LadiesLoveTaildraggers

Tina Thomas from Poplar Grove Airport, Illinois

May 31st, 2010 | 1 Comment

From Tina Thomas at Poplar Grove Airport flying the 1931 Waco SRE!

“Some wacky Waco flying over the weekend…first time out this season for T.O.L’s…Steve’s been playing producer of flying videos this weekend!”

And if the Waco SRE isn’t a rare enough sight for you, check out Tina Thomas flying her 1930 Brunner-Winkle Bird this week!

Thanks, Tina, for the 2 fun videos. Makes me wish I was up there with you!!

Linda Schumm (Illinois)

May 29th, 2010 | 4 Comments

Linda Schumm is based at 3MY, Mount Hawley Auxiliary Airport, Peoria, Illinois and flies a 1947 Luscombe 8A and a 1945 Grumman TBM Avenger.

My first tailwheel was a 1947 Luscombe 8A – I still own it. Then I learned to fly the T-6 (perhaps the biggest flying challenge of my life!). I co-own a 1945 Grumman TBM Avenger. Now that’s a fun airplane, and it’s easy to fly.

I’ve been flying for 24 years but just got hooked on tailwheels about 8 years ago. I have flown my Luscombe as far as Mt. Rushmore and have flown the Avenger throught the Midwest.

When I’m not playing with those, I own and operate a flight school in Peoria where we teach in glass cockpit aircraft. I’m a CFI, CFII and MEI. Talk about both ends of the spectrum! I hope to bring the Luscombe to the fly-in.

Fantastic Beach Flight Video

May 28th, 2010 | 2 Comments

If you like the Beach Boys AND taildraggers you’re going to love this Cub flight from Winter Haven, Florida to St. Pete’s Albert Whited Airport past the Skyway Bridge and along the coast. Greg Scott says we can all enjoy his little video and wants everybody to know he does not own the rights to the music. Hey, this one’s a guy thing – lady taildraggers understand some of the boys love taildraggers too!

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Christina Chapman (Idaho)

May 26th, 2010 | 7 Comments

Christina Chapman flies an American Champion Scout and is based at KMYL McCall, Idaho.

Christina Chapman at Slate Creek

I am a very lucky taildragger pilot. My backdoor is the largest forested wilderness in the lower 48. Central Idaho is home to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness where the famous Salmon River, Middle Fork & South Forks of the Salmon flow, east and north of my home in McCall. Hell’s Canyon is to the west of McCall dropping to the Snake River with backcountry adventure all year long. Local pilots talk about “Flying to Hell and back” for fishing or camping.

Three other wildernesses join the “Frank” so we enjoy about 4.5 million acres of wilderness aviation, most within a hour of my home. That luck goes beyond the ordinary. I’m grateful, very appreciative, and never take life for granted.

On the Middle Fork 2008

I fly an American Champion Scout outfitted for backcountry aviation ordered new from the factory in Wisconsin in 2005. I took delivery December 15, 2005, did a test flight over the factory, and flew it home with one stipulation: Since I had zero tailwheel time, my flight instructor flew back with me and that began my tailwheel endorsement. It was a 3-day flight due to snowstorms in Cheyenne Wyoming and winds aloft on day two exceeded 50 knots which slowed us down considerably. I had some eye-popping landings and wing walkers were required on taxi to parking. My take off from Sioux City was barely two plane lengths in a 18-knot headwind; my plane jumped up with me sqealing with joy. I heard some yips in the backseat too as well, so contagious was that moment of joy.

I slept great each night after complete emotional and physical exhaustion on those challenging but exhilarating flights. Priceless moment after moment storied us across the country. Tied down in Cheyenne, pilots from a Lear and Kingair parked on either side of my Scout were intrigued by that little taildragger and we made an amusing ramp sight. “Wow”, one captain said to me, “Your plane looks brand new. How many hours is on it?” “Three” I said. He just stared and slowly a knowing smile overtook his face. I fell asleep with huge grins every night on that journey home.

My color scheme has a vintage look of burgandy over cream. The tail is red/burgandy in honor of the Tuskeegee Airman–a favored aviation history. The engine is upgraded from 180hp to 210hp. Then I added Tundra Tires. It flies like a dream with a cruise of 122mph. However, I throttle back to a comfortable 70-90 mph in canyons & tight terrain or when flying with friends in their Kit Fox or Cub.

Formation with friend in Kitfox

Before my taildragger, I enjoyed a 1959 Cessna 182 for 4 years. Then after my second child, my husband, also a pilot, and I bought a 1982 Turbo 206 and we flew that for nearly 8 years before I bought my Scout. The 206 was our introduction to flying the backcountry. That’s why we moved from Steamboat Springs, Colorado after nearly 30 years there to McCall, Idaho: Just for the backcountry aviation. Since then we sold the 206 and my husband flies his Found Bushhawk and I my Scout.

I wouldn’t trade my plane for any other right now; it’s that much fun. And getting 8-10 gph is rather economical aviation especially for today’s fuel prices.

