[f-AA] Looking for suggestions

[Judy Birchler]

I'm sending this message to the list hoping to get some suggestions for the best places to land on our fall ladies taildragger flyout.  (I'm thinking, fuel, interesting airports, nice people, and fun stops).  The plan is to depart MQJ (Mt. Comfort Airport, Indianapolis) Friday morning, September 18 for a 4 day trip to & from Natchez.  We're not only flying to Natchez, we'll be picking up the Ohio River in southern Indiana (Evansville) and flying down the river to where it intersects the Mississippi River at Cairo, IL.   Then it's the Mississippi to Natchez.  We'll cut some corners to save a few miles and we'll avoid the airspace around Memphis but generally follow the rivers.  We'll be staying overnight in motels/hotels and not camping (hopefully). 

I found out after sending the following itinerary to the gals that Sikeston's airport is closed but is scheduled to reopen 3 days before we'd get there - hopefully construction will be on schedule.  Then I found out they had a devastating fire at the Reelfoot lodge and restaurant and they are closed and probably will never reopen.  Very sad.  Anyway, I'm struggling to come up with an overnite stop for us.  So far we're a Cub, Taylorcraft and Champ so we'll be slow moving objects for sure.

 

Friday, depart Indianapolis, IN (MQJ)

 

Evansville, IN, Skylane Airport (3EV) - refuel and visit the famous airport "tree of knowledge" and all the guys there

 

Sikeston, MO (SIK) - lunch at Lambert's Cafe (Home of the Throwed Rolls) - refuel

 

Reelfoot Lake, TN (0M2) (airport at park) - boat ride on the lake and overnight  (no fuel)

 

Saturday, depart Reelfoot Lake, TN

 

Helena, AR (HEE) - refuel

 

Natchez, MS (KHEZ) - overnight (I'm sure we can figure out something fun to do here!)

 

Sunday morning - start the 2 day return trip home, probably different stops on the return.

 

Of course, all our taildraggers are at the mercy of weather and winds so this date is the date we are shooting for right now.  We'll make a go or no go decision as necessary.  We can look at our fuel ranges and adjust fuel stops as necessary for the shorter range tanks.

 

Would appreciate all your ideas!   thanks.

Judy Birchler

Happy Little Champ N7569E

www.ladieslovetaildraggers.com

 

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[dennis biro]

I sure wish I had my champ flying at this time, your trip sounds like fun, but even if it was flying I would have to lie about my sex! Is this an all ladies flyers trip only??

 

Natchez has some great BBQ places you can check out!

 

dennis, wishing I was part of the trip!

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[Judy Birchler]

Dennis, yep, it's supposed to be a gals trip.  I don't know you but I really doubt we could pass you off as one of us!  

Actually, any taildraggers (guys or gals) that want to join us anywhere along the river(s) would be great. Would be fun to meet people along the way. 

I love great BBQ so I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the note.

 Judy

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From: lta...@bluemarble.net
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:57:17 -0400
Subject: Re: [f-AA] Looking for suggestions

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[dennis biro]

its a shame some of the guys don't have trips like this, it is a perfect way to enjoy the country side, slow and low in a champ, chief, t-craft, j-3, etc, the only way to fly, just what they were made for!

 

you ladies , you well have a lot of fun and turn a few heads doing it!, and yes, I wouldn't be able to pass as one of you!! however, I could wash airplanes, carry what little luggage you may have, etc.

 

dennis

[Markl]

Dear Judy

Your mention of Sikeston brought back memories of my first solo (19 Feb 57 in ship 751A)in a T-28 there.  It was an auxiliary field for Malden AB where I went through Primary Pilot Training .  Sounds like they are rebuilding but when I soloed there was a bump where the cross runway intersected the main runway and this would launch you if you were not already off the ground.

 

Doing putt putt tailwheel deliveries taught me to not put much faith in a schedule, carry a collapsible 5 gal water jug (it can hold gasoline), tiedowns, and a long line to tie to something for propping solo.

 

Have fun

 

Fly frequently, many times, often, over and over again,  look around,
practice strange stuff,  train seriously,  hand prop safely,   realize that  there are many opinions on how to enter a traffic pattern, and clip a lot
Regards,
Tony Markl

----- Original Message -----

From: Judy Birchler

To: aer...@westmont.edu

Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 9:36 AM

Subject: [f-AA] Looking for suggestions

[11...@comcast.net]

Hey Judy.  If you're not over gross after Lamberts, if you still plan a Reelfoot stop, let me recommend the following.  Boyettes is one of the original restaurants on Reelfoot lake, serving catfish, etc for many, many years.  Quaint and old fashion, plenty of good, maybe not healthy, eating.  They also have a motel attached.  Check out their web site.  roger

 

http://www.reelfoot.com/boyettes/index.htm

[Judy Birchler]

Thank you, and thanks Dennis & Tony also!  Boyettes sounds like a great idea - a local spot everybody loves.  I called just now and they are about 10 miles from the airport so I'll need to try and figure out how we'd get back and forth.  We'll see though!

