the balloon, speared the styrofoam cup that was tied to it (partially filled with water as ballast so that it wouldn't rise too fast) and watched the balloon whiz right into my prop after heading over my left shoulder. Rubber and styrofoam confetti EVERYWHERE. :-) Thanks, Ernie, for not using any materials that would damage my prop. :-) Hey! At least I got SOMETHING on the first pass!
Dave Krause and John Wilson went next. Neither got the balloon but I'm sure that it was really too dark by that time to be able to see any object very well by that time.
Oh... as I came in for a landing, I cut the engine at 300 ft. and headed for the bomb drop circle painted in the center of the field. John and I had discussed a little private "gunfight" of our own before we departed. Closest to the center wins. I won't say anymore about that little grudge match but the field judges were watching us and made a ruling. John... "Who's yer daddy?!!!"
After landing, I put away my chute and started pushing my machine back to the trailer when I heard the loudest sound that I've heard in a long time. The Jet-Chute was being started and I was directly downfield from the tail of that spinning turbine noise maker. THAT THING IS LOUD! I had to stop and put my hands over my ears to keep from going permanently deaf. Geez! That thing could wake the dead! (Sure was a cool demonstration, though.)
After a good fried-chicken dinner, we had an awards presentation for the competition and another karoake evening. This evening was even better than Friday's rendition. Judy, my sweetheart, has an awesome singing voice and was pressed upon to sing time after time again. Dale managed to get John Wilson and myself (I don't know how) to come up and sing "Hotel California" with him. I brought down the house (and got dollars stuffed in my pants and a room key thrown at my feet) for my singing annihilation of Toby Keith's "Who's Your Daddy?". Um... that was sang to JUDY and not to you, John... :-)
'Round midnight the karoake ended - but the party had just begun. Seems that a number of people (who will remain forever nameless) had the bright idea of piling into a truck and driving up the road to Ernie's house. They were going to get out and yell "Clear Prop" at his bedroom window. Oh... Did I mention that it was Ernie's 38th wedding anniversary? I, wisely, abstained and went to take a shower but was standing outside when the motley crew returned. I won't say ANYTHING about what transpired - but the mental image of Ernie coming to the door wrapped in a towel is not one that I want to conjure up. (Ernie - CLOSE YOUR BLINDS AT NIGHT!!!)
And the party was STILL not over. Some errant and heavily innebriated souls dragged Judy and I out to a big oak tree in the front field for another 45 minutes to howl at the moon and continue the late-night partying.
I did not make the next morning pilot briefing...
Sunday morning seemed to be the best morning for flying. However, the only one that was up was old Jay Gill - our field marshall. Jay's one of my favorite people and he'll always be one of the first people that I look for when I return each year. He was probably alone on Sunday morning, though. I finally showed up about 7:30 to find only a smattering of people up and about and NOONE flying - even though the weather was looking good.
We had a long way to head back so I started packing up to leave early and didn't fly on Sunday morning. About 8:30 or so, some fliers finally got up into the air and headed out for some primo flying, however. I'm sure that they had a good day of it.
I got to meet a lot of good people. Bruce Brown (our host at ppcflyingforums.org) made it for some Saturday flying and did a little grass cutting on the back 40. Jim Baker from Ft. Smith, Arkansas and the only other Paraski at the flyin was also back this year. Brock Shields "der rotte campfleuger" made it with his Red Baron Powrachute. Geez! The list goes on and on. There were a LOT of people in attendance.
Suffice it to say that last year, I think that the count was 49 pilots and machines. This year, there were 80 machines and 83 pilots registered. This flyin is going to turn into one of the "major" flyins of the year - mark my words.
Again, many kudos and thanks to Ernie and Ted Baugh and family, friends and flying club for a wonderfully organized and well-executed and SAFE flyin.
Walt Meziere
Rockwall, TX
Destiny 2000/XLT
Rotax 582
Thunderbolt 340 chute
The 4th Annual Sho-Me Chute Flyin was held this past Thursday thru Sunday at Baugh Flightpark (MO16) just outside of Reeds, MO - a stone's throw to the east of Carthage. Ernie and co. did an outstanding job of putting on a safe, fun and informative flyin. There was literally something there for everyone and, although the weather didn't cooperate to the fullest (does it ever??!!!), everyone involved had an opportunity to get in some primo flying!
