LadiesLoveTaildraggers

Cathy Page is based at Ryan Field Airport, (KRYN) Tucson, Arizona and flies an RV6.

Cathy Page, RV6

I found out about your site from my friend Summer Martell who flew her Student Prince out to Ohio from West Washington last summer for the LLT fly in.

RV6, the day I bought it. Getting a little checkout then flying it home.

Looking forward to meeting some as time goes on. I may even be able to piece together coming out to the fly-in coming up next month, if the stars align. Maybe even find a willing passenger to share the adventure.

My Pitts

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My first and favorite, C170B

Thank you,

Aileen Watkins is based at David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport, (KDWH) Houston, Texas.

Aileen Watkins

I am definitely a taildragger girl and made my living early in my flying career as a taildragger pilot. When it was difficult to find a full-time flying job, my experience in conventional gear aircraft allowed me to fill a need at a couple of local flight schools where this skill was needed but hard to come by. As my client base grew, so did my opportunities.

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Having started my flying career flying aerobatics with my first competition at 83 hours total time, my passion for doing something out of the ordinary and that required stick-and-rudder skills allowed me to “make my bones” in the flying world. My enthusiasm for the sport, and for aviation, carried me through my financial shortcomings to keep me in the air.

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I don’t have a favorite taildragger, as I love them all, but the DC3, Pitts, Decathlon and Cub have very special places in my heart, and in my hands. They truly represent the romance of flying, and the kinship of the “ladies” that carry my heart though the sky.

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My first two instructors were ladies and mentors who were both very accomplished taildragger pilots. I thank them for instilling in me the qualities of safety, professionalism, and the want and need of striving for excellence in flying, and in delivering quality flight instruction. They truly believe in the “safety” attitude, and having fun doing what we love.

Here is a photo of my daughter Katalin's First Flight at age 5 weeks. It was also my hubby, Bob, and my 17th Wedding Anniversary. 1947 Cessna 195, taken on May 4, 2008

Some of the taildraggers I have flown: Cub, Pitts, Citabria, Decathlon, Taylorcraft, Extra, Sukhoi, Luscombe, Stearman, Bird, Great Lakes, Skybolt, Waco, Cessna 120/140/170/180/185/195, Maule, Husky, and the DC3.

Aileen Watkins

Lorrie Penner sent in this update on her winter flying fun! Lorrie flies out of Red Stewart Airfield, Waynesville, Ohio.

“Well, its that time of year… snow…  But we’ve been fortunate enough that it doesn’t stop us from flying!  Had my first experience taking off and landing on a snowy grass field in the Pawnee.  What a great weekend! Perfect time to practice soft field landing technique.”

“Snow was only 2-3inches deep and light & fluffy.  Our club at Caesar Creek got in 17 glider flights this day and I got to give 4 of them a tow!”

“A couple of days later, flew around in the Champ with my honey Gordon. He wanted to do some practice landings from the backseat in preparation for his new Pitts which he flew home the day after his birthday – happy birthday present to himself!”

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Congratulations, Gordon! Hard to beat a birthday like this one!! (Judy)

Carrie Eve Hoagland is based at Bayfield County Airport (Y77), Iron River, Wisconsin.

Carri's Taylorcraft

I have owned the Tcraft since 1979 and I bought the Pitts last summer. The Pitts belonged to my daughter at one time and we raced it to a 4th Place at Reno in ’06. Unfortunately she was killed in ’08 racing a Cassut so I will fly it in honor of her.

Pitts S1-CS

I have also enclosed a picture of my 18 month old granddaughter, named after her aunt, sitting in her Mom’s (my daughter) lap and flying the Tcraft.

Young Tcraft pilot!

I am addicted to real planes with the little wheel in the correct place. Thanks so much. See you at Osh.

Peace, Carri Hoagland

Freya Shiller from Texas writes;

“I’m in Peru for work and there are paragliders going by my window.  Nice weather here but a cold snap in Texas. I sent a picture of the 81D All Stars; my S2B, a friend’s S2A and Bruce Bohannon’s Legend Cub.”

“I don’t know if you have a link on your blog but if anyone is looking for a “tailwheel experience” Bruce Bohannon (of Fly’n Tiger fame) is offering gift certificates for the holidays at his flight school.  $99 for a Legend Cub ride/intro lesson and $199 for an acro thrill ride in a Pitts.”

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“Nice time to fly in south Texas!”

Freya Shiller

Link to Freya Shiller’s April 2010 Pilot Profile

Bruce can be reached at flyalegend@gmail.com or 832-621-5004.

Jessy Panzer flies a Pitts S1 out of Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV) Santa Clara County, San Jose, California.

I’m a corporate pilot out of San Jose, CA flying a King Air-350 and Gulfstream G2b.  I own a Pitts Special S1 model, and I fly taildraggers because they are the most fun type of airplanes around!  Plus, they just look good too!

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This cute little note was sent in by Jan Johnson, also based at San Jose Airport.

“I love the blog update  featuring Jessy Panzer. I saw her perform this weekend at Watsonville Air Show and Fly-In. What a great gal and awesome pilot. The tail number on her Pitts is 616LY. The sixes are painted to look like Gs, so it reads GIGLY. I could hear Jessy giggling all weekend from her hangar. Such a fun girl!”

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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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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