LadiesLoveTaildraggers

To Gayle,

I am in awe of your passion and determination to learn to fly IN A TAILDRAGGER…. nothing else, no way, no how…. only a TAILDRAGGER would do! You have my ultimate respect for turning your dream into a reality. Congratulations on your 1st solo and all my best to you as you build hours and get that long awaited PPL.  Judy

Gayle Crowder

I live in Madison, NC and my home airport is Shiloh (KSIF) Rockingham County Airport. In October 2010 I met a 1941 Taylorcraft taildragger and went on my first General Aviation airplane ride. I was instantly and irrevocably in love! My lifelong endearment with airplanes and my fascination with history and antiques immediately overlapped when I met that Taylorcraft. I never knew “regular people” could own and fly an airplane. What an awakening! I knew I had to fly….and I knew I had to learn in a taildragger. Nothing else would suit me. Thus began my aviation journey.

THE T-craft!

I wanted to make sure I could pass the FAA written exam before I spent money on flying lessons. I started by taking online courses offered free through AOPA, then attended a 2-day ground school class. Two days later, I passed the written on the first try with a score of 93. I was ecstatic…passing that exam meant it was time to learn the “fun stuff”.

First solo takeoff. Never felt so great in my life as when my wheels lifted off the runway and I knew it was all up to me!

Months went by as I searched in vain for a CFI who could take me start to finish in a tailwheel aircraft. I joined LadiesLoveTaildraggers.com (LLT) and met some wonderful people, who introduced me to more people, all of whom began scouring the state and, indeed, the entire East Coast, trying to find that elusive Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). We had no luck at all.  Because of people I met through LLT, I joined the Vintage Aircraft Association (VAA)  and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). I went to the VAA Chapter 3 Spring Fly-In and was introduced to a fellow who owned a 1947 Aeronca L-16A. We were each planning to attend an airplane poker run a couple of weeks later. He was going to be there giving short flight lessons and said he’d take me up and let me “have at it.” He was true to his word, and it was wonderful! I loved that L-16A and I wanted to learn to fly in it so much I could hardly stand it. And his plane happened to be hangared at the airport right by my house. It couldn’t have been more perfect…

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I waited, waited, finally got my first logbook hour after flying a shiny new Liberty XL-2 and felt like a traitor to my own cause. I
decided not to give up on getting my tailwheel flight instructor. There were insurance issues to work out regarding a student pilot
flying a tailwheel aircraft at the point of solo. So, I continued to wait and wish and hope, and my frustration level was off the chart.
Then…I received an email from the L-16A CFI saying he had it all worked out and I could fly his plane from start of training to finish.
That was a wonderful day! I was, at last, on my way to learning to fly “the old way.”  That email was better than any gift I have ever
received.

After 1st Solo!!

And thus my long, aimless journey finally had a destination. Flying lessons commenced and I was forever changed. My CFI is just awesome and has more patience than I knew a person could possess. We’ve had to battle bad weather, conflicting schedules, annual inspections, etc. and just fly when we have the opportunity. I am on top of the world now…..on December 14, 2011, I did my first solo flight, 3 takeoffs and 3 landings to a full stop in the L-16A taildragger, a dream come true.  It was a real boost to my confidence and I can’t wait to climb back into that lovely yellow plane next week and continue on this amazing journey.

Gayle Crowder

All those who have soloed, and those who anxiously await the memorable day, will enjoy reading Barbara Kirmsse’s 1st solo account. Thanks Barbara for all the wonderful pictures and description of your 1st solo flight!!

Tail Up and Ready to Take Off

December 7th has a new meaning to me as well as reminding me of the enormous impact that the bombing of Pearl Harbor had on our nation! 12-7-11 is the day of my very first solo flight! This day can never be duplicated. Making it even sweeter is the fact that I soloed in a tail dragger…..an Aeronca Champ 7GC!

Lifting into Solo Flight for the 1st Time!

When I woke up on the morning of December 7th to sunshine and little wind….I knew this was the day! I was so excited and full of anticipation……and so ready! I wanted to do this. My instructor, Walt, met me at Flabob Airport at 11:00 A.M. With Walt in the back seat, I warmed up with five pretty nice take offs and landings. The time had come….Walt gave me one last instruction……..let him off at the end of the runway and to “HAVE FUN!”

Walt, Are You Back There?

When he exited the Champ and closed the door it was so quiet I could hear my own heart pounding! It was then that I realized that I wasn’t alone…that God was my copilot and Walt had thoroughly prepared me for this moment. I calmed down and concentrated on the task at hand. My Bill was there at the airport but tried to stay hidden so I wouldn’t be distracted. Are you kidding!!?!?!!…..I saw his truck behind those airplanes!!!! I was so happy he was there and….I was focused!!! The scene was set! ……Lights, Camera, Action!

