The time spent at Oshkosh, was hasty due to the short time I had to spend.
Four days to fly up, spend two days, and return. We pretty much
hit the ground running the second day, opening up and inspecting the Sonerai,
after it's trip up. Then leaving it open for the masses to spend time
staring and scratching their.. . . . Head? No surprises inside the
cowl. No leaks, no paint, no class! But it works! No shame!
Most of the time was spent running trying to take in
5 days of strolling, into the Evelyn Wood version of scanning Oshkosh! Not
much time was spent in any one area, but particular attention was spent in
the ultralight, commercial display, and the ever famous Fly Market! Man
the things I could build from that mass of treasures! As I recall there
were a total of 7 different sonerai's that show at some time turing the week.
Two of them were single seaters! My own, and the craft of my host,
Jeff Lange! You've got to respect those of us flying the original!
The Monnett builders banquet was friday night as always.
It was well attended as it always was, and a well stacked buffet was
supplied by our generous host. The last time I attended this banquet,
was back in 98, the first trip made by my sonerai. Back then, the numbers
were significantly smaller. The main difference, was that in 98, the
Sonerai builders were significant in numbers, and we felt honored as the old
guard. But now, with the explosion of the Sonex builders, we were just
barely noticed! Another reason to have made the trip this year, was
the celebration of the Sonerai "I"' s thirtieth year! Very quietly,
Mrs. Monnett told me that, "oh, by the way, this is the 31st year!? Oh
well.
The biggest disappointment of the week was the failure
to get the notification that I had been requested to fly in the review on
the second morning of my stay. But I did again get to see the faithful
Red and Silver Keip machine do it's duty. Maybe someday! The brighter
side would be the ability to spend my time running around the never ending
displays.
The day for the trip home started early, and Jeff drove
me to the airport. I unloaded everything that would weigh me down as
I headed south into the summer heat. Pre flight, done, many thanks give
to my host, I was ready to go. I pulled the airplane out to the flight
line, and started up, and got clearance to take off. Again, departing
to the south on 18, made the departure very straight forward.
Cruising along, I again hoped for a non eventual day.
But this is aviation, and those days don't happen! At least not
on a 900 mile trek. Today, trouble started early. Not thirty minutes
out, I started descending to avoid the overcast clouds. Rain started
shortly there after, but never exceeded the Moderate level, so I didn't bother
me much. As the clouds continued dropping, I had to follow, and all
the time, I had to watch my GPS indicate at least a 20 knot headwind component!
Once I realized I was in ground contour following mode, I figured it
was time to let down for a while, and wait it out. Pressing the "Go
To Nearest" button on the GPS, I headed south west to an airport about 10
miles away. As if it's not enough to have clouds pushing you down,
and rain everywhere, ground fog layers had gone from scattered, to broken!
Now circling at low altitude above where the GPS indicated the airport
was, I waited for a brake in the clouds to pass over the area I now circled
above. As a brake in the clouds crossed underneath, I verified the
airport's location, and headed out for a pattern to await the next gap. Landing
was uneventful, and I rolled out to the ramp and shut down. Steady
state rain, clouds and a head wind! It's going to be a long day.
I found the airport abandoned! All the signs said
"Open", but nobody home. I walked about 1/4 mile down the road, to add
to my total saturation to make a call at a local lawn and tractor maintenance
shop. Green flight suit, and auzzi type green hat. Yep, they had
no idea what to do with me. Many checks of internet weather, I finally found
a weather window. I spend just over 3 hours here in north west Illinois
waiting on enough ceiling to make a brake for it. South east, for 30
miles then back to the southwest track.
The remainder of the legs really had nothing major of
not. The head winds continued to my great frustration. The temperature
was climbing rather quickly for the day. I found that for the most
part, I had to climb to over 6000 feet to drop the winds enough to brake 130
mph ground speed and bring bearable temperatures in the cockpit! Each
fuel stop, I'd take my trusty ball cap and toss it into the drinking fountain,
and soak it down. Placing it on my head would cool me down for a bit.
By the time I was climbing out in the gusty winds, I'd dump my drinking
water down my flight suit to further cool me. Generally out of 4000
feet, I was dry! Once level at 6500 to 7500 feet, I'd be quite comfortable,
and moving respectably along the GPS map. Hopefully my last fuel stops
from home, I landed at a rather nice, and large airport in Seminole Oklahoma.
Guess what! No body home! No phone to call anybody, and
apparently no alarm system to go off when I rattled the doors! I finally
found a couple preparing their airplane for pictures, for their trip to Alaska.
Believe it or not, these generous people drained fuel from their Bonanza
and dumped it into my little bird! Plane people, can be just plane nice
when needed. (pat yourself on your back here) Great, on my way
again!
Ground speeds now barely reading 100 mph, and the sun
was heading towards the ground like there was no tomorrow. Keeping my
eye, on day light, fuel, and ground speed, stress building. Crossing
the Texas border, I new I had a decision to make. Only 18 miles from
my home field, to keep the pucker factor to a minimum, I went ahead and landed
short for fuel, and call my wife to come get me. Nobody answered at
the house, so I went ahead and tied down the airplane. Once secured,
a fellow, and his son, drove over, and asked about my airplane. Yep.
Plane people can be plane helpful. They ended up going about 25
miles out of their way, to take me home! You just can't beat that! Good
people!
After Church the next day in 100 degree heat, I started
up the little bird and headed out the final 18 miles to the hanger. Once
again, the little bird had proven itself a trusty steed. Now over 150
hours on the airplane, I pushed it back into the hanger under the wing of
my 180. One third the airplane, but 4 times the fun! I've said
it before, and I'll say it again! Never, again. . . . . .
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