Yesterday (Sat., Sept 12) was Airport Awareness Day at OVO (North Vernon, Indiana.) I invited some of the Ohio Valley Aviators formation over, and they provided a great show with a six-ship team.
I asked if they could haul any passengers and got a qualified "yes." I said one would be a WWII P-47 pilot, and the interest level picked up quite a bit. I called Gene Eaton, a fine guy who had sold his Tri-Pacer about five years ago. I had flown him in my 9A last year, and he hadn't lost the desire--or his touch!
Gene had a bit of trouble getting into the back seat of the RV-8, but the grin was unmistakable. He hadn't flown close formation since 1946, but he loved it, especially the break. Gene had the greatest flying job of WWII, that of high air cover for Pearl Harbor--after December, 7! After the war he set an altitude record in the P-47, 41,500'.
Another of the team took the editor of the local paper, and I expect a nice story to be published this week. I'll post a link.
It isn't all that difficult to make someone's day. I don't know why I thought of Gene when we set this up, but I'm sure glad I did. There are still a few of these old fellows around. Give 'em a call!
Bob Kelly
I asked if they could haul any passengers and got a qualified "yes." I said one would be a WWII P-47 pilot, and the interest level picked up quite a bit. I called Gene Eaton, a fine guy who had sold his Tri-Pacer about five years ago. I had flown him in my 9A last year, and he hadn't lost the desire--or his touch!
Gene had a bit of trouble getting into the back seat of the RV-8, but the grin was unmistakable. He hadn't flown close formation since 1946, but he loved it, especially the break. Gene had the greatest flying job of WWII, that of high air cover for Pearl Harbor--after December, 7! After the war he set an altitude record in the P-47, 41,500'.
Another of the team took the editor of the local paper, and I expect a nice story to be published this week. I'll post a link.
It isn't all that difficult to make someone's day. I don't know why I thought of Gene when we set this up, but I'm sure glad I did. There are still a few of these old fellows around. Give 'em a call!
Bob Kelly