LadiesLoveTaildraggers

“Thanks to Terri Hull for sending us the scoop on her trip to the Cessna 120/140 Convention!

Had a great trip in September to Spearfish, SD (KSPF) for the International Cessna 120/140 Association Convention.  I flew my 140 out there in one day logging 10.5 flight hours and five stops.  The return was a one day trip as well at 9.3 with 4 total stops.

This first photo is “Charlie” a 140A that belongs to Ken and Lorraine Morris of Poplar Grove, IL as we flew by Devil’s Tower.

*

This next photo is a fellow NetJets pilot that just happened to be driving by the airport and saw a 140 landing.  He learned to fly in a 140 so he stopped in and found himself in the middle of our convention. It was the first time we had met and I took him up for a ride in my plane.

These last two are just a couple of photos taking off and landing at KSPF.

*

Highly recommend a flying visit to the airport and area  just north of the Black Hills and Rapid City. Fabulous people and hospitality.

Cheers!

Terri Hull

Near perfect day for Lee Bottom’s annual “Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheels Fly-In” yesterday. Heck, what am I saying? Lots of flyers with their camping gear come and hang out for at least a couple nights so it’s still happening today! Here’s just a few shots to share with those that were there and those that just wanna be there!

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Many thanks to Rich & Ginger for all their time, effort, sweat and money it takes to maintain their beautiful airport and pull off this fly-in every year!!

Saturday, September 4, 2010 Marion IN celebrated its 20th Annual Fly/in Cruise/in.  It turned out to be a wild day with winds blowing 20-25 mph, gusting to 30+ as the pancake breakfast got underway. Even though I expected to see the usual large crowds of people, what I didn’t expect to see was too many aircraft flying in.  (Boyd and I got in the day before)

As it turns out, dozens of vintage, light sport, antique and general aviation aircraft were determined to give the winds their best shot and flew in anyway.   I pulled up a lawn chair and sat as close to runway 22 as I could get and watched for 2 straight hours as pilot after pilot demonstrated their best crosswind component landing abilities. (We’re talking 60 to 90 degree crosswinds at 30+ mph at times).  A P51 got it down OK but the perfect “10″ had to go to the light weight J3 Cub who was getting bounced around like crazy on short final but hung in there, got that right wing down, patiently waited it out and absolutely slicked it on!

This year’s special “guest” was a 1936 Lockheed 12A Electra Jr that was used in the filming of the 2009 movie “Amelia” starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere.

*

*

*

From Joe Shepherd’s website see this short video about the aircraft and the movie.

The following, including this great video, just  sent in by Gail Schipper from Colorado. If you’re planning on attending, please reply by leaving a “Comment”.

“We’re getting ready to dash to the National Antique Airplane Fly-In in Blakesburg, IA next week (Labor Day weekend). I’m wondering if any other members will be going?  Here’s some video from last year – some good eye candy.”

Link to their website, Antique Airfield

Hope you enjoy this short video I put together of our fun weekend with the girls (plus plenty of guys as you’ll see!!)  Turn the volume up and dance along to “This One’s For the Girls” by Martina McBride…..

Wouldn’t ya know we’d get a thunderstorm in Dayton Saturday afternoon, right when we’re trying to have a Lady Taildragger fly-in?! The good news is, it was hot as heck and the rain cooled us all down a notch. All the birds were pushed to temporary housing in several hangars on the field but the most beautifully jam packed, busting at the seams hangar was Susan & Andy’s. It was a beautiful sight to see …..

*

Then the calm after the storm!  Out they all came and up they went – every seat filled in each.  4 Wacos, a 165 Warner powered Great Lakes, a Champ and a Bonanza (yep, we’re even going to count the Bonanza)!   Here’s a short video Matt from Warbird Radio put together highlighting just a few minutes of that fun evening.  It starts out with Tina Thomas in her yellow Waco SRE.  Enjoy!

All the great pictures in this post were taken by photographer, Grant Dixon, who heard about our Lady Taildraggers Fly-in and decided to come by and check it out.  He arrived with super camera in hand and didn’t waste any time getting to work.  These are just a few of the many great shots he took.

*

*

*

Getting to know each other

*

*

*

If you’d like to see more of Grant Dixon’s fly-in pictures you can visit www.gdixon.smugmug.com/airplanes/LLT. I understand copies of his photos are available on the link.

It’s hard to pick just the right picture – the ONE picture that says “We’re lady taildragger pilots and we beat the weather gods! We beat the 95+ degree heat! We wormed our way around rain showers and thunderstorms and poor visibility! We flew our taildraggers into Moraine Airpark and, even though you could cut the heat & humidity with a stick, we got there and we had a great time!”

Between Friday & Saturday, eleven women were able to fly in to Moraine and at least another ten lady taildraggers came by car! In spite of the hottest mid-August weather in central Ohio in 22 years, rain showers and thunderstorms while coming to and from, the fly in was a success! Unfortunately, several other gals had planned to fly in but just couldn’t make it because of the weather.

We lined ‘em up as they came and went….

Because of weather issues it wasn’t possible for all of us to be together at the same time – gals were coming and going depending on the weather in their area.  So same with their taildraggers.  We just snapped pictures of who we could – when we could!

Kathy Norris was the second lady taildragger registered on this website!  She & her husband built their Rans S7 and fly it off their grass strip in east central Indiana.  With rain and thunderstorms popping up all over the place, they stayed for breakfast and then got on their way.  It was fun seeing them for a short time!

The Happy Champ with some of the gals!

And taildraggers continued to land….Shannon & Chuck flew in from Tennessee in “Songbird”!

We all loved it when we looked up and saw a pair of Pitts in the pattern!  Natallie McHaffie and Hella Comat flew down together Friday afternoon from Ontario, Canada.  We were happy to have them with us Friday night and Saturday morning but with lousy weather building up north, they had to depart Saturday morning.

You got to love those t-shirts!

There’s lots more show & tell coming so please check back the next few days!  More lady taildragger pilots, more amazing taildragger airplanes, more food and fun pictures and more truly incredible formation flying pictures are all coming.   I’m going through mine and people are sending me theirs.  If you were at the fly in and have any you’d like to see posted, please send them in!

What a fun thing to see when I taxied in Thursday morning.  It looks great, Susan!

Had a great flight over and Susan was waiting for me, camera in hand!

The Happy Champ just waiting for its buddies to line up too…

Susan took this picture Thursday evening chasing me in the Champ! Gorgeous night!

Then all tucked in with the big boy Wacos Thursday night.

Susan and I are ready and excited to see you today – tomorrow & Sunday!  Come on!!

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

I thought I SAW Oshkosh till I saw these pictures!  If you can top these – send them in!!