The day began as a gorgeous Saturday morning...calm air and blue skies. I hurried
to finish a plug change and load up the factory P-40 Flying Tiger with the little things
needed to attend fly-ins. Tie downs, storage covering, camera, sunglasses, and the normal
business cards and handout literature I’m required to carry on my flights...makes my
"air tours" a legal tax write-off with Uncle Sam. Also helps pilot better
understand what we do...we’re always trying to add new Squadron members, you know.
The sound of Tennessee Propellers’ new powered parachute was now being heard
outside the hangar, as Larry Breece and crew were taking advantage of the calm air.
I finished cleaning off the bugs from the leading edges and windshield.
The sunshine seemed to mysteriously disappearing. A light breeze was stirring. I
rolled the 40 out and proceeded to close the cantankerous hangar doors. Light fog was
starting to blow in.
After a good preflight, I primed the 582 with the usual shots and it purred
immediately.
I taxied to the other side of the field to use the phone, as I was scheduled to
call "5151" pilot and friend, Larry Mullins, before my takeoff. We were to
"form up" together for the first time at the North Huntsville Airport in
Alabama. Larry’s beautiful bird is based there. More on the beautiful part later...
By the time I reached the pay phone, the other side of the airfield was almost
gone from the scud that had blown in.
I’ve seen this many times before at the Tullahoma Airport. The sun shines
brightly and by 8:15 am the place is socked in totally! The side of the field I operate
out of is the Parish Aerodrome and the fog really adds to the Saturday morning atmosphere.
I called Larry and indicated I’d probably be airborne in 30 to 45 minutes. I
chatted with the gang at the FBO for awhile and decided to head out. Other pilots were
also awaiting the weather to clear.
The 40 was taxied to the end of the active runway, which seems at times like a
cross country in itself. The view is kinda unique...I taxied by one of the most active
skydiving facilities in the country (Tennessee Skydiving), the Deutsch Company (who
manufactures aircraft wiring harnesses) and then up next to Wal-Mart...a little mental
conflict to say the least.
Throttle in smoothly, tail up quickly and a rapid climb. It’s a quick
reminder how pleasant cool Spring air is. I’m still over the runway when I start
playing tag with the cloud base...900 to 1,000 feet AGL. So much for ATIS reporting 2,500
feet and 5 miles! The fog has indeed lifted and caused these little puffies.
After circling the airport, I decided I’d pick up the road to
Fayetteville and hug it closely. My first checkpoint was the famous town of Lynchburg,
Tennessee...the home of Jack Daniels Whiskey. A real writer would go on and on about the
"wonderful aroma" that rose to my 900 feet altitude, but all I had at my level
was a Rotax humming like a fine sewing machine and puffy white stuff passing closely
overhead. I shot a couple of pictures of the famous distillery along with the
"real" warehouses at the other end of town. It was a sleepy town this morning,
without any Little Leaguers playing ball even...must have missed ‘em somewhere. All
small tourist towns have Little League, apple pie and Chevrolet, you know!
World Famous "Jack Daniels" Distillery in
Lynchburg, TN |
Jack Daniels whiskey warehouses on the other end of
town... away from the tourists! |
On down the road (literally), I came to Larry’s home town of
Fayetteville. This is the place I attended a fly-in some years back and sold Larry his
"5151" kit. I think he first saw "Miss 5151" on Saturday and bought
his Monday, if memory serves me correctly.
Visibility was still low, so I virtually drove the 2-lane as I would in a car to
be sure I stayed on my "non-direct" course.
The Fayetteville Airport was right where it was supposed to be. It always amazes
me when my Nav works.
I tooled on down to North Huntsville, with clear blue sky popping into view from
time to time. Next check point was Hazel Green, Alabama...just across the Tennessee
border. It was where it was supposed to be, but the airport off to the right never did
appear...probably the limited visibility.
A short time later, Larry’s airport came into view and it kinda looked like a
carnival was going on. A big, new white tent was erected on one end of the airport and a
crowd was gathered around on the main ramp. A modern and expensive helicopter was perched
near the crowd.
I came around and landed with a "nice" crosswind to the left.
As I taxied in to a tie down area, the crowd was now gazing toward the
P-40...bright green and big shark’s teeth will pretty much always steal the
crowd’s attention.
