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11:22:00 AM EDT
More from DAD.
This is the plane I bought in 1946 and which is mentioned in the story below.
I have a little story for you about something that happened in my young days -
When I was 33 years old I became interested in aviation. There was a small airport near our home, on an island in the Tennessee River. It was called the Island Airport. Mr Wolfenbarger and his daughter owned and operated the business.
I spent a lot of my spare time there, after my work day my family and I could be found there. That included LaVerne my wife, my son Jim who was 8 years at the time and Mary who was 1 year old. We enjoyed watching the planes taking off and coming back to land.
I soon decided that I would take flying lessons. I had two very good instructors and it was not long until they had me ready to go.
I remember so well one day when my instructor and I were out practicing a few things, I believe that it was take off's and landing's. When we landed the instructor got out of the plane, shut his door and told me to go back up on my own, I don't think that I have ever felt as lonely and helpless as I did that day. But I made it back to the runway feeling very happy and maybe just a little proud of myself.
I had to fly solo for several hours before I could have any one with me, also I had to make a cross country trip all alone, I went to Chattanooga, Tn, about 100 miles. and I had to get my log book signed by someone there at that airport. It was interesting and a great thrill to me.
When all these requirements were met an inspector came out and rode with me and gave me the O.K. for my license which you see below.
Now I really thought I was something. I first gave my family a ride, Mary was just a little over one year old when she and I went up and circled around the city a few times, she trusted dad to get her back safe. Then Jim and LaVerne's time came, we all enjoyed it very much.
Up to this point we had to rent a plane when we wanted to fly, but we saw that we were going to like it so much I decided to buy a plane, which we soon did. One of my instructors, Phillip Fisher went with me to the factory near Washington DC. and we flew the plane back to Knoxville.
After this I made several trips, some a good distance away. I remember one trip that I made was to Lapere, Michigan. The weather was very bad and I got caught above an overcast sky and had a hard time finding a hole to get back down, but I did. Remember that we did not have the instruments then that we have today I had several more close calls after that and I am glad that I was spared and am here raising Tomatoes and able to smile a little. I am not writing this from notes, just from memory so I may have left out a lot of things that I should have told you. I may add some to this story later as I think of other things that happened to me.
Bye Bye DAD
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WOW DAD YOU ARE A DAPPER DAN FELLOW. MY HUSBAND WANTED TO BE AN AIRLINE PILOT BUT HIS EYES WERE TO BAD SO HE NEVER MET THAT DREAM. THAT'S A GREAT STORY AND LOVE THE PIC OF THE PLANE AND YOU. I LOVE TO FLY BUT WOULD LOVE TO TRY DOING IT MYSELF. IT'S GOT TO BE THE BEST FEELING. SEEMS SCARY BUT VERY EXCITING. THE CERTIFACATE WAS VERY INTERESTING ALSO.
http://journals.aol.com/judypearllove/ToBlessedToBeStressed / -
Wow!!! Dad, I bet you had so much fun in that airplane!!!!! I wish I could step back in time, I'd get you to fly me around the Smokies!!!
Take care,
Carlene -
Dad, what an interesting story. I never knew that you had a plane. How exciting!! I'm going slow today as my back is giving me some pain. Have a good one.
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This is so wonderful, I can feel the excitement of your first solo flight and trying to find a spot to get through in the storm clouds. This is amazing, and you were such a handsome man back then too. Imagine you own plane, what a wonder!
9/8/05 9:01 AM
Terrie