Saturday morning the Jellystoners invaded Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, South Carolina.
The fleet was airborne by 0815 EDT. Joe and Colin Baker in the blue and silver Luscombe freighter; Brother Barbeau and Yours Truly in the red and ivory Hatz. Colin and I were Designated Photographers on this leg. (Sorry, Colin's photos have not been cleared by the censors.)
Forty-five minutes later we were over the initial approach fix on the Triple Tree Fly-In Arrival---the giant Wal-Mart Distribution Center (AKA Wally World) eight miles south of the airfield. Five minutes later we were touching down on Runway 3 at Triple Tree Aerodrome. Seven thousand feet of the smoothest, dew covered, golf course style turf to ever grace a runway---and Brother Barbeau's landing was superb! In his dreams, Charles Lindbergh never had such a landing! For the rest of the day, everywhere I went, all I heard was: "Did you see the guy in the Hatz? Man he was smooth!" Wait; it gets better!
Gary and I were allowed to park on the front row too! Maybe because of the landing. More likely because we arrived with the Zen Master. Whatever the reason, we were feeling pretty good about ourselves. When my feet touched the ground I was King of the Aerodrome---my captain could whip Charles Lindbergh in a golf course grass landing contest, and my flight instructor was so well thought of, they gave him a front row seat to the Cessna 172 Three Point Landing Championship!
Our feel-good feeling was short lived. The Howards arrived and did what DGA's do---steal all the thunder. This 1944 DGA-15 had a nice Bill Tinkler Luscombe inspired paint job!*
Ron Alexander flew in from Williamson, Georgia.
His landing was almost as nice as Gary's.
So he got a front row parking spot too!
The turnout this year was better than expected. The number that I heard bouncing around was 370 airplanes on Friday. . .
Almost 500 on Saturday! This area was full by 1100.
There were a bunch of Swifts. Jellystone Air Park neighbor, Pick Freeman, was there with his 1946 GC-1B. It was parked next to this checkered-tail beauty.
The folks in Wilsonville were out of town when Gary and I stopped by. According to the data card, Jim's 1936 Cabin Waco will go 116.2 MPH, flat out! That's pretty zippy. And it doesn't need a Luscombe to carry all the luggage. . .
Mark Accomazzo was there with his son in the Great Lakes. They were parked way out on the northeast fairway. Man was that a hike!
We were advised to eat early, before the soup kitchen ran out of food. The Great Lakes crew brought their own grub.
While Joe was chewing the fat with the guys at the lunch table, young Colin was messing around with the iPhone. His message read: "Don't put me on the blog."
At first glance it looks like a late model Fleet. Well, sort of. . .
As it turns out, it was a FLAGLOR HIGH TOW. A homebuilt; and in my opinion, the coolest machine at the fly-in! Sorry Gary, Joe, Jim, Mark, Pick, Henry, Deb; this is my new favorite airplane---at least until Mark lets me fly the Great Lakes.
Truly a work of art!
Eddie Price, the Chief Pilot at Pond Branch Airfield, flew in on Friday. He sent this picture of Brother Baker with fellow Luscombe owners Henry and Deb McFarland---part of Front Porch Gang from Canton, Georgia. Tons of Luscombe wisdom in this shot! Henry flies a beautiful rag wing 8A. Deb flies a polished 8E that she calls, Lester. Deb is a Master Wordsmith at General Aviation News.
Henry's Rag Wing 8A.
I'm pretty sure the hubcap is not going to fall off. . .
Pat Hartness, the Big Kahuna at Triple Tree Aerodrome, and Deb McFarland.
Some other cool stuff:
WWII Control Tower.
Hangar patio overlooking the lake on the northwest side of the airfield.
The Triple Tree Airway Beacon!
Something for Les Kanna to consider. . .
And now the unusual:
It was sitting on a boat trailer, so we'll call it an air boat. How does that saying go? "If it's ugly, it's British. If it's weird, it's French. If it's ugly AND weird, it's Russian!" Pulled by a Hummer with Georgia tags. . .
Eventually it was time to leave. . .
Jellystoners---waiting on the fuel truck.
Seven gallons, please. . .
Triple Tree Departure Procedure for Runway 3: Climb straight ahead (but not over the house at the end of the runway) until reaching 2000 feet, then turn right and follow the power lines back to Jellystone Air Park. So easy; even an airline pilot can do it!
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The Tinkler Luscombe, May 6, 2010, Aiken, South Carolina. Sharon & Bill Tinkler, Joe Baker, and Eddie Price.
That Flaglor High Tow is a modified Fleet 16B.
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