CAF Red Tail Airborne!

The Confederate (that's the way it should be) Air Force took their rare P-51C Mustang back into the skies after a 5 year rebuild after a fatal crash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM9D5Odclpo

Hope to see it at Oshkosh.

fmi: redtail.org

"They're digging a hole...in my front yard..."

The water main in front of our house was leaking. Turns out it was a supply line from the main to our house that ran underneath the street. It's been l eaking since the 4th of July. The front 1/2 of our front yard had become a marsh. The city workers finally made it out today to fix the leak. They weren't kidding around, they brought a little back-hoe. The started by digging a big f'in hole in our front yard to try and find the leak. These usually leak at the attach fitting, but no, not ours. The rubber supply hose, a big garden hose, had cracked about 1/2" long and it was leaking out from there. They had to dig out the other side of the street to take that hose off and then run a snake thru it to pull it out. They then pushed a copper line thru and hooked it up. Then they put all the mud back into the hole. They'll be back in a couple weeks to add some dirt and sod.

It looks like we have a grave in our front yard.

Cub Progress - Rib-Stitching 101: A Class tought by the Master.

With all the metal parts cleaned off, we turned our attention to the tailfeathers. With Glenn back in action, the master conducted a beginner-level course in the ancient art of rib-stitching. Now trying to teach the three of us (Sky, myself and Glenn's nephew Kenny) to rib-stitch the fabric to the tail ribs requires the patience of Job and the only thing harder would be trying to teach us to weld.

We made some (very little) progress in the hour that we had before Sky and I had to head for home. But we did elicit the promise that class would resume tomorrow.

And perhaps more importantly, no fingers were impaled during this class.

July 20th-Forty-years later.

I can't believe it's been 40 years since I was sitting in my little red rocking chair watching man not only land, but walk on the moon. Of course, I can't believe I'm 48 years old either.

My family all followed the Apollo moon missions. My mom still has the local paper with banner headlines screaming "Man on the Moon!" Apollo 11 launched on my birthday. My best friend and I would lie upside down, with our feet over the back of the couch for all the Apollo launches. We they launched, we'd all squirm and shake as if it was us in the capsule and then quickly turn right-side up so we could see the launch. I remember being especially excited with this one because we all were so sure that we were going to the moon, going to land and walk upon it. The reality of the situation, brought home to us with the near-disaster of Apollo 13, was completely out of our minds. All my 8 year-old mind could see was a successful moonwalk mission.

Today, my kids are much less excited about the first moon landing. We've been there, we have shuttle launches, Star Wars is much more exciting and besides "I've got to go ride my bike with Sam."

So I've resolved to myself that when we go back to the moon, or Mars, I'll be in Florida to watch that historic launch. Besides, I can't fit in my little red rocker anymore.

Family Portrait 2009

My family July 2009

That lucky Stiff! - Mustang Ride.

My friend Glenn had done some work for Les Heikkila to help keep his P-51D Mustang airworthy so when Les asked how much he owed Glenn for it, Glenn replied "A Mustang ride for Kenny." Kenny Homes is Glenn's 16-year old nephew visiting from Idaho.

Les told Glenn to have him out to the airport at 10:00 the Saturday morning. Glenn and Kenny showed up at 9:25.

I was out taking family portraits (my own family for a change!) and then took Sky for a short plane ride when we flew over the top of the airport. I told Sky to look for Glenn and Kenny. He didn't see them. I did-Kenny was crawling into the back of the Mustang!

We poured on the coals and landed on the grass. Parked the plane on the grass next to the shadeport and ran to the car. Quickly down to Les's Hangar just in time to see him getting in behind Kenny and fire that merlin up.

Okay, back to my airplane. Park the car beside it and put on the "big honkin' lens" to get them on the fly-bys.

Les took off, went up to Busch's place and came back and made one fly-by before landing. Pulling up in the grass in front of the hangars, Kenny was all smiles afterwards. I don't think he knows how lucky he is, Les doesn't usually give rides.

7-14 Stripping the Cowling

The new stripper in action on the top cowling of the Cub. This stuff works great!