Scout at GV

When in Idaho, give me a call. There are fewer women aviators these days. Many here stopped flying due to costs or medical reasons. Some sold their planes due to the economic stress. For those of us who still squeak by, stay flying. You’ll notice that I don’t have lot of diamonds or fancy clothes because my fun-money goes to the fuel/maintenance budget.

Hells Canyon

My passion is the outdoors. I enjoy flying to Indian Creek, Thomas Creek, the Flying B, the Root Ranch, Upper Loon, Moose Creek, or Shearer for backpacking, fishing, or even airplane camping. I’m always up for a backcountry adventure. Life is short. So why not fly? And…Why not fly a taildragger in the backcountry! For me, it has been more bang for the adventure and passion buck.

Christina Chapman 208-634-9855

christina@mindelevations.com

Kristie’s Flying Adventure!

May 24th, 2010 | 2 Comments

It may have taken 34 years, but hey, we got the job done right this time!! The last time I took my friend Kristie Kirsch for a plane ride it didn’t go so well. We had just taken off in my 1940 tandem 2 place Porterfield from a 2,600′ grass strip and were probably under 100′ agl when I heard her hollering from the back seat, “TAKE ME BACK TAKE ME BACK!!”

Guess I should say we did TWO takeoffs and the same thing happened both times!! That was 34 years ago and I’ve been waiting patiently all these years to try it again and give her a happy flight to remember.

So when Kristie was visiting over the weekend she wasn’t exactly thrilled at the thought of flying with me again, or with anyone else for that matter. But hey, I was going for a sunset flight and I invited her to come along so she had to decide if she was going to try it again after all these years or be a land lover and hang out in the hangar.

We took the obligatory preflight photo and I hoped for the best…

Well, she went, we flew — and she LIKED it!

The flight was short – but sweet – in smooth air with a beautiful sunset – just perfect! Thanks, Kristie, I loved it and I know you LIKED it ….. at least a little!

The Documentary “Barnstorming”

May 23rd, 2010 | 2 Comments

Lady taildragger Susan Theodorelos has had many flying adventures but none so well documented as the documentary movie “Barnstorming”. You know Susan – its her home airport where the August Lady Taildraggers Fly-in will be held! The idea for the movie began in the spirit of 1930′s barnstorming and Susan can be seen flying her 1930 Waco RNF and husband, Andy, his 1934 Waco YKC-S. It’s an amazing true story that began in a dark green plot of alfalfa on a dairy farm and has turned into a real life tradition. If you love the idea of old time barnstorming, taildraggers, kids and rural family life you may want to see this one!

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For more information on the project, making of the movie or to buy the DVD visit BARNSTORMING, Friends Really Can Drop Out Of the Sky! ….and check out the movie trailer!

More Lady Taildraggers!!

May 21st, 2010 | 1 Comment

Check out a few random pictures of some of my lady taildragger Facebook friends.

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Next is Lou Renz “21st September 09, at sunset I achieved my life’s dream. Everything I have ever wanted to be came true.”

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Award Winner “Gail Schipper” from Colorado

May 19th, 2010 | 3 Comments

Congratulations to Gail Schipper for her Second Place Award for ‘Most Unusual First Flights’ in the Centennial of Licensed Women Pilots Event. The event was scheduled to honor the 100th anniversary of the first woman in the world to receive a pilot’s license, and I know at least 3 of our Lady Taildraggers participated! Gail lives in Colorado and even though the “Introduce another woman to Flight” event was the week of March 6, she still took four women for open cockpit rides in her Bucker Jungmann! She says “No award was offered for the coldest”. Gail gave four flights March 6 & 7 2010.

Watch Gail’s fun video where she introduced 4 ladies to taildragger flying:

Listen to the Ladies Love Taildraggers “Warbird Radio Podcast”

May 17th, 2010 | 2 Comments

Judy and Susan visited with Matt Jolley today from WarbirdRadio.com about our website and the upcoming Lady Taildraggers fly-in.

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Click on this link to be redirected to WarbirdRadio.com to hear the podcast!

Ladies Love Taildraggers – Warbird Radio LIVE! – Tuesday

Donna Hanshew (Ohio)

May 17th, 2010 | 3 Comments

Donna Hanshew is based at OH28 Donner Field, Leesburg, Ohio.

Love your idea for the website!! I am a college professor in the Aviation Technology department at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I soloed a Piper Cub at Red Stewart Field (40I) back in 1990. Went on to earn all of my ratings and am a CFI/CFII at Wright Brothers Airport in Dayton.

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My husband and I own a 1959 PA-18-95 (Super Cub) and a Nanchang CJ6. We are based at OH28, Donner Field, our grass strip in Leesburg, Ohio.

I am blessed to be able to fly many types of aircraft – the Super Cub, the CJ6, Cessna 172′s, 152′s, Evektor SportStar, Piper Supercruiser and the Cirrus SR22. I love flying, especially with my students who call me “Mother Goose”.

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Donna, thanks for joining us on LadiesLoveTaildraggers!