By Jerry Rosie (USUA #A86096)
The snow is gone, the rain is lessening and the winds are abating...it's time to go flying! And time for newsletter editors to start reporting on their clubs' activities. News has been rather sparse during the winter months, and I am hoping that things will pick up now that the weather is allowing more of us to go flying and plan events.
The schedule of events IS filling up, and I'm sure there will be more scheduled in the near future. Take the time to hop on over and check out our list of Club Events. Some regions are more active than others, but most of you will be able to find something to do during the good weather. Events are posted about two months in advance and as events take place they are deleted.
The Georgia Sport Flyers Newsletter brings us Number 7 in the series "Before Ultralights" by 'Doc', the youngest command bomber pilot in WWII. In this issue, Doc shares with us his experience flying two bombing runs in support of the Normandy Invasion on D-Day. Apparently, the first run was somewhat routine except for the awe inspiring sight of the multitude of ships, boats and other naval craft that appeared as Doc broke out of the clouds off the shores of France. The second run, however, provided Doc and his crew with an experience that they will probably never forget.
Returning from France, Doc gave up his 'cat bird seat' and let his co-pilot get some much desired experience in the left seat. Doc got himself comfortable to enjoy the ride by taking off his 'Mae West' and loosening one leg strap of his parachute. Just as he was settling in to 'let someone else do the driving', Doc was alerted by his waist gunner, that his left wingman was flying rather erratically. The wingman moved ever closer and crashed into Doc's plane killing his copilot (occupying doc's seat for this trip). As the crew attempted to bail out, it was discovered that the crash had jammed the emergency exit door shut, and no one could leave. Since they were now at only 4-5000 feet, the situation was getting a bit tense, and Doc threw his weight against the door. It banged open, and Doc went right on through, banging his head and knocking himself out in the process. When he came to, he was dangling half out of his parachute (remember the loosened leg strap) and about to land in the English Channel. On the way down, he noticed that British Air-Sea Rescue was moving in the direction of rescue, and that a row boat was proceeding toward him. Hitting the water, however, he lost sight of any rescue craft and was stuck with swimming as best he could to try to save himself. The story left us hanging at this point - but - since he's writing about it, I guess we can assume that he was rescued, which he promises to detail in his next article.
To prove the power of Positive Procrastination, I was waiting for some news to post in this issue of ATP, and therefore, the posting is late this month. However it was worth the wait. The GTUF have published their announcement of their annual "Around the Thumb" flight (a round robin of Michigan's 'thumb') with instructions for all who plan to participate. I am going to, un-ashamedly, post a major part of this announcement here to give other clubs an idea of how to plan and arrange a fun outing for their members. Here's their announcement:
"$2.50 per gal. 92/93 oct. fuel. Fuel will be sold off the ground crew truck. Mixing cans will be on hand. Ground crew will keep tab or pay, as you need it. You will need to pay your tab, at the last stop that you will be with the ground crew.
CASH or CHECK
Lunch will cost $5.00 per person. We will be eating pizza at Bad Axe Airport, pop in cooler. Cost of lunch will be collected at the Kirk Smith's stop. If you and your guests (personal ground crew) will be eating lunch with us in Bad Axe, but will not be at the Kirk Smith stop, make sure you fill in this form, and you can pay in Bad Axe.
Ground Crew Donation. We feel that the ground crew is very important in making this flight possible. If you use them, donate to them, we will take donations at the gas truck, when you pay your fuel bill. We ask that you give a min. of $10.00 per pilot, for the cost of their Fuel, Lunch, Time and important service. The donations will be split up to the drivers, and their lunch paid for.
NOTE- Last ground crew fill up will be at Marlette Airport MAKE SURE YOU FILL UP AND PAY YOUR TAB AT MARLETTE.
Where will you pick up the tour????
____Steve's Home & Field (be there at approx. 8:00am in air to Kirk Smith's at 8:30am)
____Ray Community (be there at 7:45am in air to Kirk Smiths at 8:15am)
____Kirk Smith's/ Columbiaville (be there at 9:00am Ground crew will meet and start here, we will be En route to next stop, CARO at 10:00am) NOTE- Due to the time required to complete this flight, and get everyone home before dark we must adhere to this start schedule.
WRITTEN OPERATIONS / GUIDELINES THUMB TOUR - JUNE 12, 2004:
| Landing Site | Com. Freq. | Airport | Latitude | Longitude | Elevation | Scheduled Time |
| Steve's Field | 129.0 | NA | CALL for info. (810) 417-8000 | 850 | 7:45 8:30 | |
| Ray Community | 122.7 | 57D | N42 44.350 | W082 53.170 | 632 | 7:30 8:15 |
| Kirk Smiths | 129.0 | NA | N43 10.80 | W083 21.01 | 800 | 9:00 10:00 |
| Caro | 123.0 | 78D | N43 27.49 | W083 26.82 | 700 | 10:30 11:15 |
| Bad Axe | 122.8 | BAX | N43 46.860 | W082 59.140 | 766 | 12:00 1:30 |
| Messing | 129.0 | NA | N43 42.130 | W082 42.59 | 685 | 2:30 3:30 |
| Sandusky | 122.9 | Y83 | N43 27.30 | W82 50.49 | 776 | 4:00 - 4:45 |
| Marlette | 122.8 | 77G | N43 18.710 | W083 05.450 | 895 | 5:05 -???? |
SUNSET 9:12 p.m.
Communication with ground crew / Air to Air = 129.00
Cell Phone in the event of downed plane #s 129.00 com. Or Chris 810-614-0696 / Ron Jones (586) 212-5862 / Steve Adamczak (810) 417-8000
TRIP NOTES
Call (810) 417-8000 the morning of trip after 6:30 a.m., for GO / NO GO information. Please take the time to send the RSVP back before JUNE 2, 2004. Unfavorable weather conditions Rain, Snow, Winds 15mph+, poor forecast, etc.
Read over meeting points and times. It is required to adhere to the times listed for you to complete this tour before dark. (Sundown 9:12 pm) We recommend that you fly on a buddy system, to aid in recovery location of a downed plane. After the ground crew locates the plane you can fly on. The ground crew will attempt to help fix the problem or load the plane on the trailer. Where if needed it will stay. Bring your preferred Oil. You will mix, as you need it off fuel truck. Pop/water will be in the cooler with the ground crew available at each stop. We will have lunch approx. 12:00 at the Bad Axe stop. At this time we have two-chase vehicles. Let us know if you know of someone that would be interested in helping out on standby in the event that one would have to cancel for unforeseen reasons. Please make sure you donate to the ground crew, and pay your fuel bill at your last stop.
HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT
Route:
Kirk Smith's / 9:00 10:00 --1 hour on ground we all meet, 30 min En route To Caro / 10:30 11:15 -- 45 min on ground not all will need fuel, 45 min En route to Bad Axe / 12:00 1:30 -- 90 min on ground eat, fuel for all, 1 hour En route to Messing / 2:30 3:30 -- so you can pick your route, 1 hour on ground fuel, 30 min En route to, Sandusky / 4:00 - 4:45 --- 45 on ground not all will need fuel, 20 min En route to, Marlette / 5:05 -???? --- Minimum 1 hour on ground to fuel up, pay bill, head home. Most should start for home by 7:15 sunset 9:12pm. This will be the last stop with the ground crew.
NOTE: After the lunch at Bad Axe you will have to make your own choice of what route you would like to take to Messing. We have made up 3 options for you to choose from. The fuel truck will be going direct to Messing Field.
Your options are:
Sounds like a well planned fun time. Hope the weather cooperates!
Ya'all have fun now and fly safely....