|
|
|
|
Greetings again from the Wet Side! We've had an exceptionally dry summer this year. And by running into the end of October, it is exceptionally sweet. The Oregon Wing of the Ercoupe Owners Club, your Oregon Ercoupe Erforce, meets the Last Sunday of each and every month. Our meetings are like a "floating crap game" in that we have to cover a large area. With just over 96,000 square miles, we try to hold meetings close to as many of our members as we can. This year we have met in Astoria (on the Pacific coast), Madras (desert central part of the state) and many points in between. We like lunch with our meetings; Annie's At The Airport played host to 14 members. I would have been a fool not to take advantage of the fine weather. I corralled a friend, Paul, into the right seat. He also helped me drain the plane!
Taking water out of 2129H is necessitated by the rain we have here. It takes about ten minutes to get is all to drain. As the first small plane designed around tricycle landing gear, the Ercoupe didn't have the advantages gained by designing drainage points over the years since the 1930's. So I have to hold the tail on the ground for a while before flying.
I personally consider it declass to portray my self in my web pages, but I am so happy flying that I could not resist! Please forgive, Gentle Reader. With the California wild fires in the news, we noticed these burning. We did not want to get close in case fire fighting aircraft were in the area. FAA regulations dictate 5 miles from such events.
We reach Independence with only .75 hours on the Hobbs from departing Evergreen (Vancouver, Washington). This airport is part of a residence community just west of the Salem, the State Capital. No other traffic as we work our way down final.
The housing area to the right of the airport has taxi ways alternating with the streets. One can taxi right up to one's own hangar. The perfect spot for an aviation enthusiast.
We join two other Ercoupes on the ramp. Including 87279. This plane is owned by a nice couple from Roseburg. They flew up from the southern part of the state to join us today. I had the honor of flying 279 in September, 2000. I don't recall it looking nearly as shiny as this! The best thing that can happen to an old airplane is having owners who care.
Join the crowd! There were 14 of us. A very good turnout. The numbers we get are weather dependent. Food at Annie's is superior pilot fare - `burgers and such like. They have good breakfasts if you are ever in the area.
After lunch, every body wants to walk the ramp. 94333 earned lots of admiration. It has been restored to prime condition. Again, loving ownership makes all the difference. Paul and I had a build session on the Independence Flyer. This is an ultralight going together at the same facility that bought you the Noon Patrol. This is the 14 Nieuport fighters that you may have seen in Sport Aviation and other flying magazines. The hangar is empty enough now for us to build our project. Maybe someday, this project will take to the skys on it's 1/2 VW motor. I took one of the builders up. He had a difficulty with his ultralight, and needed to "get back on the horse that throwed him." More than willing, and it made his day. This is the biggest joy of flying. By then the sun was sinking low. Time for Paul and I to head home. 29H doesn't do nights. Without a light to see the airspeed, it just is not the best idea. It was .85 to get home. I tell Paul it is his flying. But we both know it was the head winds. As light as they were that day, they still make a difference. So there you have it, `coupe fans. Just another wonderful day flying.
Percy G. Wood and Ercoupe 2129H, Evergreen Field, Vancouver, Washington, USA |
|
|
