My Friend Bob

First off, my friends are pretty far-flung since I've lived in more than a few places but distance doesn't diminish the pleasure of their company, however long the interval between visits. 

So it was that I planned a trip to Bayport Aerodrome on Long Island to celebrate my friend, Bob's, 90th birthday. Certain my airplane would be finished with its restoration by then, I planned to leave for New York in mid-August to rendezvous at the Sheep Shagger Baa with native New Zealanders Stu and Craig during the Antique Airplane Club of Greater New York fly-in and pig roast, and stay over for the merriment of Bob's birthday on September 1. All this in the year 2017.

Oops. Bob's 90th was THIS year - 2016. Apparently the math skills of a theatre major aren't up to the job. So the party had to go on without me.

Now meet Bob through the photographs of Michael DeMita and Annemarie Bain

That fellow on the right end of the back row is Bob. The airplane is his Stearman, which he still flies regularly.

In addition to his regular duties of Commanding Officer of the Royal Vulgarian Flying Corps, a NATO force, Bob mows the grass around the Bayport Aerodrome Society hangars.

Bob was a Navy brat, later a Navy man and joined the fleet aboard the USS Monterey, CV(L) 26, toward the end of World War II. The Monterey was caught in Halsey's typhoon in 1944 and steamed to Bremerton WA for a refit before rejoining the fleet. Former President Gerald Ford, then LT Ford, saw Bob coming and managed some orders to get himself off the ship. Actually, that's not true, but Ford went ashore in any case and Bob went aboard.

Bob saw combat in the waning days of the War, endured kamikaze attacks, celebrated the end of it and returned home. Eventually he landed as an executive at Purolator and Ford Motor Company before retiring to the peace and tranquility of Long Island and the Bayport Aerodrome. He always participates in Memorial Day and Veterans' Day flights over the Calverton National Cemetery.

Kids of all ages, grandkids, old friends and new friends have enjoyed those lazy afternoon flights with Bob in his beloved Stearman, including one mathematically-challenged blog writer.

Over refreshments at the Wednesday wine and cheese gathering, you might learn what makes the wheels of the Ford go 'round or delve into the mysteries of horsepower lost in an automotive drive train. You may also learn the intricacies of rib stitching fabric on an airplane wing or patching a heat exchanger shroud on a Piper Cub. In any case, there is no shortage of knowledge or variants thereof to be found at Bob's hangar.

Happy Birthday, my friend.  And many, many more.