Ok, guys, I'll fill you in on how all this got started!
It was the summer of 1948 and I had been noticing several small aircraft flying in the general area and I knew there was a small 1800 foot dirt strip close by, but had never been there. I barrowed dad's 1946 Plymouth, he had taught me to drive the year before, and away I went! The first thing I saw was a long looking building and as I got closer, I could see they were laided out into "t" hangar arrangements. One aircraft was sitting outside and a man was wiping off the cowling of the engine and I thought, "what a beautiful aircraft"! It was a Fairchild PT-19, with a Ranger inverted engine and wooden prop!
I parked over to the side, out of the way and walked over to the man and said hello! Hello yourself young man, what brings you to our little airport? I replied that I have always had an interest in airplanes and flying, but did not know how to start. Well, he said, I am going to take a short hop over town, would you like to go? Yipes yes I said and after straping me into the rear open cockpit, he inserted a handle into the side of the aircraft, start turning and I could hear a whinning noise begin. After winding it up to his satisfaction, he jumped upon the walkway on the wing, lean into the cockpit and a smooth steady rumble came from the front and the prop was now turning. After about 10 minutes, climbing to about 3,000 feet, he turned and yelled, "hold the stick and I will let you fly some"! Wow, I thought, this is more fun than chasing girls!
We landed and as I climbed out of my first airplane ride, I asked the gentleman if there was any work to be done around the field where I could pay for my rides? Well, if you like you could figure out a way to wash some of these dirty airplanes, I am sure the owners would let you ride along!
So, back home I went, borrowed mom's wash tub, placed in the rear of the Plymouth, filled it about 1/2 with water and slowly drove back to the field. The PT-19 was first thing I washed, earning me a 1 hour flight. After about a month of back and forth and washing by hand these fine aircraft, I begin to slowing learn stick and rudder and how they controlled the aircraft. Wow, the 19 was so smooth, all controls were on ball bearings and was smooth as silk.
Then came the first day he put into the front seat, went through the starting procedure with me, 6 pumps on prime in summer, 10 in winter, make sure brakes are pumped up and set, with chocks in place, crack the throttle about a 1/8th of an inch, then insert the handle and wind like the dickens until you had that high pitched whine, jump up onto the wing, reach in, engage starter and wa la, the engine would start.
By now I had about 5 hours in the thing and the takeoffs were getting a little straighter and straighter for me, so he said, now we have to learn how to stall the aircraft and control it to recovery. Remember he said, when it breaks, push rudder to push wing back to level! First thing I did was put it into a spin by pushing the wrong rudder. Back up again and after about 4 o5 of those stalls, power off, we then proceeded to do some power on stalls! I had the hang of it by then, so after 4 o5 of those, he hollered from the back seat, lets go do your first landing! Oh boy, I thought, I don't know if I am ready for this! Slow down to 90 on downwind, 80 on base, 70 on final, power off a little back pressure and a grease job. Pure luck I thought, but as I learned later, with oelo struts and big tires, this thing was probably the easiest aircraft on the field to land!
After about 5 or 6 touch and goes, he hollered, taxi over to my truck, which I did and he said he needed to go to store to get some more gas for the aircraft and you just go ahead and practice some more landings. Stop on the 3rd one and we will talk.
As I watched that old Dodge pickup truck disappear down that dirt road, I was dumb founded at the turn of events, but heck, I am "bullet" proof, so away I when. On downwind, it hit me, nothing here but you Earl, so you better not screw this up! First pass, I was nervous, had to much speed on final and as I had been taught, added full power, milked up the flaps and started over. Next pass was right on, ,made 2 more landings, saw the truck coming back, leaving a trail of dust so I made a full stop.
From then on, everybody wanted the "kid" to fly their aircraft, so after a formalization flight with a J-3 Cub and a PA-12 "super cruiser", I now was one of the "boys"!
When it rained, it was great excitement to set and listen to these older men talk about B-17 flights over Germany and one was our local Doctor, who fly P-51's escorting B-29's over Japan.
Those were the golden years of flying for me and as I now proceed into the twilight of my life, I sit on the back porch, smoke my pipe and think about those wonderful days! Now you guys got me to crying, but that is OK, I am a very rich man with the memories that I have. The bode and eyes are slowing going away, but the old brain is still working good, just a little slower these days!
