SHORT FINAL by DEBORAH McFARLAND I left three loads of laundry on the kitchen table, ready to be folded and put away. Grass needed cutting; tomatoes needed canning. The dog begged to go, but for him, a ride in the truck would have to wait until another day. Like me, my green Dodge Ram has […]
The Hangar
By DEBORAH McFARLAND My friend, Bob, at the Tom B. David Airport in Calhoun, Ga. (CZL), has been trying to explain to some folks in his town about the ambiance that can be found at the airport. Trying to describe the nuances of aviation to non-aviators can be a tricky business. In particular, Bob would […]
A fight well fought
John W. Murphy never did anything that made him famous. He wasn’t rich. As a kid he entered World War II with the assurance that it was the right thing to do for his country. He was unassuming and most times quiet, but in 1946 he left the military a changed man. He found a […]
Diary of a mad Luscombe pilot
Every new year brings contemplations, convolutions and resolutions, most of which are held dear for a week or two and then thrown out with that final bit of holiday trash. Contemplations of the New Year sort can get deep and perplexing at times. One realizes the Earth is another year older and one’s backside is […]
It’s all about priorities: It takes creativity to keep flying these days
Nowadays, when there is considerable cost involved just getting to the airport, folks often ask me how we survive financially as a flying family. I have to be creative to keep those flying dollars liberated, and as the price of automotive and aviation fuels rise — affecting our household budget across the board — I […]
An unusual upbringing
She was small with flaming red hair, but I had no doubt her backbone was reinforced with stainless steel. We sat at a conference table, the Old Man beside me looking grave and concerned, as appropriate for the situation. I, on the other hand, squirmed with guilt and no doubt my discomfort was apparent on […]
HAPPY, HAPPY: A long-awaited decision makes this Luscombe owner a happy woman
A friend of mine once told me that he didn’t read most flying magazines because they were full of gloom and doom. Airplanes crashing and pilots doing stupid things were not high on his agenda for enlightening reading. Where, he wondered, were the stories of pilots who did the right things? Of those successful forced […]
It’s Sprint… and a fine day to fly
Standing in front of our hangar, I can see the whole world — or at least my little portion of it. As late afternoon gives way to early evening, it is a good place to be. The March sun is bold, portending the summer yet to come. But instead of wearying heat, her warmth is […]
I like… getting ready for fly-in season, touch and goes and the search for perfection
I like fly-ins. The anticipation and the excitement of the journey are nearly as tantalizing as the event itself, especially the first fly-in of the season. The foremost chore on my preparation list is to try on my shorts. We have all learned the hard way that this is not something we should leave to […]