Thursday, June 22, 2017

Will Fly For Food

In the mid 90s I worked with a guy that had a T-shirt with the slogan WILL FLY FOR FOOD printed on the front of the shirt.  It was a humorous reference to the aviation enthusiast penchant for spending $90 in avgas searching for a $10 hamburger.  The outfit we were flying for was a little charter airline headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia called Private Jet Expeditions. "Pee Jay" (our ATC call sign) operated 727s and MD-83s to vacation destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico.  It was my third airline, after Eastern and Pan Am.  Jim, the guy with the T-shirt, was a former Continental Airlines pilot. We were all ex someplace; slowly working our way down the airline food chain.  The irony of Jim's T-shirt did not go unnoticed.  Flying for food was pretty much what we were doing.

Twenty-four years (and four uniforms) later the airlines are making money, and I'm back at the top of the food chain.  The future looks bright, and for that I am thankful.  As for Jim's shirt; it's still out there.  I see WILL FLY FOR FOOD T-shirts for sale at every fly-in and airshow I attend.  I'm reluctant to buy one.  The reality of the slogan hits too close to home.  I am, however, more than willing to fork out $90 in avgas searching for a $10 hamburger, or a $20 pork plate. 

Lunch At Triple Tree Aerodrome


Triple Tree Aerodrome held their annual Fabric and Tailwheel Luncheon on Saturday, June 10th.  A $20 pre purchased ticket opened the hangar door to a slice of pork loin that was easily the best I have ever tasted.  What else can I say?  The weather was perfect! EAA Chapter 961 was well represented with seven airplanes in attendance.  Behold, the pictures!

Photo by Dick Kruse

N558, Jellystone Air Park's very own Pontiac Red and Sun Valley Ivory Hatz CB-1 Biplane. The second airplane to depart the Rock Hill-York County Airport, the third (of our gaggle) to arrive at Triple Tree Aerodrome.  I was solo for this outing, Brother Barbeau was in Pocono, Pennsylvania, working his weekend NASCAR King Air trip.

Colin & Joe Baker

After sister Emma, and "Father Joe," Colin is the third member of the "Baker Flying Circus" to learn how to fly in the family's 1947 Luscombe 8A, NC1143B.


John Roberts' Skyote, last to depart Rock Hill (KUZA), first to arrive at Triple Tree (SC00.)


The only entry slower than the Hatz, Dick Kruse's 1946 Champ.


If you have to park somewhere, it might as well be next to a Cabin Waco!  


The view to the southwest. . .


. . . and back to the northeast. . .


. . . and from the top of the hill next to the tower.  In the background you can see 1/3 of Triple Tree Aerodrome's 400' X 7000' putting green runway.


All of the usual suspects were on hand.  


Brian Rosenstein's Stearman.  Brother Baker has been in this one too!  Folks are starting to get jealous.


Speaking of being jealous. . . Yes, it sounds as good as it looks!


The sole Call Air Cadet resides in Hendersonville, North Carolina.


Read all about it at LETS GO FLYING!


On the bus to the chow hall with Brother Baker.


The view from the chow line. . .


. . . and of the hangar/chow hall---and the point in time when I stowed my camera and commenced chowing down.

When Pigs Fly!


Since Brother Barbeau missed out on Triple Tree we decided to forage for food in Shelby, North Carolina a few days later.


Brother Barbeau in the Hatz.


A short walk (or ride if it's hot outside) from the FBO terminal.

NC1143B on the ramp at Shelby, NC (KEHO.)

As I said at the start of the post, I'm more than willing to fork out $90 in avgas searching for a $10 or $20 lunch.  I'm just not going to buy the T-shirt!

2 comments:

  1. Good show, "Not So". Another post without 84 Charlie, but every dog has his day!

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  2. 946DK felt privileged to be able to fly "Tail End Charlie" to this outstanding Chapter 961 group

    ReplyDelete