Happy Birthday Dad

rv6ejguy · #1 11-23-2012, 04:42 PM

It was my Dad's 84th birthday today so I took off work early so we could go flying together in the 6A. My Dad has been a pilot for over 60 years, military pilot (Harvard, T34, B25, DC3, P51, Vampire, T33, F86, ASW Argus, VIP flight) then corporate (P Navajo, King Air). Flying is his life and he loves it. My Dad is awesome! Thanks Dad for everything and Happy Birthday!

The 6A comes apart now for an engine overhaul, major inspection and some more mods. It's been 9 years since first flight. Time flies!

ColoRv · #2 11-23-2012, 04:48 PM

Take a moment and consider how truly lucky you are. Great story.

rv6ejguy · #3 11-23-2012, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColoRv

Take a moment and consider how truly lucky you are. Great story.

Absolutely. I never take for granted how lucky I have been to share his skill and knowledge and to be able to afford to build and fly the RV in the first place.

KCBerner · #4 11-23-2012, 07:29 PM

What a great post! Spending time with my father is a big reason I want to do this build and it's great to see a story like this on thanksgiving weekend

rv6ejguy · #5 11-23-2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCBerner

What a great post! Spending time with my father is a big reason I want to do this build and it's great to see a story like this on thanksgiving weekend

Yes, it is a great way to spend quality time together, bucking rivets and then getting to fly the plane. I'm so fortunate my Dad is even more crazy about airplanes than me!

ColoRv · #6 11-23-2012, 08:29 PM

Well you didn't just get that lucky all on your own. Clearly it's in your genes. B25, P51, F86 etc etc....my god, your father has had a life. I bet he can tell stories until the sun comes up.

Paul K · #7 11-23-2012, 09:00 PM

What a great life! Reminds me of the help my 85 year old father has given now and then. My father was a pilot back in the late 40's, early 50's. Owned part of a float plane and flew with the State police. Yah, one of the guys who used to time your speed between the two white lines on the side of the road.

Your dad has a much deeper flight history than my dad. Even though, if I could just soak up what he forgets! I should be so lucky.

This is about the only photo I have of my dad helping with the RV.

rv6rick · #8 11-23-2012, 09:01 PM

Hey Ross,

Congrats to you and your Dad!

Nothing in the entire world like....F-A-M-I-L-Y

!!

Wonderful post and great pictures, thanks so much for sharing

!

rv6ejguy · #9 11-23-2012, 11:47 PM

I like to read about families passing down the love of flying to the next generation. All of us flying RVs who have had the help and support of family members along the way are blessed.

And yes, my Dad has had a great flying career. He was in the RCAF at the time when you could just sign out a couple F86s with your best buddy almost any time you wanted and look for some "trouble". Trouble was finding RAF Vampires or Meteors, USAF Sabres, F84s, French, Belgian jets to dogfight with when he was based in France and Germany. Maybe the occasional dawn 4 plane section dropping 80 rolls of TP from the dive brake wells at low level on "enemy" air fields to rile them up.

The Canadian Sabres had the Orenda engine which had a lot more thrust than the J47 ones so they had an unfair advantage in dogfights over the American F86s. Sorry! Plenty of time comparing and critiquing the days gun film. Those were the days!

The RV is no P51 or F86 of course but a LOT more fun than renting a 172! We've both really enjoyed flying the RV a lot and even the building phase doesn't seem so bad 10 years later... (before the pre-punched era)

pierre smith · #10 11-24-2012, 04:51 AM

Unfortunately, my Dad flew west last year....from the retirement home and I never did have the opportunity to take him flying in my -6A.

You guys with living Fathers and Mothers, heed this good advice.

Best,