Way Up High, Up In The Sky!

I announced “Flabob Traffic, Champ 9872Yanky, Departing Runway 24, Student Pilot…first solo flight, Flabob Traffic”!!!! Then I was on my way rolling down the runway, dancing on the rudders, rotating into solo flight. What an exhilarating feeling as the wind caught my wings and lifted my little Champ into the air! Everything went extremely well and as planned. I was amazed at the courtesy and encouragement the other pilots in the area gave me during my three solo take offs and landings. “Take your time, Champ” and “Whew Who” were some of the in flight acknowledgements.

First Solo Landing

It was on my way home from the airport that day that I called my dad and mom. They intuitively knew by the tone of my “Hello” that I had successfully accomplished my first solo! They were so excited and happy for me….gushing with loving congratulations! I had to laugh when I remembered the day I told my mom that I was almost ready to solo. She immediately said… “Well, your instructor will still be in the back seat, won’t he?” She wasn’t too happy with my answer!

Aaaah!!! The Autographed Tee Shirt!

My day was even more special due to the support of all my airport buddies who were there to take pictures and to cheer me on! They all helped to make this one of my most memorable days ever!

Barbara Kirsmme

Hi, Judy! Your great post about the end of summer (and your young lady co-pilot!) reminded me to send the blog some farewell-to-summer shots.

Instructor Elaine Kauh & Myron who restored his dad's 7AC Champ

Grass-roots flying at its best! September gave us the longest stretch of nice, dry weather we’ve had in Wisconsin all summer! Temps topped out at 75 degrees, with light winds and day after day of sunshine. The fall colors are just starting to show. The snow can fly as early as Halloween up here, so we enjoy the green turf for as long as we can.

Back taxi along the corn in the Champ

I just completed a few hours of recurrent taildragger instruction for a pilot who had fixed up his dad’s Aeronca 7AC Champ. I used to fly a similar Champ several years ago, so it was a joy to get re-acquainted with this fun little taildragger. It lives at Stoughton Airport, a private grass strip just outside Madison, WI.

Champ flying!

We took a short flight in mid-September to Brodhead Airport for the Midwest Antique Aircraft fly-in. Taildragger heaven! Three grass runways nestled in among the tall corn and trees, and pilots camping under their wings.

Downwind @ C37 Brodhead

For anyone traveling through WI or going to Airventure in Oshkosh, Brodhead is a stop to keep in mind – they have lots of events for taildraggers all summer.

Lots of Wacos!

Happy Fall Flying!
Elaine Kauh

Kalin Kellie is based at AK28, Chena Marina Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Kalin Kellie & her '46 Champ

I fly a 1946 7AC Aeronca Champ that was converted to a 7CCM. It has a Lycoming O-235 engine (115 hrse). It was my first airplane and my 3rd!

A couple of happy Champ flyers!

I’m just starting to use the big tires the way God intended and am constantly going broke to pay for avgas. I live in Fairbanks Alaska, work as a wildlife biologist and knit whenever it’s IFR. I’m hoping to reach my first 1,000 hrs by the end of the winter.

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My Champ is parked at Chena Marina (AK28) near Amal’s PA-11. I had a Taylorcraft before this one and although I liked how the T-cart flew, the Champ is WAY more comfortable and has these GREAT BIG WINDOWS.

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Amal and I just got back from a tour of South central Alaska strips. Looking forward to visiting the site often. Great group of gals!

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Kalin

This is an amazing photo documentation sent in by Amal Ajmi. She’s based in Fairbanks, Alaska and flew her PA-11 Piper Cub Special along side her friend, Kalin Kellie who was flying her Aeronca Champ around Alaska.

Kalin and her Champ

It has been an odd summer up here, but wanted to share the last trip I did with a fellow pilot, Kalin Kellie.

Kalin flies a Champ. She planned a Tour De Southcentral and I came along  for the fly.  This was Kalin’s first time seeing Prince William Sound, and I know she loved it.  I have spent many, many days sea kayaking this area, but had never seen it from above, so I was excited to see the places I had been throughout the years.  We started out on a clear, hot Friday.

Montague Island

Flew through Windy Pass, landing in Willow for fuel.  The ceilings got lower and the air cooler which was a relief to both pilots and planes.  Moving on to Birchwood and then navigating around the busy Anchorage area, along the hillside just below the overcast layer, we moved onto Hope where Kalin made a spectacular landing in whirly wind conditions.

Alaska Range

I made a couple passes and decided it was too much for me and my bird, so we moved onto Ninilchik where we stopped to stretch out and give Blue, Kalin’s black lab co-pilot, his dinner.  Then onto Homer for the night. We found a nice tenting spot right on the spit and crashed hard.  It was a great day!!!!

