| Like many
states, the IL group of pilots has a web-based bulletin board where they
can post what they're doing and where they're going. After a couple such
postings, this gathering grew into a perfect storm of PPGers. The weather
was perfect, a bunch of locals were off, it was Sunday afternoon and,
before you know it, we had ourselves a mini fly-in.
We have 4 sites in the IL area where flying is common but this is, by
far, the largest. We have an accommodating landowner to thank for allowing
us use of this manicured marvel. There are no neighbor issues as we keep
our distance from the few surrounding houses. There's also this strange
golf course. It's perfectly kept but almost nobody goes there. And as long
as nobody's playing on it, they don't mind us buzzing the fairways. You
haven't done a foot-drag until you've done a fairway foot drag!
Tim Kaiser and I got there quite early and expected to do some kiting
before flying. Tim had never been here. What we found was sweet early
afternoon flying. By 4pm I'd already had 3 flights.
Tim was in the air when folks started showing up. Stan Albright, who
grew up largely in the house I now own, came for the first time as
did Lance Marczac. Marc and Christy Damon live just a mile or so
down the road and it was good to see them. Dave, Kevin and a couple others
joined us.
Marc Damon entertained us with his $4 R/C airplane that can hover
pointed straight up. Lithium Polymer batteries and electric motors have
come a long way! Plus Marc was darn good at flying the thing. I tried my
hand at it and found it most entertaining. That would take some
practice.
A short cross country to the Harryport was suggested and soon, we had
us a convoy. All but Christy who couldn't get mr. motor to cooperate. She
eventually did get it working and enjoyed a brief local flight.
I have a partnership in a HG trike (Samba) that lives at Harryport. My
plan was to make a quick flight in it but alas there was a loose piece on
the engine and I didn't get to. No problem, as much as I enjoy flying
that, the PPG is still the most fun.
We had some drama when one pilot's starter puked. Since he has the same
motor I have, I came back down to help. Marc Damon helped with mine,
the least I could do is pass on the expertise. We managed to get one
starter pawl engaged and fortunately the motor started on the first pull.
Unfortunately, the wing didn't start in it's first pull and so we had to
repeat the process only this time the pawl must have been in the right
position because we didn't have to monkey with it.
The last of us arrived at the Polo field only a few minutes before time
was up and we all marveled at the double strobes of Lance which could be
seen from space. $20 at Autozone and an old Ryobi rechargable electric
flashlight for power. Brilliant, literally.
I enjoyed ultimate foot dragging--doing 360 degree slides on the now-dewey
grass. At one point I picked up one of numerous polo balls laying around
the field and deposited it between the goal posts. Hmmmm.
We could hear pilots playing down at the Scholtes Intl Paradrome
(another local flying site) on the radio and I'm sure others were playing
in that perfect airy sandbox in ways that only pilots can understand. |
(Above)
Lance Marczak readies himself to join the group of 8 already airborne
while a couple other pilots ready their gear.
 
Tim tries to get some work done before the group arrived. Yeah right.
He was soon airborne. (rigiht) Dr. Jeff N. was there flying his HG trike.
  
   
 
The group landing at Harryport. (Right) What's with all those trees?
This is IL, we need SOD FARMS! 
Lance watches as several
IL pilots engage in some corn tunnel flying. These weren't the best rows
either. At least one was about 6 feet wide with a grass bottom and 7 foot
corn on either side.
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