After Action Report as follows:
9 T-18s came to town total, so eleven total on field. All arrived Friday. Howard and Elaine Ginn had rough running motor and put down safely in southern Utah. THey are fine and after speaking with Tony this morning, they found a dead cylinder and Elaine will fly the Thorp Sky Skooter up after Howard switches out the cylinder. We are just glad they are safe.
After arrivals on Friday, merriment, burgs and dogs and view admiring were the order of the day with a few passes made by Homey in the cool evening air.
Saturday was a day trip to Wendover AFB for a quick tour of the field where Col. Paul Tibbets and co. trained for the first atomic bomb drop. After returning mid afternoon, the CEO of Spanky's Smokin Hole BBQ Co. marinated, prepp'd and BBQ'd chicken to perfection and once again, Homey took to the skies for a few passes down the line.
Present were;
Rich Brazell - San Diego
John Evens - Denver, CO
Tanker Ted M. - Greeley, CO
Paul MacMichael - Tacoma WA
Gary Jacobsen - Seattle, WA
Dan "El Gato" Eggleston - Visalia, CA
Dean Cuke - Visalia, CA
Ira Zermeno - Visalia, CA
Fred "Spanky" Clifton - Vegas, NV
Norm Paulk and his lovely wife Izzadora (Izzy) - Seattle, WA
Cameo beer swill Friday by Colonel Captain James "Cubes" Grahn, LV NV....on loan from Southwest Airlines.
Cameo Appearance by Bob Clayton - T-18 N818TR on Friday.
This was a team effort, with Spanky taking over all cooking chores, Norm and Izzy helping with shuttle duties as well as bringing desset on Saturday evening and Homey shuttling and doing a lot of the heavy lifting as I was somewhat lame, yet on the mend with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Thankfully, the orthopedic brain trusts felt compelled to allow me to fly for the first time in 5 weeks on Friday. Thanks to everyone for pitching in and helping out. You guys are AWESOME!!
I hope a fun time was had by all and you all make it home safe..Thanks for the departure flybys.....Homey and I sure enjoyed it......thank you all for coming!...CHEERS!!
"El Gato" arrives.
The Visalia Vipers
Lies being told....
Paul, Tanker Ted and Gary Jacobsen
Cowls off
Cowls off
Check out that prop
Paul MacMichael does the moonwalk entertaining Tanker Ted and Dean Cuke
Homey on Spanky's wing out to Wendover
On the ground at Wendover
In front of the hangar that housed the Enola Gay.
Taken from the top of the spotting/beacon tower seen in the movie ConAir. The Sober Rough Air Ground Formation Stationary Station Keeping Team......
The CEO of Spanky's Smokin Hole BBQ
The evening view from the hangar.