LadiesLoveTaildraggers

If you love Cabin Wacos…. Beech 18s…. Cessna 195s….. T6…… and flying for the fun of flying, sit back and enjoy the next few minutes!  Tina Thomas, thank  you!

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.

We had a fabulous time…. 32 Wacos made it with two new restorations showing up with less than an hour on each plane!

Cliff Hogan and his family (Famous Hogans of Hamilton Ohio) have been working on 14052 for nine years — Cliff worked like a dog until 10 PM Friday night and gave up and drove up to Mt. Vernon.  His cousin and brother stayed behind working on the plane and about noon on Saturday Cliff got word that they got it running and were going to test fly it for about 30 mins….and if all was well, gas her up and head our way.  It was soooo exciting to see her enter the pattern and Cliff was like a little kid filled with excitement.  We were all so happy for him and the plane is just beautiful!  

*

The other plane was a beautiful UPF-7 that the owners finished up on Friday with 1 hour test flight — and they showed up Saturday morning… the plane is just beautiful.  A testament to a great plane with lots of history behind her.

One of the other guys flying the first model Waco Cabin a QDC started last year with everyone signing the lower left wing — and this year he had everyone sign the lower right wing…. a great way to memorialize the impending re-cover job!

I gave Jeff Skiles a ride on Thursday and Friday night we all flew until we could barely see any more.  I gave three rides to some people there and the air was like glass.  Saturday we had our banquet and auction — I spent way too much money on things — but it all supports the club so who cares! LOL  Got a gift certificate for a magnito overhaul which was well worth it and a bargain at $215.00 !

Tina and I didn’t get a chance to fly together since they opted to bug out Saturday am to try and beat weather back to Illinois.  She it sooo excited about coming for the LLT fly-in and can’t really decide on whether to bring the Bird or the Waco!

Did you know the National Waco Club is in the midst of their 51st Reunion and the members are celebrating at a fly-in at 6G4 south of Mt. Vernon, Ohio? Susan Theodelores is spending the bigger part of a week over there and no doubt having a great time.  Probably much to do helping her husband, Andy Heins, who is president of the club. Susan’s keeping us connected!

We have 14 Wacos here so far! Everyone is out flying now. The wind finally died down so I went and got the RNF out of the hangar at Knox County and Jeff Skiles (of Hudson River flight fame and fellow Waco owner) rode back to Wynkoop with me! Thankfully I made a great landing!! The weather is perfect now… Nice and cool… Hopefully more Waco owners fly in tomorrow!!!

If you’re in the area and would like to fly in, check out this link http://www.nationalwacoclub.com/. The event runs through June 27th.

After waiting out rain and wind, we scampered to the hangar for wheels up at 7 pm… Just under an hour for Andy in the speedy cabin and just over an hour for me in the “stop amd smell the roses” RNF. The planes are tucked in the hangar for the night… We had ice cream for dinner and are now relaxing at the hotel. Vacation has begun!! Will take some photos of the airport tomorrow! When there is more light.

Lorna Barrie is based at Clarence Aerodrome Airport, Buffalo, New York.

(Here’s an update from Lorna, just sent through her instructor and flying partner, Dennis Borkowski.  Lots of pictures and more…..)

*

*

Lorna’s Champ above and Citabria below.  (Very cool, Lorna!)

Sent in by Dennis Borkowski;  Hi, Lorna asked me to reply for her because she is so busy at work [managing a kennel]. I am her instructor and flying partner. Lorna flew with me [she did most of the flying!] on a ferry flight from DKK near Buffalo to Creve Coeur in Waco QCF-2 NC11247 and back in Waco UPF-7  N173E. Planes belong to Lou and John Nalbone of DKK.  The Nalbone’s UPF-7 was sent to Rare Aircraft for total rebuild and many mods.  Lou told me they will do a photo shot for AOPA then send plane here.  John Cournoyer redid paint on QCF and sold UPF to them. Check out Waco N173E photos at primeoresto.blogspot.com .

We also did some fun flights in both. Since, I checked Lorna out in Fleet N8600 and started on Stearman N65688 that belongs to my student, Scot Shefler.

Lorna also flew me to Vermont in her 7ECA, N7502F to pick up RNF  NC144Y for Cournoyer. We flew formation back to Buffalo. She also was my safety pilot when I was out of a medical for a while. Have 2nd class med back now.

We have been aware of you, Susan. I met your husband at Waco Field fly-in in 2008. I was flying a Champ to NY for Dick Ash [Waco N29303] from Creve Coeur. Dick gave Lorna and I the honor of flying his Waco! Lorna and I have been working on her aerobatics in her Citabria lately.

——————————–

Earlier from Lorna,  ”I earned my ticket in March 2001. Coming up on 900 hours tt, 825 of which is tailwheel.  Solo’d in BC12D.   Currently flying an Aeronca Champ (7DC 85hp) N3415E that I own half interest in, and my little jewel of a Citabria (7ECA 115hp) 7502F.”

“I have had the absolutely incredible good fortune to fly a wide variety of taildraggers; from a 1929 Fleet Model 1 to Stearmans, Wacos, Fairchild trainers, up thru to C180.   Am working on my  Commercial and Multi Engine Inst. ratings — Without a doubt, I am one of the luckiest gals around; flying off of a grass strip in about 29 different models of aircraft.  It’s what I love to do best!”

Hope all of your Memorial Weekends were as filled with flying fun as mine! Susan Theodorelos invited us to meet her and husband, Andy, along with a few other friends, for lunch at Grimes Field, Urbana, Ohio.  Its a one hour, plus, flight in my Champ, and I’ve been there enough to know it has a great restaurant on the airport (that serves delicious homemade pies) and makes it a good spot to meet other hungry aviators & aviatrixes.  Andy took a few pictures for us.

Departing Grimes Field for a formation flight to Moraine meant flying down a narrow chute of uncontrolled airspace between Wright-Patterson AFB and Springfield-Beckley Airport and Susan lead the way.

The slowest plane in the group, I got to be right wing man in the Champ while the Cub amazed the heck out of me and zipped around while the Cabin Waco circled us all taking pictures.  That’s the fastest Cub I’ve seen.

At Moraine, since you can only hangar fly so long on a beautiful but hot day, and with the mother radial fan offering to cool us both off, Susan and I headed off for my 1st Waco ride.

Helmets and headsets on, Susan fired up the radial and with the air blowing and the engine roaring (compared to the Champ at least) full throttle and we took off!

I loved every minute of that flight – especially the part when I took the controls for a few minutes!  If you’re not one of the lucky few that own one of these beautiful old birds (or somehow gets to fly somebody else’s)  jump at any chance you get to hop in one and go around the patch.  I feel extremely lucky to say that not only did I get to fly with another passionate lady taildragger, but that I got to fly in HER 1930 RNF Waco!!

Thanks Susan & Andy!

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!!

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!

*

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!

Marla Simon Boone flies a Waco (and more) and is based at Troy Skypark Airport (37I), Troy, Ohio.