Those who have flown with me know how much I love formation flying. I just found out that a close relative of mine is pretty good at it, too! Hooper and I went flying in "Fred" and did a bunch of formation with Mike Macon in his Carbon Cub and Jeff Taylor in his Highlander. We had a ball and Hooper did a fine job. Coming up: Re-joins!
Hooper Lansburgh has been flying the PA12 and I thought that some would like to see what the view is like from the back!
We had a little milestone here at Sisters. Student pilot Tyler Head took and passed his Private Pilot Check Ride. It's a double whammy. Although I began flying with Tyler, I checked out his new instructor, Sam Monte in tailwheel. Then Sam took over Tyler's instruction and Sam's partner, Walt Lyseki, handled his ground school.
Craig Bowen came out for a return engagement. Craig informed me that when he came out last, we had not had a chance to fly the irrigation pivot. So, naturally, we blasted over to the pivot in the PA12. The owners had never seen the new plane over their field. We had a blast before heading for Madras.
Many thanks to Frank Sturm from the Netherlands. He pointed out that the last newsletter had the wrong year! Oops! I'll bet you all managed to figure that out anyway! David Prince, who first made the pages of the Tailwheelers Journal with his arrival under a rainbow at Sisters in his Clipper, came for some flying in "Fred" the Piper PA12. We had a good time and I think Fred did, too.
Son Hooper and I have been flying the PA12 and we're killing two birds with one stone, since he's getting current and I'm getting to practice flying from the back seat.
Work has continued on the gradual change from a Cessna 140 to a Piper PA12 "Super Cruiser". Son Hooper and I started to use the Super Cruiser at the end of the week.
The new PA12 is coming along and should be finished in a week or so. Many thanks to Barry Foote, who has done a nice job on the new avionics. The PA12 will replace the 140 as the primary Tailwheel Town Tailwheel trainer.
A couple of weeks ago I put out the word that I was looking for some old brake parts to use as a training aid. Well, Steve Pankonin, of Steve's Aircraft, came through so the high schoolers will soon have a working brake system so they can see how they work. Thanks, Steve!!
Winter has come to Tailwheel Town, but it really hasn't stopped the serious students. Alan Gatward comes to mind. Alan has bided his time and swoops in from up north when the weather looks good. His Master Class is coming along great.