It's beautiful in Indy today and I have the day off so I had to fly the Champ a little.  I was only going about 25 miles to the Sheridan airport to do some grass landings so I wasn't concerned about only having half full tanks.  I've got 2 13-gal wing tanks so have a lot of range.  I did a pretty good preflight and even thought about standing on the wheels and making sure the fuel caps were tight but got distracted and didn't do it. When I landed a little later the left tank that had been 1/2 full was empty and the right tank had slightly more fuel than before I left.  I hopped out, could smell fuel and looked up at the caps - my right cap was missing.  I was lucky I landed at Sheridan - they were great!  Jeff, the mechanic, was doing some work on a Champ wing and lent me the cap off it.  I just need to mail it back to him.  Anyway, I'll be up on the wheels really checking those caps from now on.

Judy

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Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:52:30 +0000
From: 11...@comcast.net
To: aer...@westmont.edu

Subject: [f-AA] Looking for suggestions

Hey Judy.  If you're not over gross after Lamberts, if you still plan a Reelfoot stop, let me recommend the following.  Boyettes is one of the original restaurants on Reelfoot lake, serving catfish, etc for many, many years.  Quaint and old fashion, plenty of good, maybe not healthy, eating.  They also have a motel attached.  Check out their web site.  roger

 

http://www.reelfoot.com/boyettes/index.htm

[Markl]

Dear Judy

This child sticks his tanks before flight and has a spare gas cap in his baggage compt.  If your preflight only checks fuel, oil, and flight controls you have prevented the important problems.  Evidently your fuel system is cross connected as 7DCs and on.  IMHO this is a poor arrangement for a fuel system.  I have two 5.5 gal tanks that feed into the fuselage tank and this gives good control over fuel.

 

Fly frequently, many times, often, over and over again,  look around,
practice strange stuff,  train seriously,  hand prop safely,   realize that  there are many opinions on how to enter a traffic pattern, and clip a lot
Regards,
Tony Markl

----- Original Message -----

From: Judy Birchler

To: aer...@westmont.edu

[evansg...@aol.com]

For Judy Birchler:

 

If you are going to be near Cairo Il as a checkpoint, you will also be near Paducah where the national quilting museum/headquarters is located. 

You may want to tour there as the airport is within rental car range but don't be surprised if a few advanced phone calls does result in a free ride and a local tour.  The river flood walls are painted by artists.

Also northwest across the river is Superman town (Metropolis) and the Daily Planet.  Huge Superman status in the center of town !!

Evans

-----Original Message-----
From: C
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Sent: Mon, Aug 24, 2009 8:36 am
Subject: [f-AA] Looking for suggestions

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[dennis biro]

lunch at Lambert's Cafe (Home of the Throwed Rolls) - refuel

 

on lamberts cafe! have any of you been there before?

 

I understand that there is a phone on a pole at the airport that goes directly to the cafe front desk, when you call, tell them your are at the airport and how many in the party, along with letting them know that all of you are pilots! they well send a car over to pick you up.

 

when you arrive at the cafe, you well be going in the back door, with a table already set up for you. there is know waiting in line at the cafe for pilots, the owner is one of use, a pilot for many years, and he treats  pilots at his cafe like kings and queens!

 

now, this what I was told how it works from pilot friend of mine who has been there several time! I sure wish I was going on this trip, sounds like real fun!

 

dennis

----- Original Message -----

From: Judy Birchler

To: aer...@westmont.edu

Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 11:16 AM

Subject: Re: [f-AA] Looking for suggestions

Dennis, yep, it's supposed to be a gals trip.  I don't know you but I really doubt we could pass you off as one of us!  

Actually, any taildraggers (guys or gals) that want to join us anywhere along the river(s) would be great. Would be fun to meet people along the way. 

I love great BBQ so I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the note.

 Judy

---

From: lta...@bluemarble.net
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:57:17 -0400
Subject: Re: [f-AA] Looking for suggestions

I sure wish I had my champ flying at this time, your trip sounds like fun, but even if it was flying I would have to lie about my sex! Is this an all ladies flyers trip only??

 

Natchez has some great BBQ places you can check out!

 

dennis, wishing I was part of the trip!

----- Original Message -----

From: Judy Birchler

To: aer...@westmont.edu

Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 9:36 AM

Subject: [f-AA] Looking for suggestions

 

[dennis biro]

For what its worth! you might think about going north along the river after leaving Natchez, heading toward Evansville or somewhere near there, than , making a right turn, going east, following the river between Indiana and Kentucky, there are several airports near and on the river for gas and food, keep on going east along the river until it heads north east, to Lee Bottom field, you will find it after the power plant on the left/east side of the river. Knowing you gals, you have most likely been their before!

 

 In fact, this would make for a neat trip going in the reverse, Lee Bottom, field than south along the river than west towards Evansville, than south along the river to Natchez! Most of the trip following rivers at about 1,00 to 1,200 feet above the ground, watch out for the wires crossing the river near the power plants, they are not easy to see, even with the orange balls hanging from power cables going across the river at several locations.

 

A nice grass trip airport owned by a couple who have a Citabaria, no gas or food, buy a neat place anyway, the same place that has sinful Sundays, all the ice-cream you can eat freed,  I understand! If your needing gas after this, Bloomington's Cook Aviation is the cheapest around, always 30 to 40 cents a gallon less than anywhere within 50 miles. This is where My aeronca 7ac is kept

 

dennis

----- Original Message -----

From: Judy Birchler

To: aer...@westmont.edu

Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 9:36 AM

Subject: [f-AA] Looking for suggestions