LadiesLoveTaildraggers

Welcome to Victoria Yeager who is based at KCOO, Nevada County Air Park, Grass Valley, California.

General Eichhorn, General Yeager, Victoria Yeager after Gen Yeager flew F-16 at Edwards AFB

Victoria recently registered on Ladies Love Taildraggers and happens to be married to General Chuck Yeager! And about flying taildraggers, she says, “It’s more challenging. And it feels more historical. Better prep for some warbirds.”

Victoria & General Chuck Yeager - P-51 Red Dog at Edwards AFB Open House Air Show, discussing his flight before taking off.

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Victoria & General Chuck Yeager

Victoria hosts a blog about her experiences flying with Chuck Yeager. Check it out at http://victoriayeager.com/ .

Elisa Bretterebner, one of our own lady taildragger pilots from Austria, forwarded this personal story that’s full of passion and determination to assure a fine aircraft flies again. Elisa tells the story in her words and begs everyone to know English is not her first language. I think she did a marvelous job!  All pictures are from “Lady Violet’s” first flight.

I am pleased to send you the story about my Lady Violet!

This is a story about “the flying legend“ – the Blanik. It is the most produced glider worldwide, but not allowed to fly anymore. Hardly everyone in the aeroclubs around the world knows the plane as well as the main spar issue. On 12 June 2010, a Blanik L13 wing separated in flight, resulting in two fatalities.  As a result, all Blaniks were grounded by the EASA and other safety agencies all over the world.

After a while of just being shocked by this fatal accident, my colleague and I, who is the team leader of Blanix Team, decided to do everything to get the Blaník back in the air. Aircraft Design and Certification Ltd. (AD&C) was assigned the task and have finally developed a supplemental type certification (STC). The STC includes a structural modification as well as an inspection program, as method of compliance for EASA-AD-2010-0185-E.

One of our planes, OE-0758, was the first modified Blaník L-13 worldwide and therefore approved to fly. Please find some pictures of this overwhelming event on my facebook page by clicking the following link: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2070885134436.131284.1314093753&type=1 . This was followed by our second plane, the OE-5733, which is actually the second plane of the Blanix Team – we had 2 modified planes on my homebase in Aigen im Ennstal. Unfortunately, it was very hard to get a third plane for our aeroclub back in the air because on all our other Blaníks cracks were indicated in the main spar area. Therefore, the planes were not able to be modified and we had to look for a “new“ plane. It is really a long story, it took us more than six months to find an appropriate plane, buying and modifying it – if I would tell you all the details it would maybe take another half year …

Anyhow, today I am proud to introduce our new plane “Lady Violet“ to you and on 19th November, I was finally allowed to perform a testflight after the modification. But not only that, it was also her first flight in Aigen im Ennstal (Austria) ever, because her former homebase was in Kromeriz, Czech Republic.

The first flight with Lady Violet was a handsome reward after a lot of paper work. Check out the pictures and her color and guess why I found it interesting to share them with you

 I bet you can imagine what my male colleagues say and how they judge about the color of the plane…

Anyway! I like it and if the sky is actually not pink, I think at least my plane should be violet!

I have say it – - – I just love all the men that check out LadiesLoveTaildraggers! What, you say? Men – on a LADY taildraggers site? You bet! The men always know all the cool girls. Well, sometimes they come just to see if lady taildragger pilots really do exist but when they know taildraggin’ gals, they send them our way. It’s a beautiful thing!

Take Philip Jones of South Australia for example. He not only knows four women who fly taildraggers in Australia, he’s forwarded them links to the blog and bought them all lady taildragger t-shirts. So far we’ve registered Donna Trigg, Dianne Hart & Susan Bolton of the ‘Downunder’ group. Phil tells me it’s really difficult to get all the ladies together in one spot at one time but he did manage to get Donna & Dianna together for a quick photo op.

Donna & Dianne look lovely in their new t’s and I’m a little jealous – it’s summertime in Australia!

Donna & Di at Mick & Di Hart's hangar, Port Lincoln

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Di (left) & Donna (right)

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Now this is a nice set-up!

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Let me introduce you to Philip Jones & his fine Supercub. Philip's got a project in his future; he's waiting on new Supercub kit to arrive and hoping it gets there before Christmas.

Thanks Philip and keep on recruiting for us Downunder!

Judy

Deb Nelson is based at Casa Grande Municipal Airport, Casa Grande, Arizona. Also KEMP and KAST.

Here’s a surprise everyone can share in!

Deb’s proud husband wanted to surprise her so he registered her on Ladies Love Taildraggers. Welcome Deb to our fun group of lady taildragger pilots! We’re anxious to hear more about your taildragger flying – and your hot air balloon flying too!

