Feels so Good

Early in November a big storm was coming and I had rolled the Luscombe into the shed after a flight from Babe Ridge.  Everything was OK except the comm.  radio was still not right.  I was securing the not perfect hangar doors.  I grabbed a piece of 1x6 wood and a power screwdriver and battened the two front middle doors together with screws.  This really locks the doors tight for the wind.  It was kind of early to put the plane away for the winter.  We've been warned of a hard winter.  So lots of rains came and windy nights.  And big dinners were had and eggnog flowed.  The RV guys did their Holly Run to Tangier.  My friend Clark dropped in in a Warrior.  The strip got a little soft, but was OK.  Christmas was great in every way,  and the weather on Friday after Christmas was sunny and calm and 60 degrees.  I could have,  would have, should have,  flown my little black airplane that day.    But Christmas had been so much fun,  I didn't get back from the western shore till Friday at 5 AM.  and I was a post-Christmas zombie.  My wife told me she had seen the forecast and the next day, Saturday,  was to be nice too,  and then back to the rains and the eggnog.  So I got up Saturday and got my new Xmas cordless drill and went out and took down that batten from the doors of the shed and rolled out the Luscombe known as 819,  aka "Blackjet",  aka "Blackie".   I did a pretty careful preflight,  sumping fuel and making sure no new hangar rash.  I tied the tail.  I set the brakes tight.  I turned on the fuel,  primed four shots.  With switch off I pulled her through about eight times.  I then added 2 more shots prime and turned on the mags.  Then swung the prop through.  No hit.  Second pull.  She fired up and ran fairly smooth.  Untied the tail,  climbed in and taxied out.  Grass in pretty good shape for late December.  Even green in many places.  I'm not fat on fuel so I must go straight to Cambridge.  Take off west and light and solo and it's really fun.  Taildraggers are a pain in the ass,  but I hadn't been up in seven weeks and it was really fun.  I had a great meal at "Kay's" at the airport.  And got my fuel.  Saw some friends from Sugar Hill.  And some other winter flyers.  A red sunset was forming and the 10 minute ride home was way too short.  I couldn't land into that sun and so I landed east.  I let her roll to the end and swung around and took off west and the sun was OK and red and diffused a bit.  Had a short low small happy pattern and landed west to make the third landing of the trip.  Back into the shed.  I didn't screw in the batten board.  Because I'm waiting.  Waiting for another Indian summer.  Now as I type to you my GA friends,  it is Wednesday the 31st.  New Years Eve.   Happy New Year.   I plan to fly 819 somehow in both Jan.  and Feb. of 2015.   Don't put your planes all the way away.   Maybe we can all fly out to OC or Georgetown, De.  I need at least 40 degrees and no wind chill.

Love,            Lloyd

GAI          :::::+:::::