The breeze that had helped the fog to form was now breaking it up, and had me
focus on parking on a tie down spot. On pavement, it’s a little embarrassing to roll
backwards across the ramp as you’re climbing out of the airport’s only "war
bird!" You learn to quickly find a chock or rope and still look "macho."
Larry was nowhere in sight. I answered a handful of the usual questions about the
P-40...what scale, did I build it, what kind of engine and such.
Then out of the new hangar area came one of the hottest looking "5151"
Mustangs I’ve ever seen. Bright yellow nose and flaming Tennessee Red fuselage and
wings...complete with full upper and lower invasion stripes.
Larry Mullins in his gorgeous "5151"
Mustang |
Later Larry said a young lady saw him flying over and
described them as racing stripes. Well, on Larry’s bird, they could be racing
stripes. His machine looks so perfect, it seems like it’s going 200 mph sitting on
the ramp! I’ve seen many "5151’s" over the years, but Larry’s is
one of the finest I’ve ever seen. Words like "quality" and
"high gloss" cannot do it justice. It’s better, by a long shot, than any of
our factory planes and many of those have awards from Oshkosh!
1st factory flying squadron meeting with Mike Loehle
and Larry Mullins |
Loehle Squadron at north Huntsville |
I had been waiting for the day Larry and I could hook up and start
a real factory/customer squadron. The goal has always been to leave our factory and head
to Oshkosh and Sun ‘n Fun, while having customers join in the trip. The day had
finally arrived when Larry and I parked for the first time on the ramp at his home
airfield.
Note that the Loehle factory in middle Tennessee is about half way between Oshkosh
and Sun ’n Fun. Perfect for formation of the Loehle Squadron and flights north and
south.
Larry and I had our first "flying" squadron meeting on the ramp,
complete with photos.
We fired up the "big engines" and took off one after another. I elected
to not crowd Larry since we’ve never flown together and we hadn’t discussed it
prior to lift off. Larry blasted out and I hurried to follow.
The crosswind was pretty stiff and I was surprised to catch myself way off to the
right side climbing out. I guess I was paying attention to Larry and simply enjoying the
view.
Larry never seemed to look back and I worked the 40 good to catch up with
him...and he was gear down! I can tell you that he has one clean, true plane, whether he
knows it or not.
Larry and I agreed that I would just follow him to the "Moontown Event",
since he knew the way. Well, I’m glad I was finally able to catch him, because like a
fool, I wasn’t even paying attention to our path. (No radio or GPS in my P-40, but
there will be shortly.)
Gosh, he looked good cruising along...just like a "real P-51 and all" as
they say. If we had working guns, we could have possibly "taken over Moontown!"
Probably good that we didn’t, the "F double A" really wouldn’t like
that kinda stuff.
Larry in flight |
The pattern at Moontown was buzzing. A big ol’ New Standard
biplane was hopping passengers (four to five people at a time), helicopters were lined up
like fixed wings, a Maxair Drifter was giving "instruction rides", sailplanes
were parked on both sides of the runway, antiques and ultralights finished the
unusual plane mix. The normal few Cessnas and such were parked on the opposite side of the
runway.
Please note that I was told that about 3,000 people came to the last event...and
Moontown is a narrow grass strip of only 2,200 feet! It’s also the kind of place
where new and old (textured) hangars abound and it’s guaranteed that you will never
be sure of what you’ll see. Long time EAA’er and Staggerwing booster, John
Parish, once called it right...Moontown has, well, atmosphere.
The day long event was almost like a picturesque 4th of July event in
small town America. Hundres of takeoffs and landings with planes like Yak’s, Russian
Antov’s, Luscombes, ultralights, ag planes towing sailplanes, huge New Standard 1930
"aerial tour" biplane, aerobatic planes, including a cherry clipped wing Cub,
and even Lionheart--the fast, modern day composite Staggerwing type plane. And also
steady Hughes 269 helicopter rides or demos. What activity! Grass roots aviation was truly
alive that day!
At "Moontown" |
Larry answering questions about his pride & joy |
If this is how all future Loehle Squadron rendezvous will be, I
wish everyone could join in the fun...aviation would grow by leaps and bounds!
The return trip home as just as pleasant. I stopped and bummed some high test auto
fuel from the Fayetteville Squadron Leader (Larry) and buzzed the factory in The Aviation
Valley on my way to the hangar.
A super day for sure! Come join our Loehle Squadron!! Lots of fun to be had!!
© Copyright 1999, Loehle Aircraft Corporation
