|
|
|
|
Walker International Airport, September 30, 2001. We'll do the pictures and personalities in a minute, but first the stats:
Persons signing on the clipboard 76 (some were missed,
so we're estimating
80 in all)
Ercoupes present 6 (one based at Walker)
Old cars driven in 12 or so
New members signed up for OEE 3
Other airplanes flying in were Cherokee, Apache, Luscombe and an
Interstate Cadet.
Ercoupe owners of the Pacific Northwest were treated to near-perfect weather the final day of September, 2001. It had been a dry year, but one cannot discount rain when something outdoors is going to happen. It's so bad here that we do not even have "Rain Dates" as in many parts of the country. If it rains on the scheduled date, we go anyway.
Driving down the previous evening put me in position to observe the
foggy dawn.
Guy had flown his Cessna 140 in Saturday. He and Jimmy had helped Bob Saville that day and spent the night camped under the wing of Guy's plane. I knew that the thick fog would burn off with the sun, so I rousted Candy and Bruce for the trip into town. They had driven in even later than I had. Breakfast was dandy at one of the local restaurants. It sure was interesting hearing about flying in Hawaii. Bruce spent 30 years there and has many interesting tales. Ask him about his `easy! Candy and Bruce live at Western Air Park in Washington State.
We were not back long before the fog lifted and planes started to
arrive. The first in was a later Fred Weick design; a Cherokee.
Speaking of Fred, one of his boys, Dick, came down from Eugene.
Here is a picture of (r to l) him, Candy and Bruce.
So it went through the early morning. After the ice broke with
Ercoupe 99213, two more came in: 28947 (a 1941 model, serial 43)
and 2870H (1946 model). Bob had an "Ercoupe Parking Only" sign,
so they all lined up - beside my motorhome.
Upon surveying the scene, Dick said "It's been a long time since
I've seen so many all-original Ercoupes together." So I took his
picture in front of the 1941 model from Independence. This `coupe
does not have an electrical system and must be hand propped. Talk
about original!
As if the airplanes would not be enough, Bob had invited the local
car club out. I especially enjoyed this Model T. Hand crank and
all! Like hand propping an airplane; the 1941 `coupe, for instance.
Bob made everyone feel welcome. He has built this fly-in over the
last 6 years (this is the seventh annual running), and it is the
highlight of the Oregon Ercoupe Erforce social season. Some would
say the end of the season. The rains usually move in shortly
thereafter. The "Weenie Roast" has never been rained out, though.
You must live right, Bob.
For his efforts on behalf of District 3 (OR, WA, AK), Bob earned the
thanks of the Ercoupe Owners Club. And what better way to show the
EOC's sincere appreciation than with an honorarium - $100 cash to
help defray expenses. Dick and I presented Bob with the money.
Arrivals of Ercoupes from Washington was especially gratifying to me. Paul Anton came down in 2273H. He had to "rent" an instructor for an "IFR lesson" to get out from under the Class B airspace around Seattle. We made it worth it - the food was excellent. Paul said that Andy Pomeroy was about an hour behind him. That proved incorrect. Andy in Ercoupe 2417H came in after Paul had left. Seems Paul mistook "Sportsman" (Newburg airport) for "Bremerton" (just south of Seattle). Weather delayed Andy, and we were worried for a while.
Andy arrived after every one had left. Here is a picture of the
1941 Ercoupe departing. See you next year!
Walker can handle larger airplanes. This is the Piper Apache as it
leaves. He sure cleared the barn by a lot more than the rest of
them.
With the last Ercoupe gone, we can start the clean up. I helped Bob move a few things. We all marvelled at the super weather and excellent food we had. Please join our potluck next year - the last Sunday in September, Creswell, Oregon. Percy G. Wood, District 3 Director, Ercoupe Owners Club. |
|
|
