The next rider, it was his 90th birthday. His son and family bought him a ride for his birthday. He is a veteran, a former military pilot, also owned a taildragger that he flew afterwards. It took a fair amount to get him in the back of the plane, but he made it after a lot of effort. We went flying, and I asked him to take the controls, but he couldn't hear me in the plane. So I did the ole stick wag and pointed back at him with both hands, so he took it then for a few minutes. I took it back, and I asked if he wanted to do some stuff more than just flying around, but he couldn't hear or understand me at all. So I started off with just a little wingover, and he said "wheeee", so I did a few more things, at one point he said "pulled some G's with that one!". He seemed to like it, but I didn't want to take him fully upside down without his permission and I couldn't get it in the plane. So I didn't. Once we got on the ground, his family said he'd have enjoyed it, but I just don't throw people around without being able to tell them what I'm doing and asking if it's okay. Especially not 90 year old people.
When we got on the ground, he got out of that plane like a man 20 years younger. Seriously, that happens all the time. He hopped out of there no problem. I heard him tell his family "she's a good pilot". A lot of people who take rides say that, but I don't let that go to my head much, because people who don't know any better always say that if they survive a flight. lol But I do take the compliment from former military pilots, veteran pilots, pilots who flew these things for real and...know. I appreciate it!
Oh, and the Thunderbirds flew over the airport today! They were practicing over the Indy 500 for tomorrow, but they flew right over Westfield. That was pretty cool. ;)
We finally left the airport, got to Kokomo, put all the planes back away (the T-6 is in the back and the other two have to come out first), and went to Marion to help Kaylee finish moving in. Turns out, she didn't need much help. She and Meredith had gotten her room mostly ready to go. Steve had to carry her mini fridge up three flights of stairs by hand, an act with which he maintained his Man Card firmly. He hooked up some electric, but she needed an extension cord. Hooked up her fridge, put together her shelf, and then she was done with us, and wanted to go to the store with Meredith to get the cord and some other things needed, before Meredith had to go home. So we said goodbye, headed out, and met AE for dinner in Fairmount at a place called Grains and Grill. (So far their maple pecan salmon is the best thing I've had there, SO tasty.)
Watched "White House Down" to end the day, and now it's time to get some sleep. Tomorrow I fly with Jordan Brown in the T-6, he needs to get current before transporting a T-6 back for a friend of his who bought one. Who bought Walt's, to be precise. So I'll have one less T-6 I can just borrow any time. Phoo. ;)
The 90 year old veteran in the back. You can't get good pics of back seaters. This made me laugh anyway.
A row of airplanes
The T-6 and the nose of the P-51
People and planes and cameras
No comments:
Post a Comment