May 2019 - All Glory is Fleeting

The trip to Sun n Fun last month was a real necessity for me and for the CallAir Cadet. We've spent the better part of the last two years tweaking and tightening and fixing all the little things that are discovered after a complete rebuild of an airplane. I've gotten used to its nuances and needs and it was time to strut its stuff. 

And so it was we launched forth from the Western North Carolina Air Museum and worked our way South (always capitalized) to Lakeland FL, home of a terrific aviation event since way back in the 1970s. The original Kissimmee Air Fair evolved into Sun n Fun; John and I went to Kissimmee with the family in 1973 or 1974 when he was just a little tyke and returned in 1979 in our Cessna 170, Daisy ..

You might gather that we like yellow airplanes - we do.

Of course we still have our patches, followed by more from Lakeland and Oshkosh.

It was a homecoming of sorts when John, now Captain John of NetJets, and I met up for three days of wandering around airplanes and airplane stuff and meeting some really great airplane people. 

The CallAir was parked first by the porta potties, way in the back of the antique and classic area but with some asking around, we were invited to bring the one of a kind airplane to the front row, literally, in front of the antique and classic headquarters building where it could be seen and appreciated. I can't write enough nice things about these people - they were just wonderful to us.

To our surprise, a gentleman stopped by the CallAir to let us know an award had been given to the airplane; I didn't know what but it came a few days later in the mail (we had to leave before the award ceremony). 

Much appreciated, but around the table at the Mustang Cafe on the Saturday morning after it came in, it was opined that the award could be either for the airplane or the pilot. I'm still not quite sure about that.