Deb landing her Citabria at KCGZ Casa Grande, Arizona

Hi Judy,

This is Steve, I filled out a registration application for my wife Deb Nelson. I’m signing her up as a surprise. I found your web-site in an aviation publication. I showed it to Deb and she loved it. She’ll find out soon.

Deb's just about to earn her Hot air Balloon certificate. " Even lower & slower". That's Deb on her first solo flight.

Deb loves to fly her Citabria 7GCBC. That’s her in the photo just about to land at KCGZ Casa Grande, Arizona. We’re based there in the winter and at the “Eastern most airport in the USA” KEPM Eastport Maine in the summer. We also have a hangar at KAST Astoria, Oregon. Her GCBC has flown back and forth between all of them.

Pitot Tube, the poochie!

Our dog ‘Pitot Tube’ & cat ‘Broken’ also fly!!

And the kittie, Broken!

Thanks for including her in Ladies Love Taildraggers. I’m sure she’ll add more info & photos once she can log-in.

Conventional gear is the best !

Best Regards,

Steve Trieber

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! My 20 lb. turkey’s roasting away, all those starchy goodies are in the works, the pumpkin pies are baked and I’m kicked back waiting on the hungry crowd to arrive. Sadly, my poor turkey wasn’t lucky enough to get this important message from Katherine…..

To all my friends from the U.S., I hope you have a blessed day relaxing and enjoying family and friends – where ever you find yourself today. Be thankful for your blessings, whether meager or abundant, and remember those that serve our country. If your mama can’t be there to tell you, then I surely will,  ”Count your blessings!!”.

And try not to eat as much as I do!!

Judy

I’m slow getting this posted but that doesn’t diminish this major accomplishment by Jessy Panzer. Congratulations are way overdue! Jessy came in 11th place in the U.S. Nationals in the Advanced category and received a coveted position on the U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team. She earned her spot flying a S1S Pitts Special which is generally thought of as a less capable competition aircraft. So how does that translate? It takes more talent to succeed when you’re flying less airplane. Don’t believe me? – See the cartoon at the tail end of this for proof – cartoons never lie!

Jessy Panzer flying a Pitts S1S

Jessy Panzer

U. S. World Advanced Aerobatic Team

Jessy Panzer, Watsonville Airshow 2010:

I laughed my myself silly last week when Howard Davenport sent me this video. It technically has nothing to do with Jessy but it’s way to perfect not to include.

Composite Monoplane Pilot
by: MNForrest

Jo Bachman-Alcorn sent some beautiful pictures of her and husband Steve’s “adventures in a J3 from Indiana to Florida”. Besides being a taildragger pilot, Jo has flown the Women’s Air Race since 2006 and is currently a director for the Air Race Classic.

Freezing out of Bedford, IN into headwinds.

“Hi, folks, Steve and I just got home from our latest adventure ferrying a 1939 J3 Cub from Bedford, IN to Winter Haven, FL.  We left in freezing temps and it stayed that way into Florida.  12 stops, 3 full days, avg.  50 knots ground speed, don’t need a GPS- only a calendar!”

Stopped at deserted Breckenridge, KY (below) in hopes of fuel. No one there and no fuel...

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After fueling at Elizabethtown we headed south to Lafayette, TN.

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Out of Lafayette, TN at 2000' thru the pass at treetop level....She wasn't a climber!

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Out of McMinnville Airport thru the TN valley (above) at 2000' again.....and over the Blue Ridge Valley (below). Finally had tailwinds (90 knots) for that leg.

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And the end of a long first day in Rome GA. 27 degrees in the am. A valve stuck.

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After some sunshine to provide a little warmth toward noon, we were on our way south again....

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Just keep heading south to LaGrange, GA

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Landing with our shadow at Eufaula, AL

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...then on to pretty little Quincy, FL airport without paved taxiways.

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Then down thru desolate Perry, FL and Cross City....across the Shawnee River. See the seaplane base?

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Thru rain showers around Inverness, FL

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And finally into Winter Haven. Home!

Jo

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Melissa Bohl is based at French Valley Airport (F70), Murrieta/Temecula, California.

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Melissa Bohl & Cessna 170B

I happily learned to fly in a 1953 Cessna 170B.  I soloed and took my private in the 170 and more recently I’ve been flying a Cessna 140A.

New addition to the family. Say hello to the Hornet.

I enjoy barnstorming around Southern California’s Anza Borrego desert.

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Flying over Lake Isabella in the 170

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Working on my commercial rating...agua dulce

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Thanks,

Melissa

A pilot update; Mary MacDonald, California. She’s been a busy busy girl! Recently featured in a documentary film by Michigan based production company Airspeed, she appears in Acro Camp 2, a  film that follows first time aerobatic pilots for one week as they learn the art of aerobatic flying. Mary’s also working on getting her Commercial right now!

