Geezers and Ground Speed

[mhorowit]

From time to time folks will approach me and ask how fast the Beast will go. Never one to pass on an opportunity to be a wise guy I ask “Airspeed or Groundspeed?” I get a puzzled look, so I explain. Anytime I stop at a small airport, I can depend on one or more old timers to make their way to the Tcraft and reminisce about Tcrafts in their past. And that affects my ground speed.

It happened this weekend. I flew to Cumberland Regional and stopped to pump bilge. While I’m tying her down, sure enough, here come two elderly gentlemen, helping each other along, heading right towards me. I recognize the symptoms, and I’ve got all the time in the world. They’ve got memories, I’ve got the plane. So we talk. And Alliance is mentioned, and PA is mentioned and talk of ’41 when they had a Tcraft. And I ask if they’d like to look in, and they say ‘when I flew, this instrument was over here and there was a different widget over here’. And they leave happy, and I leave feeling I’ve done a good deed for the day. And hoping the delay hasn’t caused the wind to kick up back home, so I can make a smooth landing at my home base.

Just as we have an informal responsibility to try to keep the old planes flying, we have an informal responsibility to the old pilots – respect their memories and do a little to cheer them up; all it takes is to lend a willing ear.

[NC36454]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

Very well put Mike...many times when I fly, I think about the hands that have been on the control wheel and throttle over the years. I know that most are probably no longer with us...but yet maybe their thoughts still linger in the cockpit. Oh! if these planes could talk...the stories they could tell!!!!!!!

Ken

[lfries]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

I know that one of N96718's owners wasn't a old geezer but he did share with me how he and his bride went on their honeymoon in her. This gave my youngest son and idea and he too took his bride on their honeymoon in N96718. I even found out that the first honeymooners got their story told in Sport Pilot.

[M Towsley]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

I was wondering what happened to that plane, I just read an old back issue of my father-in-laws and saw that article.

[lfries]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

She is in Visalia California Now. Subsequent to the article she was re built by a person in Clovis, CA, bought by CFI who kept her in Selma, Ca. and then purchased by my son and I when the CFI needed money to pay for the birth of a baby. She came out of the restoration yellow vs the old white and I believe red/black trim. Currently waiting the finishing up of an Engine installation to get back in the Air. She even has the distinction of taking our distinguished t crafter from England, Rob Lee for a ride.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

Mhorowit,
If you ever grace the pilot"s lounge at my place, you have a standing invitation to "wax poetic" at any time.

[mhorowit]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

Mhorowit,
If you ever grace the pilot"s lounge at my place, you have a standing invitation to "wax poetic" at any time.

Well, I'm not 'poetic' all the time (especially when fretting over something), but in this case, you could see their intentions literally 100 yard away and to do anything but spend some time with them would be to minimize their experiences.

[lktiller]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

to become an old geezer one has to start with a 'new geezer'!
You can see the longing to experience flight in the eyes of young folk also.

Had a young fellow come by the house last Saturday. Very shy. Never mentioned my airplane until I brought up the subject. When I asked if he wanted to climb in the cockpit there was no stopping him! With his mother's permission, we took off.
About treetop level I heard him say 'WOW'. That's the only word he spoke during the entire 15 min. flight. The handshake on the ground spoke volumes.
Another youngster introduced to the wonders of flight.

Larry Tillery

[VictorBravo]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

Another youngster introduced to the wonders of flight.

And another bit of mysterious good fortune for you in an airplane someday when you should not have been so lucky

[paulp]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

Howdy Tribe,

I think that is why the Young Eagles proqram has become so successful. Fly a couple of these youngsters and their reactions will make your day for a week!!!

[midniteflyer52]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

Tribe,
There are a few EAA chapters they provide a "Bald Eagles" program that addesses this issue. Old flyers that haven't flown in years. Try it, it'll do your heart good.

Regards,

Glen Brodeur

[paulp]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

Howdy Glenn,

That's a great idea. I'll bring that up at the next EAA mtg(chap #24 OKC). Do you know if that is something that is recognized or sactioned at the national level?

[ROllerton]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

Forwarded for Glen:


"Hi,
I believe this "Bald Eagles or "Gray Eagles" program is at the chapter level. I've heard that chapters that do this do it sometimes in conjunction with their Young Eagles program. But anyone could do it at any time. I guess that just about everyone of us knows an old pilot or veteran that hasn't flown in years. Personally, I feel that we owe it to these people. Some of these people were the ones responsible for taking that "airport kid" up for the first time decades ago. Just a little payback is all. I'll bet that it can make for some emotional moments when they break ground for the first time in umpteen years too. But there again it wouldn't have to be a pilot. A lot of older citizens have never left the ground. It would be nice if HQ would promote and sanction the idea though. I feel that the spirit of EAA lends itself nicely to that sort of thing. I hope that your chapter finds merit in this idea and goes forward with it. Modify the idea to suit the chapter if you want. Hey, let's start a trend! Maybe we should talk to HQ and get them thinking about it too.

CAVU & Tailwinds,
Glen Brodeur"

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Geezers and Ground Speed

WE use "Old Buzzards"