ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

Satuday morning, 10-09-10, Airbike Ace, Brian, and myself left Selby aerodrome to provide top cover for the Frontier Days celebration In Douglas, ks. Leaving Selby at 8:20, we climbed through an inversion at 800agl, the temps climbed from 60deg to almost 75deg making me wish I hadn't put on my jacket.

Heading east into the rising sun, I looked at my gps and my ground track and discovered there was about a 25mph southwest wind helping me along. Blasting along at a whopping 74mph ground speed I made Douglas in less than 10 minutes. After starting my decent I dropped through the inversion and into some annoyingly bumpy air, I was also grateful for my jacket as the temps dropped back to the low 60s. Following ace around the pattern I dropped in for a perfect landing on the 1000ft downhill strip.

I was supprised at the large turnout of planes and pilots the flew in that morning. We had Brian's quicksilver, my minimax, Paul's airbike, Terry's Kitfox lite, Larry's Rans S-6, Lawerance's Cub, James Wiebe's Belite, Chuck's beautiful Taylorcraft, and a Cessna 180 (the owner's name escapes me).

The parade was to start at 10am so we decided to use that as our takeoff time. The plans was for us to take off in the order of fastest to slowest, climb to 1000agl, perform a left 270 over a private strip to the south, then head off to Douglas. Sounds simple right? We departed and headed south, the faster aircraft quickly pulling ahead and beating us to the rally point, Brian, James, and myself were still headed south as the others started crossing in front of us after completing the 270. To avoid a collision and get some space between us I made a tight 360 left, I observed Brian to make a wide right turn and enter the group at a point of oppertunity, I have no Idea what James did as I circled away from the traffic to get some space. After completing the turn I joined up at Brian's 4'oclock position and we made our circut of the parade route before returning to land in Douglas. Chuck, Brian, and Larry headed on home and were luck enough not to have to navigate the swarm of planes returning to Douglas.

After the Flight the grill was fired up and we relaxed while enjoying 1/4lb hotdogs and home made pickles! It wasn't long before some extra munitions were discovered in the hanger and Paul's airbike was equiped for battle once more. The 25lb bomb perfectly fit the existing attach points and ace added bomer pilot to his long list of anti hun accomplishments.

Having to be somewhere else at 2:30 I bid everyone farewell and climbed into the afternoon sky.


Ace in Flight


Belite Landing


Cub Landing


Cessna 180 on approach


Chuck and his beautiful Taylorcraft


BomberBike!


Removing the Safety Pin


Minimax back Home


Chris

Thanks Chris for coming over to my fathers place Saturday.  He really enjoys having guys fly in and share in the fun.  I was especially glad that his old squadron member from the VMA121 in Korea made it up from Ft. Smith, Ark.  Dad and Jack Benton have gotten together twice in the last year and both act like a couple of 20 year olds when you put a stick in their hand.  It was fun watching them come in for a landing bounce the Cub and then blast the throttle and do a 360 at the end of the landing making everyone think they were ground looping.  I loved the big smiles as they pulled back up and opened the door.

I'll include a few more photos to your group.

Terry Alley

And a few more shots including one of the huge anti-aircraft guns the huns have been tormenting Air Bike Ace with.  Luckily, now that he and James Wiebe have their new 25 lb bombs on the planes they can begin to battle back.

At the Selby Aerodrome, I know I saw Chris start his plane, climb into his Mini-Max, and then taxi out for takeoff. After that, I am not sure if it was Chris and his plane I was trying to catch up with on the flight to Douglass.  

Why the possible mistaken identity?  Well, I had to push my AirBike to 85mph to catch him, he must have been going 75 mph.  That  is almost TWICE as fast the miserly, fuel economy-stingy speed he usually flies.  Typically, anyone flying with him (except Brian) has to fly at near stall speed because he is such a piker when it comes to burning fuel!  Chris must have really been feeling the ponies that morning!

Because Chris is still a greenhorn when it comes to battle experience,  he thought the bumpy air near ground level was turbulence.  Actually it was shock waves from the flak being thrown up at us around Douglass Field.  However, he did handle it well, even the final volley the Huns tossed at the runway threshold between the fir trees and buildings.  He  did indeed make a good landing.

The temperature change Chris speaks of results from our entering a new phase of battle with the Huns---a cold war!  Wherever they are, the temperature drops.  I think  they are trying a new tactic---trying to make us chill-out.  But all the hot air floating out of the hangar talk conversations during the mission briefing countered that attempt.

Nice photo that Terry took of the three lead planes flying formation during their sortie over the  Douglass town's parade route.  On point is Lawrence Alley flying the clipped wing Cub, right wingman is Chuck Powell in his T-craft, and  left wingman is AirBike Ace flying his trusty steed the AirBike.

With the new armament (bombs) Terry found in  his dad's bunker we will be more effective at dispersing the Huns who use cannons like the captured one shown.  That's pretty neat photography Chris did of me "pulling the firing pin" on the ordinance attached to my strut.  (C-l-e-v-e-r, you tricky guy)

Chris, I hope you appreciated the smoke screen I laid down  prior to your landing.  It obscured you from the Hun's view causing their bullets to go wide.

We all need to keep teaming up like this to be effective warriors and cover each other's sixes.  These skirmishes seem to be continual, everyone needs to protect their own aerodrome and come to the aid of others who might  be outnumbered.  Keep the communication lines open so we can form up when necessary.

AirBike Ace

Below is Lawrence Alley's clipped wing Cub in front of his hangar.

Criss:  You are getting as good as ACE with the stories. The pics are great. I really enjoyed reading this morning. makes a good start for the day thanks.  Charlie

Criss:  You are getting as good as ACE with the stories. The pics are great. I really enjoyed reading this morning. makes a good start for the day thanks.  Charlie