By Jerry Rosie (USUA #A86096)

Happy Spring all you Ultralighters!

I know, this month's "Around the Patch" is late, but I am sure all the folks in the Central Pennsylvania area will forgive me. The weather has been about the best that anyone could have ordered! Skys so clear, I thought I was back in Colorado, temps in the high 50's to low 60's and winds at a very nice 5 miles per hour or less (most of the time). I did have one day last weekend when I discovered my own personal limit on cross wind take offs and landings with the MiniMax. (gusts at 15 knotts at 90 degrees to the runway heading were enough to scare me into heading for the hangar.)

So, I apologize for the lateness of this offering but, I just couldn't let all that nice weather go to waste.

We start with an announcement this month of the Millennium Flyers (Chambersburg Pennsylvania) scheduled "Fly By" in honor of the life, and in commemoration of the death, of one of its staunchest supporters. Rick Baughman was always in attendance at the Fly Ins, always lending moral and financial support to the Angel Flight Charity Drive, and always ready to lend a hand when someone needed help. Rick has made his last flight and the Millennium Flyers will commemorate this event by holding a mass Fly By at the Franklin County Regional Airport (N68) on 30 April (weather permitting). All those within flying distance are invited to participate to make this a memorable event for Rick's family. Late details and a last minute "go - no go" decision can be had by contacting "Yogi" Yogodzinski at (717)349-2005, Greg Kilpatrick at (717)349-2791 or Brian Fogal at (717) 264-6441.

Turning to articles from club newsletters, the most compelling entry this month, without a doubt, comes from the "North Coast Lite Flyers" (USUA Club 027, Akron, Ohio). We have been reporting on their aborted attempts to fly from Ohio to Kitty Hawk for the last couple of years now. But! This year! After two "no go" decisions, a group of three airplanes left Tri-City Airport at 0740 heading for Green County Airport in Waynesburg, PA. (which, by the way was the first of many deviations from the planned route.) This change of plans was a happy occasion, however, as the favorable tail winds produced a ground speed of 65-70 miles an hour, permitting the two Ultralights to bypass their planned stop at Washington County Airport in Pennsylvania.

The two pilots, Don James and Jonathan Gamble, left Green County Airport at 1000 after refueling and, again experiencing very favorable tail winds were able to by pass Garrett County, MD and Winchester, VA and head directly to Orange County, VA. On this leg, while crossing the Blue Ridge Mountain range, Don radioed that he was experiencing an ENGINE OUT!!! After a few anxious moments - that seemed like a couple of hours, no doubt, he discovered that his fuel selector was in the wrong position. A quick adjustment and a restart, and the trip proceeded as planned with both planes landing, uneventfully, at Orange County, VA.

After a failed attempt to locate lunch, both pilots departed Orange County at 1330 for an uneventful flight to Wakefield Municipal Airport in Wakefield, VA. In order to fuel up, it was necessary that they contact a County Supervisor who had the key to the gas pump. While refueling, they questioned him about the possibility of staying at the field overnight. The Supervisor contacted the Mayor, and permission was granted. At this point, they were able to reestablish contact with the third pilot who was making the trip. Gerald Jackson, who was flying a Cherokee, and had already made his way to Kitty Hawk, returned to spend the night with his two slower companions in the air-conditioned comfort of the Pilots Lounge of Wakefield Muni.

Early the next morning (0530) they left for the 68 mile leg over the Great Dismal Swamp to Currituck, NC. They arrived about 0710 and refueled and donned life jackets for their next over water leg - the 32 mile flight to First Flight Airport, Kitty Hawk, NC which included a three mile over water jaunt to the Outer Banks. Despite much discussion about what survival techniques would be most appropriate in "shark infested waters", they arrived unscathed at 0820 to walk in the footsteps of history.

This gets our three intrepid aviators to Kitty Hawk, and next month we will endeavor to get them back home to Ohio.

You all take maximum advantage of the great weather and remember to fly safely! See you next month.