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Wings 'N Wheels Fly-in

We attend fly-ins because of what we expect will be there. Imagine the thrill of finding something unexpected!

Arrival

June 15th, 2013 was the annual Wings 'N Wheels fly-in held in Winfield (KWLD), Kansas. Departing Selby Aerodrome at 7:45 AM I climbed to 750' AGL then cruised at 65 mph (5800 RPM) over ripening wheat fields to my destination. I dearly wanted to win the spot landing contest on approach but could not tell where the line was so I just landed near some people standing next to the runway.  Unfortunately, that wasn't it and I didn't place.

Neither was I successful during the flower bomb drop contest (I am better at strafing Huns) but I did win a door prize; a compact cooler for sandwiches or beverages.

Typically, this fly-in is a half-day affair starting with a spot landing contest upon arrival. After landing, I taxied to a tie-down, introduced myself to visitors and other nearby pilots before entering the hangar for a hearty breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Pilots can stretch out a breakfast like this for a long time while visiting with old friends and making new ones. The social atmosphere is part of the fly-in.

Spectators

Breakfast over; I walked to the ramp and visited with the 20 or so other pilots displaying their planes.  My AirBike is always an attraction to spectators, mostly because it is unusual and non-threatening.  It is a benign-looking craft, all 350 pounds of it.  Its naked bones are visible where no fabric covers the fuselage.  The instrument panel isn't much more complicated than an average garden tractor and the plane just looks approachable.

I encourage and accommodate those who get close enough, to sit in the cockpit.  Kids love it, just moving the controls and watching the surfaces twitch seems to satisfy some innate desire to make something happen.  Adults, although sheepish at first, will grab a forward support strut, and swing a leg over the seat much as though one would mount a motorcycle. Entering and exiting the cockpit is easy, even for those with arthritic knees.

Once in the cockpit, a smile will gradually develop on their faces.  They like it!  It looks like fun!  I think they sort of envy my trusty steed and me.  They are impressed with the distances I have flown, its speed (actually lack of), and how much fun it must be. I can tell those who haven't flown in awhile because the glow in their eyes bursts into a sparkle as they reminisce of days gone by.

The Surprise

Taking a break to walk around and visit with other pilots I saw the unexpected sight.  

Six brand new Cessna 172s were parked on the front row near the taxiway.  Their instrument panels hosted the Garmin 2000 flat-panel avionics system, the stuff of science fiction a few years ago. Their parallel angular parking arrangement reminded me of the Air Force Thunderbirds prior to a performance.  In addition to being identical planes, with the exception of one, their tail numbers were either sequential or within a few numbers of each other.

I soon made the connection between these planes and numerous young pilots dressed in gray shirts and black shorts that were walking around visiting with spectators.  I decided to become a spectator and visit with three who were standing together.  They were Lucas Worthen from Florida Institute of Technology, Brian Dierks from Texas State University, and Chelsea Carvalho from Wichita State University.

Story is continued on the next panel

Continuation of Wings 'N Wheels Fly-in

The Mission

All the pilots and on-site communications crew were involved in Cessna Aircraft's Discover Flying Challenge program. This is the program’s second year. Last year they flew Cessna’s Light Sport Plane, the Skycatcher.

The men and women ranged in age from 21 to 25 and came from all over the U.S. Their mission is to engage individuals in the excitement of aviation and promote Cessna aircraft.  To do this, each of the six pilots will fly alone to a designated region of the U.S. They will attend fly-ins, community events, engage as speakers, give discovery flights and in general, become ambassadors exposing people to their aircraft.

These pilots are like modern day barnstormers!  With the exception that they were under Cessna Aircraft's corporate sponsorship as well as contributions from the American Red Cross, EAA Young Eagles, United Way, Special Olympics and Veterans Airlift Command. Wow, what a way to spread enthusiasm about aviation! Can you imagine being one of these pilots and criss-crossing the countryside on this mission for eight weeks on someone else's dime?

The eight-week tour will end at EAA's AirVenture 2013 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  I hope to meet them again when I attend this year.

Departure

Just before noontime, the pilots assembled for a send-off from the community.  The announcer introduced each pilot and spoke of their background, they then pivoted and walked smartly to their plane.  Once all the pilots were aboard, the signal "Gentlemen, start our engines" was given.  The planes fired up, wings rocked and the engines strained at the braked wheels.  In sequence, each advanced to the taxiway and in trail, taxied to the north end of runway 17.  When each plane left the runway, the next began its take-off roll. The crowd waved to each departing pilot.

I thought to myself "this is a momentous occasion, sort of like watching many Lindbergs depart on their NY to Paris flight."


To learn more about the Discover Flying Challenge, click on these websites:  

Discover Flying website:  http://discoverskycatcher.com/  (background information)

Discover Flying Challenge website (meet the crew and map):

http://www.cessna.com/single-engine/discover-flying-challenge

Facebook, (current information and an opportunity to leave a comment): https://www.facebook.com/CessnaAircraftCompany#!/CessnaAircraftCompany

Following their departure, I too, left Winfield for my home field arriving with an additional 2.1 hours registering on the hourmeter.

Special thanks to Brian Fitzgerald of fitzvideo.comsky_surfing for granting to use the photo of me standing my AirBike and to Donita Clauson of the Ark City Traveler newspaper in Arkansas City, Kansas for the use of her photo of me taxiing out to participate in the bomb drop.

Paul D. Fiebich

a.k.a. AirBike Ace

Hey Paul, I saw your mug in PSF (duct tape & all). It was a good article to introduce those other than the ETLB crowd to the story of the Chinese visitors. So you sort of emulated the group you mentioned above by sharing your story and your airbike.  Good work.......

Maybe you can talk David into a Teammini-Max sponsorship. lol

Hi Gary, yeah, I look kinda goofy in that photo but it does fit my character.  Powered Sport Flying magazine seems to be ideally suited for our type of flying, I wonder how many Board members have seen it.  The photography is great, articles about light planes, trikes, PPC, powerchutes, gliders, etc. The publisher is in Missouri.  This magazine used to be called Ultralight Flying or something like that.  The articles about long distance travel and fly-ins are great.

I think we all need to do as much as we can to promote aviation, especially the type we do.  The opportunities and advantages are tremendous.

Paul Fiebich

Hi All;
Here is a link to the magazine, Seems interesting and very much devoted to our type of flying.
http://www.psfmagazine.com/
Bob