LadiesLoveTaildraggers

Bonnie Ritchey is based at Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, California (KRHV) and flies a Pitts S-2A.

I got my license about a year ago in a Citabria and was already hooked on aerobatics by then.

In June last year I bought a Pitts S-2A in Ohio, flew it back to California and am looking forward to entering my first IAC contest this year!

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Some great news from student pilot Shannon Gallagher who is learning to fly in this little yellow Taylorcraft – she just passed her written exam and couldn’t be more excited about it!  That little task is out of the way!  Shannon flies this 65 hp Taylorcraft out of Baker Field (O3M) and wanted us to know how she’s doing.

“Just thought I’d let you know I took my written test today at John Tune Airport in Nashville, and passed with flying colors.  I was so wound up going in but they made me feel comfortable and talked with me for a bit before they got down to the brass tacks of the test.  From the way my instructor is talking he will solo me in the next couple lessons,  then it’s on to the cross country stuff.”

“Chuck thinks I will have finished up my training by the time you have your fly-in and is encouraging me to go.  He says he’ll come along then rent a car and go to the museum.”

“Well I just wanted to give you the news, cause I’m really excited about it, I feel like a giddy school kid.”

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Shannon also sent in this flyer for a May 15 Fly-in

From Susan Theodoroles, who is flying her 1930 Waco RNF with photographer Tim, along with Pete & Andy in their Wacos…

These were such good photos, I wanted to share them… Tim Cox (www.TailHookStudio.com) took these while we were flying around Sunday evening after the Doolittle Raider Weekend.

Above, my brother-in-law is flying the 1930 Waco CRG NC600Y (Red and Cream) with the big gnarly 350 super charged Wright engine.  He was about to fall out of the sky flying along with me — and when he pushed the throttle forward, all I could hear was that Wright Engine screaming — drowned out my poor little Warner!  It was great fun!

This photo of me I look so serious — but I was really having a great time! LOLOL  I was probably just making sure I wasn’t about to get run over by Pete and Andy!

Looking off the wing of the RNF is  a great shot of the grass landing strip at I73.  (By the way, you’re getting a great look at the same airport the Lady Taildraggers Fly-in will be held this summer, Moraine Airpark).

The next photo’s looking back at Andy catching us in the 1934 Waco YKC-S — it wouldn’t take him long to zip past us that’s for sure…but at least I look speedier than he is!

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Jan Johnson is based at Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV) Santa Clara County, San Jose, California and flies a Citabria 7ECA.

I’m relatively new to flying, but have been around airplanes my entire life. I earned my private pilot certificate in October 2009, flying a Piper Cherokee Warrior, then immediately jumped into learning to tame a taildragger. I currently fly a Citabria 7ECA, but am eager to move up to the 7KCAB and eventually the Decathlon. I’m learning aerobatics right now and love it.

My goal is to eventually get checked out in the North American AT-6D “Texan” from World War II. I’m also quite fond of the North American P-51 Mustang.

Looking forward to meeting some of the other taildragger gals at a future fly-in.

Blue skies,
Jan Johnson

After annual, I took the little yellow sport cub from Sparta, Illinois heading west in a giant loop around St. Louis, Missouri. The morning was beautiful with calm winds. There are many airports in and around St. Louis that are suitable for the tailwheel to land, but this trip I just took pictures. I did a circumvent of STL at approximately the 30 mile veil!!!  I circled my house as well as a friend’s house taking aerial photographs then most of the airports around STL. I also got the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and their confluence – then back to Sparta – whew!!  The rivers were full with spring rain and the Missouri looked very muddy where it joined with the Mississippi River. Enjoy!

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And from 2009, a couple shots.

Diana does tailwheel instruction in her CubCrafters Sport Cub S2. Votaw Aviation

Meet Natalie McHaffie who is based at KYKF, Waterloo Regional Airport,  Etobicoke, Ontario Canada and flies a Pitts Special.

Hi everybody,

I fly a Pitts Special two seater at Waterloo Regional Airport. I’ve never been very competitive but I have entered aerobatic contests most years since I learned to fly in my forties.  The first contest I flew in the ‘Sportsman’ category with just 27 hours on my license. I’m especially proud of my daughter who flies airlines and trains airline pilots.

I’m really looking forward to the taildragger summer fly-in – a great idea.

Nat

Meet Bobbi Boucher,  A&P, IA, & CFI based at  Shannon Airport (EZF) Fredricksburg, VA and builder, pilot and owner of this RV-4.

This white, pink and gold RV-4 pictured was built and test-flown by Bobbi Boucher over a period of six years – all 14,820 rivets; no quick-build for this girl!  The plane first flew in January 1998 and has since accumulated 402 hours.  N2QT is powered by a 160 horsepower Lycoming O-320 turning a fixed-pitch, wooden,  two-blade propeller by Aymar-Demuth. Bobbi knows her engine inside and out – she built it up herself.

Bobbi holds a Commercial Pilot certificate with ratings for Single and Multi-engine Land and Seaplanes, and is also a Certified Flight Instructor. She started out flying sailplanes, and first soloed in 1973.

