Saturday after our practice run, I was kind of pumped up, I couldn't relax, and while I did go to bed early, I couldn't get to sleep. I turned up the volume on my alarm and I double and triple-checked it so I wouldn't accidentally over-sleep!
Sunday I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and could not get back to sleep! So...I laid there for an hour and a half and then went ahead and got up and started getting ready. It was supposed to be even hotter than the day before, so I wore biker shorts under my capris pants, and planned to wear only spandex under my flight suit! I got there in plenty of time, and Nate and I were ready to go. Funnily enough, he'd had the same idea I did about what to wear under the flight suit. I can not begin to describe how hot it is, but I will try later. Anyway, when it was time, we hopped in and headed to Indianapolis International Airport. I even can get in and out of the plane without bruising my knees or looking like an idiot. I can even figure out the harness with a minimum of hassle. ;) I'll tell you what, I just LOVE the smell and sound of that airplane. It just gives me goosebumps. It's so powerful that on take-off roll with full power in, it actually vibrates my eardrums in an almost painful way. I love it. I grin like an idiot every time. I'm glad nobody can see me.
Indianapolis was of course crazy busy, all the jets coming in for the 500 race. We made it in, and sat on the ground for awhile waiting for our turn to go up, get in formation, and get ready to go. One last brief...where to go if the engines failed in flight, where to divert to if there was a problem, where the holding pattern would be, how low everyone would go and how close they would get to each other, etc. Then they told us to "mount up", and away we went! Mustang Flight of Three headed up, and for the next I don't even know how long, did a hold over the city. The air traffic over the track was incredible. Banner towers, helicopters, news, everybody right over the track. We were above them and to the north, but I could see them. I tried to take a picture but it's hard to see them all lined up for a mile or more in the sky. We held in tight formation for a LONG time. I had my fingertips on the throttle and stick so I could feel the inputs during the formation flight, and I focused on the wingtip of the plane next to me and tried to determine speeds, direction, altitude changes, etc. I really enjoyed it, but it was tiring, and it was HOT. And here's why I try to describe hot. First, it was 88 degrees that day, with high humidity. I am wearing a full-length flight suit. In a glass-enclosed cockpit with no shade. At almost high noon. Sitting on an exhaust system. The back seat is warm in the WINTER. In the summer, holy cow. I could literally feel the seat burning my rear end through underwear, biker shorts, and a flight suit. And worst of all, I hadn't had a bite of food since the night before. I couldn't eat breakfast and we were gone from 9 a.m. on. The hot sun, no shade, no food, I was just REALLY hoping I didn't get sick or a migraine, but all I did was sweat. Rivers of sweat. PUDDLES of sweat. It was hard to breathe sometimes. And I didn't care much, let me tell you.
Finally it was our turn to go, and I snapped a photo as we were descending down to the track,
which you can see in this photo, the track is pretty visible though we got much lower as we got closer--and one over my shoulder as we went by, but other than that, I just relaxed and enjoyed the ride, the view, and the experience. I could see the cars on the track, the crowds of people down below, it was amazing. We pulled out, and then circled around awhile longer for Indy's airspace, then went to another airport to get out of the airspace. The three Mustangs flew over Nate's house, with us as the lead plane and both of them off to our right this time, and then the other two peeled off one at a time. Which is an AWESOME sight from the back of the plane. One minute they are feet from your wingtip, and then bam, you are looking at the underside of them as they go screaming up and away from you. After they were clear, we did a "victory roll" (all the way around, upside down, etc. for you non-pilots out there) ourselves. Went and flew over a couple other places to say "hello", then finally made it back to home base. When we got out of the plane, we just kind of collapsed on a couch and chair and laid there for a minute! A big thing of water and a few minutes of winding down, and we put the plane away, wiped all the bugs off of it, changed into regular clothes, and privately enjoyed the memory! I added some photos from the day to http://www.laurastants.com/funflying2.htm. :)I had brought my bag with me, so next I went to the Bellanca's hanger so I could go join my family in Kentucky. I had Nathan help me pull out the Bellanca, but then things went south again. I couldn't find the key to the plane. Didn't know where they had put it. Nate found that, then he left and went home. I get the plane fueled up, but can't get the gas cap back on. I call Steve, and he and Kaylee were upset because they'd missed the fly-by on TV because of a miscommunication about time zones. Finally get everything back together on the plane, and I sit in the seat, and can't move it forward. I am sweating like crazy again, which makes me very unhappy, and finally I have to get out of the plane and hunt for the seat problem. A knob had come off. I put it back on, fire up the plane, and FINALLY am on my way to Kentucky. Still hadn't had any food. Land in Kentucky, head to the boat, snarf up two brats, and lie down for awhile. I'm hot, I'm exhausted, and I need a little quiet time. :)
