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Howdy Folks, I'm in extra good spirits today. I finally got my ride in our local T-6! I don't intend to insult anyone by suggesting that you don't know what a T-6 is, but there may be a few people out there, who, like me, didn't grow up learning names of airplanes and building little models. Here is a T-6 web site with links to other sites. There are lots of sites out there that describe and depict this airplane and her sisters. http://avia.russian.ee/air/usa/na_texan.html Also I have attached a jpg of our resident T-6. She's gorgeous! There is a retired WWII Navy pilot who lives in Fortuna, a town about 20 miles south of Eureka. He owns a T-6, which he keeps at his local airport, Rohnerville. When I'm lucky, I catch a glimpse of him flying around. I have always hoped to meet him and talk to him about his plane. He and his T-6 were at Airport Day in Eureka. I asked Kay, our local WASP and author of, "Women in Pursuit", if she knew him and if he sold rides. After all, they are contemporaries and this is a small community. She does know him and she didn't know what his policy on rides is. She told me he is kinda crusty but nice. She also told me to say, "Kay sent me over", which was supposed to get me an instant in with him. It worked. He is a crusty old guy, (83) but I like him. I asked how much it would cost me for a ride in his plane. "550 dollars", he said with a straight face. I thought he was serious. So I told him, "OK, I want to do it, but it will take me awhile to save the money." Then he pointed to another man and said, "Talk to him. He takes care of this sort of thing for me. If I straight out take women for rides, the War Department gets upset with me." Still no smile. So I talked to his buddy, who was probably only in his early 60s. His friend, who does some maintenance on the T-6, told me to show up most any Saturday morning at the Rohnerville (Fortuna) Airport at 9am and I can go for a ride. The owner, Lee, flies almost every Saturday. He usually takes his friend with him, but if someone else wants a ride, he'll take him or her! instead. Oh yeah, and the ride is free. Lee told me that it costs $125 an hour to fly his plane, so I would expect to pay something, but no, there is no charge. Last Saturday looked foggy but I drove to Fortuna anyway to see if the fog would lift and if Lee would fly. I hung around the Rohnerville Airport until about 10:45. He hadn't shown up by then and they sky was iffy so I decided I'd come back another Saturday. This morning I woke up about 7, looked out the window to see a clear sky and I knew, I just KNEW I would get my ride today. I was smiling the whole time I was getting ready. What a beautiful morning and what a pleasant drive I had to Fortuna, anticpating the flight. It was a choice Northcoast fall day. For those of you than don't know, I love WWII aircraft and this was to be my first experience in a Warbird. OK, I know it was a "trainer" but I am perfectly happy with that. cont... __________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
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