She spent six years in the Navy working on P-3s, which enabled her to get her Airframe and Powerplant ratings. Thanks to the Navy, she was also able to get her Flight Engineer rating.

Bobbi also went to Africa, at the request of the World Wildlife Foundation, to build and fly a Beaver RX 550 ultralight aircraft for the Foundation.

She has also done a firewall-forward Lancair 320 and has built a Super Lancair ES with an IO-550 up front.

Bobbi has flown her RV-4 in five AirVenture Cup races, making her the most experienced female pilot and solo pilot in AirVenture Cup history.

Bobbi says her RV-4 is featured on page 18 of Kit Planes, May 2010 issue.  She also signed up for the Air Classic too!  Bobbi can be reached at her website, The Plane Doctor.

Rhonda’s Skywagon named “Jezebel”!

My first flight was at 3 months old in a Cessna 195.  My Dad was a cropduster in Arkansas for 46 years so I cut my teeth on taildraggers,  short strips, levee tops, and sand bars. I have 47 airplanes in my logbook and 27 are tailwheel.  I used to instruct in a J3 Cub outside of Nashville.  I fly Hawker 800XP’s to support my habit of aircraft ownership.  I am ATP rated with 3 type ratings but my love is tailwheel.   I have a 1972 Cessna 180 now, which is my dream plane.  ”Everyone has a dream, don’t they??”

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In 1998 I flew around the world, through Russia and Siberia, with a female friend in a M-5 Maule.  Taken from the website:

Americans Rhonda Miles and Nikki Mitchell recreated one of history’s most daring and remarkable flights. The journey, known as the Flight of the Rodina, was a story of courage and stamina in the tradition of Lindbergh and Earhart. It took place 60 years ago in 1938, when three Russian women pilots flew non-stop from Moscow to the southeastern tip of Siberia. They flew with virtually no radio transmission, through skies so overcast they blocked all visual landmarks yet they broke a world record and opened up the route across Siberia. They were feted worldwide, and received their country’s highest award, The Gold Star of hero of the Soviet Union.

Best friends and around the world partners, Nikki Mitchell & Rhonda Miles, pictured before their 1998 around the world flight.

The following picture is with the group in front of the Maule is in Siberia.  The men are Russian military, sent to fly along with us in a military AN-2.  They were to “Be SUPPORT” (yeah !!)  I am the one in a ball cap.  The girl to my right is Khalide Makaganova the, 1984 World Aerobatic Champion.  She flew with me in the Maule.  The brunette to my left if Nikki Mitchell, my best friend and the one that did the flight with me.  Through Russia she flew in an AN-2 with Natalia Vinakarova, an airline pilot with Magadan Air.  Nikki manages Waylon Jennings business and has for over 20 years.

We still have a website up with the flight on it at  www.bridgeofwings.com .

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In 1990 and 1991, I also spent a month each year in the jungles of Vanuatu searching with the Ni-Vanuatu natives for the remains of a WWII pilot that was killed in a Corsair.

Corsair found in jungles of Vanuatu

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This is Nikki and I hauling our first transport of 12 dogs for Pilots N Paws.  Since Jan 31, 2010 “Jezebel” my Skywagon has saved 40 dogs lives.

So, I guess you could say, I love aviation, tailwheels, and adventure..  LOL…   Always looking for a new one!

Pictures courtesy of Richard Foord @ Richard.Foto4@btinternet.com.  Thank you, Richard, and also to Nic Orchard for sending the link on the Tiger Moth’s flying adventures over Gatwick in the UK.  This was one rare event for some lucky GA flyers, thanks to the volcanic eruption.

“This was probably a ” once in a lifetime ” opportunity and was hastily put together by enthusiastic Tiger Club members within a very short space of time while having a cup of tea and a piece of cake – a few phone calls later and all the usual reprobates arrived and after a briefing we were ready to go. This shows the true spirit of the Tiger Club and sport aviation – that’s what flying is all about – having jolly good fun !!  A total of thirteen aircraft formed the Balbo.”

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Pictures from this link:

Tiger Club Invades Gatwick

Anne flies a PA18 Super Cub out of Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (KARB), Michigan.

Anne Wright meeting friends at a grass strip in Michigan for lunch

I earned my PPL in Sept. 1995 and got my seaplane rating in Feb. 2009. About 800 hours, almost half in my Super Cub which my husband bought for me as a surprise in June 2002!  I mostly fly locally, Michigan, Ohio & Wisconsin but sometimes venture a bit farther.  How far do you really have to go for ice cream??!

This next picture was taken at Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base, Feb. 2009, when I got my seaplane rating in a Cub on straight floats.

I’m in CAP, EAA Chapter 1190 (Adrian, MI), AOPA, Michigan FAASTeam & Women in Aviation (Yankee Ladies Chapter at Willow Run).  Occasional BBQs at my hangar, too.

Above and below at Empire, MI, with a bunch of Stearmans on their annual Fly Lake Michigan tour.