Funnily enough, the dock was having a little dock party with wine and good hor dourves (okay, 'snacks' looks better in print). So Steve woke me up and asked if I wanted to go over and get some...I did, and I didn't get two feet before somebody said "Hey! Are you the lady who flew over the Indy 500?" For as long as that party was going, I was talking to somebody about flying, about that particular flight, etc. I couldn't make a trip back to the snack table without being stopped for 15 minutes or more by several people asking me questions. Steve had told one person on the dock and apparently it spread pretty quickly! When I finally made it back to our boat (which was only 3 boats away from the table!!), Steve razzed me and was asking if I'd provide an autograph for them. I did tell people it wasn't my plane! That was the most common question: "Are you in the military??" I'd say "No, these were all privately owned warbirds, and the one I was in is owned by a guy in Kokomo, Indiana." One guy asked me what the service ceiling for the plane was. I said "I take it you're a pilot?" He was, he hadn't flown in about 20 years, he was a Citabria pilot. And one woman there had taken a ground school 20 years ago with her ex-husband. Funny the things you learn about people!
Anyway, so that was the mini celebrity action there, it was kind of fun actually. Embarassing and fun at the same time. Especially since I didn't do a whole lot on that flight. But I DID get to enjoy it more than anybody else up there with me!
I was Soooo exhausted, and I had some wine too, so I went to bed pretty early. So tired. We woke up Monday morning, and relaxed a bit, had breakfast, etc. We had tried to go out on the lake the afternoon before, but unfortunately a bit of smoke that wasn't supposed to be there sent us back to the dock. But it's relaxing to hang out on the deck, in the shade, with air conditioning nearby, and refrigerators. :) Later that afternoon we headed into town to get some ice cream, and the "severe weather warning sirens" were going off right next to us. Yep, plenty of ugly looking storms between us and home. We headed back to the boat, and Steve and I checked weather for awhile, found a decent opening, packed up, and headed to the airport.
Unfortunately, we were on our way there when there was a terrible car accident right in front of us. I mean, just a car or two ahead of us. A truck going in the opposite direction for some reason turned and smashed into the car right ahead of us, sending that car flipping down into the ditch. We hit the brakes, called 911, and Steve and dad jumped out of our car and ran to help. The guy who was hit...who had rolled, he was dead. He hadn't put on his seatbelt, and he was half thrown from the car. I had to stay in our car and keep Kaylee occupied, but man, I wanted to get out and help too. Of course she was my priority at that time, I sure wasn't bringing her with me and I sure wasn't leaving her in the car alone. So Steve and Dad and then a pile of other people came in and helped. Steve and several guys were trying to get the door open on the pickup where there was a wounded woman trapped. Her legs were smashed by the dash, and she was just terrified. Steve said she was begging him to help her, not to leave her, etc. He took her vitals and said she'd be okay, and just stayed with her and tried to help...when the car that was in the ditch caught on fire. People ran for fire extinguishers and finally got that put out, and then help arrived. Ambulances, police, and fire trucks. We were there awhile as they extricated the lady left in the truck, and then finally they sent us on our way. Steve had to wipe that poor woman's blood off of him. It is certainly something to put a damper on any kind of day. One minute you're cruising along fat and happy, and in a matter of seconds, someone dies right in front of you. We saw the cars smashing and flipping and flying, and it was just...sickening. Thank heavens the driver and woman in the truck will probably be fine, but the other man didn't have a chance. Shall we remind people--wear your seat belts??
We had to detour around, but we made it back to the airport much later than expected, did another check on weather and found only two areas to be concerned about. Steve navigated with the weather radar and I flew, and we headed out. Got home with minimal problems, went around some weather, got here and finally ate supper. Kaylee went to sleep almost immediately in there, and I probably will too once I get in bed! What a couple of days. High highs, low lows, it was quite a ride this weekend.
And by the way--I am SO DONE with being HOT and Sweaty for awhile!!
This coming weekend we head to Eureka, Kansas for the annual family reunion! Should be a lot of fun, I can't wait!
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