A BFI refresher was given on Wednesday with the competitions and flying starting on Thursday. I had to work, however, so it wasn't until Thursday morning that Judy and I was able to hitch up the trailer to the RV and make the 425 mile kidney-rattling pilgrimage up Hwy 69 through Oklahoma (I'm serious - that road SUCKS if you're in an RV) on to I-44 through Joplin to Carthage and then over to Reeds. One kidney-transplant and two brain aneurysms later (just kidding - but that road sucks!!) we pulled in late Thursday night to find the place PACKED with RV's, campers and tents. Luckily, I was able to find a parking place just close enough to run my electrical cord to the last available electrical outlet. :-)
Pilot briefing was set for 6:00am on Friday morning. I awoke about 5:30am to find it unseasonably cool. Cool??!!! Heck - it was COLD! Apparently, Hell froze over and the devil just dumped out all that cold air right over the top of us when he evacuated it from "down below". And guess who only brought t-shirts and shorts?
Luckily, I had ONE long-sleeve shirt available that I'd stuffed in my motorcycle bags (which was along for the ride). It was a pullover that I'd bought down in New Orleans with a logo on the front that I won't repeat. I'm sure that I had a few comments made about me but at least I was warm!
A morning cross-country flight to a private airfield 16 miles to the south was planned for those who didn't want to start the competition. It was a BEAUTIFUL morning for flying. A very light low-level fog was hanging over the airpark but it wasn't enough to cancel the flight. 21 planes took off and headed south. I was the last to leave.
As I climbed out of the airpark and turned my nose south, I could see a number of 'chutes in the distance. Interestingly enough, there was only one machine with a smoke system at this flyin and he was giving the truckers on I-44 a show as he passed overhead.
The countryside in southern Missouri is beautiful in that area. The skies were clear. We were bucking a headwind out of the east and made slow progress. As I made my way to the south and our landing site, I passed a lot of the other pilots that were flying square chutes. I had added a link to the back of my Thunderbolt 340 and was flying significantly faster than just about everyone else in the air.
I made my way to the private field, landed and taxied long up to the planes at the end of the runway. Ernie had, thoughtfully, sent a fuel truck for the single-seaters with 5 gallon tanks and anyone else who might need extra gas. Did I mention that he thought of just about everything? After spending a little time to fuel everyone up and warm up in the brisk air, we all took off and headed back to Baugh airpark. 21 planes out - 20 returns. ONE errant soul (I won't mention any names, Bill) somehow took a wrong turn and ended up lost waaaay to the East at a public airport. No harm. He was returned safely to us. :-)
By the time that we returned, the competition fliers had finished and the winds had picked up enough that the red flag was out, so we all retired to airpark's meeting hall/lunchroom to listen to Tim Mccord from Performance Designs - one of the major chute manufacturers for ppc's. Tim is a genuinely nice guy who's incredibly knowledgeable on the PD line of chutes.
As the afternoon wore on (and the winds kept us on the ground), I took the opportunity to walk around, meet old friends and make new ones. John Wilson, the current world champion, was there and he and I started our usual friendly bantering. Anyone who knows us both will know what I'm talking about. :-)
Powrachute showed up a little later on in the afternoon with Bill Amyx's newest toy in tow - a JET-powered Powrachute. I couldn't wait to see that thing start and burn up a little kerosene!
A little later on that afternoon, I heard the sound of an airplane, looked up and saw an old Stearman biplane making it's way around the airfield. Ernie had asked the owner of the biplane to make a pass around the field and he had obliged by putting on a little airshow for us. I sat on the ground and watched in envy as he did a series of aileron rolls, snap rolls, immelmans and loops for the gathered crowd. He finished with a low pass over the airfield and headed back off to the northwest. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! Being an aerobatic pilot myself, I was impressed with how much control he had with that big old slow Stearman. More on him later, though.
As the afternoon wore on the winds finally died down enough to get some flying done. I headed into the air and flew until dark. Dave Krause, who also flies a Destiny with a Chiron 340 chute, happened to be up at the same time. Dave is one of the very few pilots that I know who is just as capable as John Wilson of winning the World Championships. This guy is GOOD. He and I flew around until after sunset. We watched the "Jet-Chute" start up from the air and both flew through the massive cloud of smoke that it generated. I think that I was IFR there for a while...
