Experimental Aircraft Association

We went to our first Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-in in Rockford, Illinois. The year was about 1965 so Patti and Tony were about 6 and 4. We continued attending the Fly-in in Rockford until the Experimental Aircraft Association moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Chuck joined the local EAA chapter and soon their monthly magazine arrived in our mailbox each month. A short time later Chuck began taking flying lessons.

We purchased a 1948 Stinson airplane. It was referred to as a "taildragger" because it had one small wheel in the back and one on each side under the wings. The Stinson had four seats and sometimes was called the Cadillac of small planes. Another featurr was a large tail that made landing in a crosswind rather "dicey."

The local EAA chapter often met in our home. It was an interesting group. One man built his own plane - an Emeraude. Planes like his were called "homebuilt" but not home made. There were several engineers, an optomitrist, a priest, some farmers, and a WWII vet or two.

We took in the weeklong EAA Fly-in annually camping in an alfalfa field near the airfield in Oshkosh. We cooked most of our meals in front of our tent. Chuck was always the breakfast cook. We got plenty of walking in each day just walking from where we were camped to the convention grounds. They also ran "shuttles" pulled by tractors and these were fun.

Interesting workshops were held during the day. Paul Harvey was the featured speaker in the evening one year. He used his amazing voice just like a musical instrument. Chuck attended some of the various workshops and we all attended the evening programs.

The War Birds of America flew each day about 4 p.m. These planes were refurbished war planes. There would be P-51s, Corsairs, a B-17, a B-29, a P-38 Lightning and probably some others I don't remember. Individual pilots also flew aerobatics in small planes designed for that. The Canadian Snowbirds performed there one year. This group is similar to the Blue Angels and the Thunderbird flight teams.

Jane, my sister-in-law, and I started volunteering, working the gate between where individual planes were parked and the convention grounds. It was very interesting and fun because both Jane and I love to "people watch."

We always enjoyed the afternoon airshows. Art Scholl flew his "Chipmunk" in the airshow. He was known for his "stunt" flying in movies. An old Ford Trimotor gave rides; one plane was sponsored by the Mennen company - and the smoke the pilot released smelled like Mennen's product while the smoke the other pilots released didn't smell nearly so nice!

North American Aviation's Bob Hoover flew a P-51 and also the company's Aero Commander Shrike. He always wore a suit and straw hat when he piloted either of those planes. He did the "Tennessee Waltz" - touching down first on one wheel and then the other. It was very impressive.

I took a workshop for spouses that taught us what we needed to know to land our plane if the pilot was incapacitated. I never had to do this, but I learned how and was confident that I could land the plane if necessary.