Mecca
Today I have gotten to meet many people thanks to my wonderful hosts Keith & Linda pointing me in the right direction.
Jim a WWll pilot, let me ask him all sorts of questions and I was quite taken by his many recounts of days gone by.
Jim in turn introduced me to many local RV builders and flyers and others who fly various machines.
Next I was able to follow some folks over to Lenhardt Field for coffee. There I met many more pilots and a cool group of women there one of which recently flew her Cub all the way to OSH for the big Cub gathering. Another who is building from scratch a beautiful bush plane. Awesome craftsmanship. I look forward to seeing the finished plane.
Several other women aviators who all share my same love. How nice is that!
After a nice tour of some cool projects we walked back into the FBO and I found out about a little lunch over at Aurora. Jerry VanGrunsven was also flying to Aurora and let me follow him over.
We landed and I taxi'd behind him and pulled up right in front of Van's factory. Then Jerry gave me a tour of the whole operation before getting to partake in some fresh grilled burgers across the ramp.
independence, home to this years Van's Homecoming
Me and Jerry V
Their RV 8A
Flying all the way from Lenhardt to Aurora, enroute
Taxiing into Van's. I'll bet many builders and dreamers alike have flown into this very spot in anticipation of picking up their kit.
Parking in front of the Van's hangar. Every RV ought to come here to visit it's birhplace, so to speak.
Whew, posting on a cell phone is a exercise in patience. After several fat fingered edits, viola!