As we neared our legal 30 minutes after sunset limit, we turned on our chute and landing lights (we're both tricked out that way), did a formation flyby of the airpark, turned around and landed in formation - dropping our chutes at the same time. Anybody with video of that?? I WANT A COPY!!!
After the flying is over is NOT the end of the day at the Sho-Me Chute flyin however - that's when it's just getting started. The Sho-Me Chute fliers had contracted with a professional karoake vendor who was set up in the meeting hall. THIS is where the real fun is at this flyin. Dr. Dale Moore, PHD/SOB, who was also the announcer for the flyin, is worthy of a paying money comedy show JUST to watch him perform. Dale's a respected department head at the <Name Deleted> University but he lets his hair down once in a while and REALLY puts on a show. (Don't worry, Dale - what happens in the Sho-Me, STAYS at the Sho-Me). :-) He's got a good singing voice, too - all of 'em. You haven't lived until you've heard Dale give a rendition of the Statler Bro's. "Elvira". Suffice it to say that the "apres-flying" activities make this flyin a hoot!
Saturday morning started out with a Poker Run. Dang it! It was cold for that one, too! I made my run, froze my butt off and then headed back to do the competition.
The morning winds picked up again so we all went back into the hall for more informative seminars. Ernie had talked Nancy ??? (Sorry, Nancy. Forgot your last name) from the local Flight Service office into coming down and talking to us about how to get a proper weather briefing. Nancy was one of the weather briefers who had been giving pilot briefings for the last 13 years. It was sure nice to meet her and listen to her talk about how to get a good weather briefing.
After Nancy was finished, Ralph McClurg gave a presentation on the new Sport Pilot ruling that takes effect Sept. 1st. A lot was learned here also. Afterwards, a Rotax seminar and then Tim Mccord from PD had everyone outside by the hangers showing how to rig a PD chute. Did I mention that there was a LOT of information to be learned at this flyin?
The winds became cooperative at about 3:00pm on Saturday and the field was opened up again. I did another poker run with Judy as my co-pilot. Afterwards, we then headed off across the country to fun fly and do a little "adventuring". We headed to the east towards the Rt. 66 airfield which was marked on Ernie's map of the area. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Stearman that had given us the airshow the day before sitting in the grass. The owners waved to us as Judy and I did a low pass so I came around, landed and went over to visit with them.
The owner of the Stearman was wheeling a pretty little J-3 Piper Cub out of the hanger. Buck must have been about 70-74 years old. The Piper Cub belonged to his 96 yr. old father - who was STILL alive and had been STILL flying it up until last year. He was the one who had given us the impromptu airshow the day before. Both being aerobatic pilots (him with a LOT more experience than I) we hit it off immediately. We watched other ppc's fly over without stopping and did some "hanger flying" for the better part of an hour. Apparently, on weekends, he brings out the airplanes, sets up tables and a bunch of his friends fly in for a little get-together. Judy and I had dropped in on his preparations. I didn't want to impose but he wouldn't let us leave - LOL.
I finally got away and headed back over to my machine to get it ready to take off. Buck came over a minute later and said, with a wondering tone, that Judy mentioned that I could do aerobatics with my PPC. Well... I hadn't done any sharp maneuvers at the flyin because it was forbidden and I was really jonsesing to show off so I agreed to show him what an elliptical chute and a properly crazy pilot could do. I made a quick take-off, climbed to 700 feet and looked around to make sure that noone was nearby. 3 barrel rolls and one loop later they were all clapping from the ground (I am NOT advocating aerobatics in a ppc. Do NOT try this.). Judy and I took off to return to the airfield as the first of Buck's guests flew by us in a C-172.
We landed and got out so that I could refuel for another flight. John Wilson and I had a little "grudge match" to settle. All day, we had been asking to have an engine-out competition. (Did I mention that we're both hyper-competitive? - He had beat me earlier *barely* in arm wrestling) No such luck. It had been decided earlier that there would be no advanced-pilot-required type competitions this year. I could understand that but it didn't hurt to ask - over and over and over again.
Finally, Ernie couldn't stand our whining anymore. He agreed to a "gunfight competition". Ernie, John Wilson, Dave Krause and I tied fiberglass "spears" to the noses of our machines and headed out to the field right at sunset. The object was simple. A helium balloon would be released and the pilot would have three attempts to fly into the balloon and stab it with our "spears".
