Seventy-five years ago this month...

My dad had a similar timeline, earned his wings in Alabama then went on to fly P-47s. Had a career in aviation and retired in the mid-80s. We lost him about 5 years ago. I was able to take him for a ride in a Warrior when we lived in Rochester, NY, down to tour the B-17 at Geneseo. As we were on approach to the grass strip at Geneseo and he could see the Fortress sitting there, he got very quiet. Wish I could still talk with him...

Yeah, WillysMB, every time I go to an aviation event, I wish my dad was still here to share with me. He would be 98 this November. Back in 1985, he and mom visited my wife and I here in Orlando. I took him down to Tom Reilly's "Bombertown" at Kissimmee Airport. The B-17 "909" was still being restored back then. We climbed aboard the B-17 through the crew door in the waist. He did it the right way. He grabbed the upper lip of the door, pulled himself up and went in feet first. We went up to the flight deck and he sat in the left seat. I watched as he took the yoke with his left hand and his right hand swept over the center console where the throttles and mixture would be installed later. It must have been very emotional for him, even though he was never in combat. Later that day, he flew a T-6 from the back seat. The pilot who took my dad up in the T-6 said my dad still had "it" even after 40 years.

That is a very nice story and two excellent pictures.

In all my years of flying, I guess nobody ever thought of taking a pic on final. That is a fantastic picture and what a heckuva memory for you.

One last thing, that busy tarmac at St Louis County makes me nostalgic for the good 'ol days before the the downfall of general aviation.

Greg

That is a very nice story and two excellent pictures.

In all my years of flying, I guess nobody ever thought of taking a pic on final. That is a fantastic picture and what a heckuva memory for you.

One last thing, that busy tarmac at St Louis County makes me nostalgic for the good 'ol days before the the downfall of general aviation.

 

Well, Greg, general aviation is alive and well here in central Florida, just very very expensive. I can afford an airplane with an instructor two maybe three times a year, and that's flying a Cub! Let's just hope that ATC doesn't get "privatized". If that happens and the airlines take it over, the U.S. will be like our neighbor to the south. Cuba, a land where nobody flies. When I first started out in 1976, I could get a brand new C-152 for $25/hr wet. When I got my private in '87, a 150 was only $50/hr wet. Today, with an instructor an hour is $150+.

BTW: The picture of Weiss I snagged for the internet. I was too busy with a crosswind that day to take any kind of picture.

Glad to hear GA is doing ok in FL, Frank.

I have fond memories of flying my then young family into Kissimmee to see Mickey, thought of that when you mentioned solo-ing there.

I'll be wintering in the Tampa area this year, maybe I'll visit a local GA airport to witness what they used to look like, because they surely don't up here.

A buddy of mine flew little homemade amphibs out a little airport not far from Clermont, not too far from you. It was a bustling itty bitty grass field and it was heartening to see.

I miss the hobby shop in Winter Park. Bought my first DCC system for HO there before it was called DCC. I wonder if you remember the place. It was awesome.

What a great story as well as honoring and (remembering/noble) your fathers legacy.

Your friend, Toshi

Beautiful story

I lived in St. Louis area 17 years, and flew my Ercoupe into Wiess several times.

Don Stauffer

I lived in St. Louis area 17 years, and flew my Ercoupe into Wiess several times.

 

 

Neat little airplanes, Ercoupes. Where were you based?

Thanks for sharing.  Wonderful story.

Thank you all for joining in.

fotofrank

 

 

Don Stauffer

I lived in St. Louis area 17 years, and flew my Ercoupe into Wiess several times.

 

 

 

 

 

Neat little airplanes, Ercoupes. Where were you based?

 

Smart Field in St. Charles.