Kenai Fjords

On Saturday, we went to a local diner at the Homer Airport for B-fast and picked a lot of pilot brains for our next leg of the trip.  We were both unfamiliar with the outer coast and wanted to find some beach locations we could land on in case of emergencies. Needless to say, we got a lot of advice and well wishes, got weather and took off across the bay to play in Seldovia, Port Graham and then along the coast to Seward where we got some fuel.

More Kenai Fjords with nice looking landing beach.

I tried to take pictures along the way to remember how incredible the scenery was, and must say they just do not do justice to what the eye perceived.  We found many beaches suitable for landings, one even had its own plane, most likely its pilot fishing in the nearby lake.  Yet there were many, too many it seemed, stretches of coast line that were made up of unforgiving sheer cliffs or large boulders. Beautiful!!

Isabel Pass

At some cliff drops we saw bald eagles soaring in the winds created by the sea air rushing up the cliff walls.  Literally, we flew with the eagles. We flew the coastline of the Kenai Fiords, and bay after bay we crossed glaciers, like white fingers stretching from the land to dip into the cool waters of the ocean.

Coastline between Homer and Seward

After fueling up in Seward we flew over to Chenega Bay strip on Evans Island, then a major crossing to Montague Island, then Hinchinbrook Island and then Cordova Municipal airport.  We needed to stretch our legs for a bit and recover from so many water crossings.  Both Kalin and I are interior girls and the long water crossings were a bit unnerving.

YIKES!!! Lots of water to cross to Hinchinbrook Island

You fly really high, but still want to see the scenery.  It’s at that point where you are in the middle of the crossing that every single engine noise is apparent.  Any oddness to the familiar hum-beat of your birds’ engine sends a shiver down to the very core.  We ended up aiming for fishing boats along the crossing route just for safety sake with the thought that if need be we could ditch very close by and the fisher folk would be near enough to get to us. Unnecessary though, our little birds were top performers.

Cordova Municipal

Cordova Municipal is a neat little strip in town.  The parking is across the street up against the hillside.  As you can see from the pics we were in great company.  We walked into town and found a neat little yarn store, and since Kalin and I are knitters, we decided to get some yarn for Cordova memory projects. We wandered for a good two hours and made our way back to the planes for our last hop of the day.

Good Morning sight of birds at Tatitlik!!

I have a friend in Elamar and so we took a short jump to Tatitlik and parked the planes for the night.  Elamar is about 2 miles from the strip, so we had another opportunity to stretch legs and let Blue run his little heart out on the way to the cabin we would spend the night in. Oh, the luxury of a soft bed when your body is humming from a long day of flying and nerves a little shot from broadening flying boundaries!!!! All I can say that the night in Elamar was heavenly!!!!

Trail to Luxurious Cabin at Elamar.

Up again the next morning, we hiked back to the planes and were excited by the prospect of a clear sky fly into Valdez.  We were hoping to find some fuel in the port city, but found that our little pink book, the Facilities Directory, was not altogether truthful about obtaining fuel….good thing Kalin and I plan ahead and haul a couple of hours worth with us in case of such incidents.

Kalin refueling at Valdez

Blue found the warm tarmac to be quite lovely and lounged as Kalin fueled up.  Up again, we had a spectacular view of Thompson Pass, and landed at the little strip next to Worthington Glacier at the summit.  I think the tourists had a good show.  We made our way through the pass and came out with breathtaking views of the Wrangle Mountains.

Wrangle Mountains

Again the pictures do not do justice to the heart stopping beauty of this rare sight. I seldom I get to this area, and even rarer that I can see the peaks not shrouded in cloud cover.

Summit Lake_ Isabel Pass

Onward we flew to Gulkana for fuel and a leg stretch.  We checked weather at the spectacular little pilot lounge and off we went for our last hop of the trip.  A little landing in Paxson, another at Black Rapids, and then skirting the Alaska Range we played alone the moraines a bit and made a beeline for home.

Company of planes with my bird at Cordova Municipal

All in all, we flew over 16 hours, landed 17 times, (Kalin in Hope), 16 (Amal)  and had a complete blast.  I hope you enjoy the pics and the little story….all of which are totally true!!! ; ) Amal Ajmi

Amal Ajmi

Joey Arbaugh is based at KPLN Pellston Regional Airport, Pellston, Michigan.

I’m 77 years old and fly a Piper Comanche and a 1946 Aeronca Champ that my father bought new and got his private license in.  I found the plane in Dayton, Ohio in 2001 and begged the owner to sell it to me, which he did.  I received my private in 1968 and have the most fun flying my Champ!