Ernie was first. Darn it if, on the second pass, he was successful at spearing that darn balloon!!!
I was next. The sun had set and the light was going fast. I let the balloon drift fairly high so that I could see it better before I made my first pass. I *barely* misjudged the balloon, speared the styrofoam cup that was tied to it (partially filled with water as ballast so that it wouldn't rise too fast) and watched the balloon whiz right into my prop after heading over my left shoulder. Rubber and styrofoam confetti EVERYWHERE. :-) Thanks, Ernie, for not using any materials that would damage my prop. :-) Hey! At least I got SOMETHING on the first pass!
Dave Krause and John Wilson went next. Neither got the balloon but I'm sure that it was really too dark by that time to be able to see any object very well by that time.
Oh... as I came in for a landing, I cut the engine at 300 ft. and headed for the bomb drop circle painted in the center of the field. John and I had discussed a little private "gunfight" of our own before we departed. Closest to the center wins. I won't say anymore about that little grudge match but the field judges were watching us and made a ruling. John... "Who's yer daddy?!!!"
After landing, I put away my chute and started pushing my machine back to the trailer when I heard the loudest sound that I've heard in a long time. The Jet-Chute was being started and I was directly downfield from the tail of that spinning turbine noise maker. THAT THING IS LOUD! I had to stop and put my hands over my ears to keep from going permanently deaf. Geez! That thing could wake the dead! (Sure was a cool demonstration, though.)
After a good fried-chicken dinner, we had an awards presentation for the competition and another karoake evening. This evening was even better than Friday's rendition. Judy, my sweetheart, has an awesome singing voice and was pressed upon to sing time after time again. Dale managed to get John Wilson and myself (I don't know how) to come up and sing "Hotel California" with him. I brought down the house (and got dollars stuffed in my pants and a room key thrown at my feet) for my singing annihilation of Toby Keith's "Who's Your Daddy?". Um... that was sang to JUDY and not to you, John... :-)
'Round midnight the karoake ended - but the party had just begun. Seems that a number of people (who will remain forever nameless) had the bright idea of piling into a truck and driving up the road to Ernie's house. They were going to get out and yell "Clear Prop" at his bedroom window. Oh... Did I mention that it was Ernie's 38th wedding anniversary? I, wisely, abstained and went to take a shower but was standing outside when the motley crew returned. I won't say ANYTHING about what transpired - but the mental image of Ernie coming to the door wrapped in a towel is not one that I want to conjure up. (Ernie - CLOSE YOUR BLINDS AT NIGHT!!!)
And the party was STILL not over. Some errant and heavily innebriated souls dragged Judy and I out to a big oak tree in the front field for another 45 minutes to howl at the moon and continue the late-night partying.
I did not make the next morning pilot briefing...
Sunday morning seemed to be the best morning for flying. However, the only one that was up was old Jay Gill - our field marshall. Jay's one of my favorite people and he'll always be one of the first people that I look for when I return each year. He was probably alone on Sunday morning, though. I finally showed up about 7:30 to find only a smattering of people up and about and NOONE flying - even though the weather was looking good.
We had a long way to head back so I started packing up to leave early and didn't fly on Sunday morning. About 8:30 or so, some fliers finally got up into the air and headed out for some primo flying, however. I'm sure that they had a good day of it.
I got to meet a lot of good people. Bruce Brown (our host at ppcflyingforums.org) made it for some Saturday flying and did a little grass cutting on the back 40. Jim Baker from Ft. Smith, Arkansas and the only other Paraski at the flyin was also back this year. Brock Shields "der rotte campfleuger" made it with his Red Baron Powrachute. Geez! The list goes on and on. There were a LOT of people in attendance.
Suffice it to say that last year, I think that the count was 49 pilots and machines. This year, there were 80 machines and 83 pilots registered. This flyin is going to turn into one of the "major" flyins of the year - mark my words.
Again, many kudos and thanks to Ernie and Ted Baugh and family, friends and flying club for a wonderfully organized and well-executed and SAFE flyin.
Walt Meziere
Rockwall, TX
Destiny 2000/XLT
Rotax 582
Thunderbolt 340 chute