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A couple of Wednesdays ago June 9th I believe, I fired up the truck and went to alliance Ohio to visit Barber field. It’s been 37+ years since I last visited the area. At that Time I was 18 years old and in search of parts for my 46 BC 12D I was recovering after the fabric failed to pass inspection. At that time I met Charlie and Dorothy Feris. They gave me a complete tour of the “New” Taylorcraft factory. I still remember how well the treated a 18 year old kid with very little money and a airplane in pieces that had to fly in 4 months when I returned to college.
The Feris’s are long gone and the factory makes something else, but my visit with Forrest Barber was a reminder of how well people with a love of Taylorcrafts can treat each other. Forest greeted us in the office and then proceeded to give us a complete tour of Barber field. The original ,Taylorcraft Factory, and even a look at the 1970 building where I bought my parts for N95817. After lunch at Shories , back to the field to get a few parts I need for my plane. Forrest took the time to sort thru a mountain of ribs and other oparts to find what I needed. More important than that , was the wealth of information and history Forest was kind enough to share. Forest has a lot of demands on his time, caring for the field, farming, the Foundation and all the other things that occupy all of our time in daily living. I know he gets behind and is not always quick to respond, but this is not his only responsability and in this fast pace world, sometimes we forget , particularly myself, that there are just 24 hours in a day.
Thanks Forrest
The Feris’s are long gone and the factory makes something else, but my visit with Forrest Barber was a reminder of how well people with a love of Taylorcrafts can treat each other. Forest greeted us in the office and then proceeded to give us a complete tour of Barber field. The original ,Taylorcraft Factory, and even a look at the 1970 building where I bought my parts for N95817. After lunch at Shories , back to the field to get a few parts I need for my plane. Forrest took the time to sort thru a mountain of ribs and other oparts to find what I needed. More important than that , was the wealth of information and history Forest was kind enough to share. Forest has a lot of demands on his time, caring for the field, farming, the Foundation and all the other things that occupy all of our time in daily living. I know he gets behind and is not always quick to respond, but this is not his only responsability and in this fast pace world, sometimes we forget , particularly myself, that there are just 24 hours in a day.
Thanks Forrest
great stories too!!
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