So, there I was, flying in the air with the greatest of ease ... or so I thought.
I had gone up to Minnesota to visit family. My brother Steve wasn’t looking so good and he said he always wanted to fly in my airplane. So, I figured I’d better get up there and see him before anything happens.
I flew my 1946 Fairchild F24R from Belen, NM (KBRG) to Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM) in Minneapolis, MN. Unfortunately, the weather in the New Mexico area was "kinda" socked in around the Albuquerque "bowl". The weather to the west was clear so I decided to follow the weather line to the NW and ended up in Grand Junction, CO (KGJT) overnight. Got up early, prepped the plane and took off over the Rockies. This old girl loves it way up there ... she flew great and I had a tailwind. My Hartzell "Hydro-Selective" prop was working well, and I was cruising on an average of 135-140 mph and was making great time. I couldn't make MN, so I stayed in Mitchell, South Dakota (KMHE) where there were about 10 Lear’s sitting near the FBO. I guess it was pheasant season and all the rich kids and their friends flew their jets to go hunting. I think the old girl was feelin a little sheepish around the big birds. She may not be the fastest, but she sure was the prettiest. The next morning there was some good frost on wings and I was given some warm towels to rub the frost off before topping off and heading out. A few hours later I arrived at Flying Cloud (KFMC) just south west of Minneapolis, and put her in the hangar. The next day was seeing family, taking folks for airplane rides in an almost 80 year old flying machine. Everyone loved it and had nothing but compliments. The day before I was to leave, I got a call from my cousin and she asked me if her daughter could get a ride before I left. “Of course!”. She’s a beautiful young woman, cheerleader, college grad and after I prepped the plane, I told her she was the “Checklist Chick”, she happily obliged, and we were on our way! After an enjoyable flight around the Minneapolis area, we arrived back at Flying Cloud, she thanked me for the experience and we began to get out of the airplane. As soon as I got out I saw it! I had somehow missed the seatbelt. I obviously thought I had it around my waist during the flight … It wasn’t, and during our hour-long flight, it was outside the door beating the hell out of the side of the airplane! Without missing a beat, I went around the nose and gave her a hug and she went on her way, only to go back around and view the hole left in the side of my airplane. My heart sunk, I cursed a lot and after I got ahold of myself had to figure out if I could fly back, or would have to leave the airplane in Minnesota. Thankfully, there was no structural damage, just the fabric. I found some hockey tape .. figured that was some sticky tape and doctored the damaged hole in the side of my airplane. It looked pretty good when I was done! When I got back to Belen, I had to figured out who could fix it. There really isn’t anyone that repairs fabric anymore, well, near me that is. The side is almost repaired, and she’ll be back in the air at the end of the month. Wish me luck ...