Acro!

From the Santa Cruz Sentinel: While attending a local air show, Macdonald learned of the opportunity to participate in a film about first-time aerobatic pilots. After an application and interview process, she was cast by the Michigan-based production company Airspeed to appear in Acro Camp 2, the sequel to 2010′s Acro Camp, a film that similarly followed novice aerobatic pilots.

When asked about any last minute jitters, the nearly six-foot Macdonald recalls “waking up every night for the last month and lying wide awake thinking about flying upside down. I felt both excited and scared.” Her fears are understandable – aside from the physical demands, complicated flight stunts and an accelerated gravitational pull often requires that pilots don a parachute. But for the risk-loving roller derby enthusiast, the real appeal of aerobatics is something closer to meditation. “When you’re pulling up Gs, and tensing your body up, you just don’t have time to think about the unimportant things. Other times, I’m just sitting at my computer. But when I go fly, that’s when I think ‘this is living!’”

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It’s not a free ride – since the film is made directly out of pocket, participants must pay their own way. Thanks in part to two-fold donations made through her website rubyriptide.com and private contributions, Macdonald, a single mother, was able to raise the money necessary to pursue her airborne adventures.

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If you ask her, it’s worth the price of admission – aside from an intensive four daylong flight lesson, Macdonald cited the film’s success and large following within the aviation community as contributing factors in her decision to put herself – and her nerves – to the test.

Mary MacDonald, a.k.a., “Ruby Riptide”, a member of the Harbor Hellcats, one of the four teams that make up the amateur roller derby league the Santa Cruz Derby Girls.

Mary MacDonald

Roller derby time! Go Ruby Go!

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Check out Mary’s short video “First Hammerhead”!

Click here for Mary's blog where you can watch a video about Acro Camp II and make a donation: Ruby Riptide
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Posted Febuary 5, 2010

Mary Macdonald is based at  Angwin-Parrett Field (2O3)  in Calistoga, CA.

Mary with her Maule

I fly a Maule M7-235 taildragger and have a tailwheel and high performance.  I enjoy backcountry flying the very most!

I hope to meet some more taildraggin’ ladies.  I sell Maules and Maule parts too;  http://maules.com.

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High Society really did exist in the golden age of aviation. Here are a few photos and tidbits from that bygone era.

JAYNE SHATTUCK TOPPING. From The Evening News, Sault St, Marie, MI, Dec. 15, 1937,  ”A Top Flight was made by Jayne Shattuck Topping, 32, society aviatrix, who flew from Detroit to New York in 2 hours, 20 minutes.”

Jayne Shattuck Topping

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Here’s an absolutely gorgeous photograph of Carol Lombard prettily posed on a wheel pant of a 1935 Waco CJC. Andy Heins reports Carol was a pilot so this picture fits perfectly in our group of “High Society” flying photos.

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Carol Lombard, 1935 Waco CJC

Sadly it was a plane crash that took the life of Carol Lombard in 1942. She boarded a DC3 in Indianapolis for a 17 hour flight to Burbank, California. It made a scheduled stop at Albuquerque where there were nine officers waiting with military orders enabling them to bump any civilian off the plane. Lombard argued that having just sold two million dollars’ worth of war bonds, she must have some “rank.” The Army officers gave in and Carol Lombard stayed on the flight.

Plane Crash Site

From Time Magazine, “The pilot, Wayne Williams, seemed unconcerned when he reported at 7:07 P.M. that he was slightly off course, about thirty-five miles west of Las Vegas. Eyewitnesses later reported that it was just about that time that the plane burst into flames. Some thought it happened just before the plane hit Olcott Mountain, also called Table Rock.”

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A 1933 RKO musical film staring Delores del Rio, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Billed as a “Musical extravaganza staged in the clouds!” And “Romance that soars to the skies on the wings of song!”

FLYING DOWN TO RIO MOVIE

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Lady Grace Drummand-Hay was the widow of a British journalist. “As a journalist for the Hearst press organization, Drummond-Hay made her first zeppelin flight in October, 1928, when she was chosen to accompany five other reporters — including her companion and Hearst colleague Karl von Wiegand — on the first transatlantic flight of the Graf Zeppelin from Germany to America.  As the only woman on the flight, Drummond-Hay received a great deal of attention in the world’s press.” (From Airships.net)

LADY GRACE DRUMMAND-HAY AND KARL WIGAND

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From the Palm Beach Daily News, March 2, 1935; “Among prominent members of the international colony at the (Breakers) Hotel are Miss Ninette Heaton and her mother, Mrs. J. E. Heaton of New York and London. Although very young, Miss Heaton is an accomplished aviatrice and can be seen daily flying her red and silver plane in the sunny Florida skies.”

Ninette Heaton, In front of her Waco 1934