While we're waiting for the next report from the crew, here's something you need to know. There are very few flying clubs -- in fact, none others that I know -- that have not only a Dragon but a Dragon Lady, too. Did you know that Anne Culver and a club colleague created Bucky the Dragon, our mascot, both in name and found the stuffed version? Not all dragons can fly, but Anne, our Wise Woman, knew how to let this one commit lift in a way we could follow: she made theflying helmet and the goggles with the scarf. First, [View Full Entry]

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In response to Joe Stubberfield's email, which read: Maybe they should have traded the planes for that RV they were looking at. I have driven from MD to LA in two separate legs in a total of 41 hours. They could have split that up among drivers and spent and extra day or two in Grand Canyon, Monument Park etc. Wouldn't have to worry about bathroom breaks cause they would have one built in. Even would be burning less total fuel. I guess they are already committed.......or need to be. We did, in fact, trade the Cherokee in for the Winnebago. [View Full Entry]

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As Anne said, "They remembered to push the button on the GPS locator unit today!" Official location and note: We've just landed and everything is okay. It's Miller time! ESN:0-7366219 Latitude:35.1815 Longitude:-103.6094 Time:05/09/2008 15:26:16 (US/Eastern) Day began with happy early rising all around in Weatherford Oklahoma. Today's intention was to get as far as Page AZ. Man Plans, God Laughs. What happened? Oh, about 30 knots headwind. Groundspeed was, um, discouraging; some cars passed at least one of the planes, and everyone took a continuous beating from turbulence for ab [View Full Entry]

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First, the news via Anne Culver...THEN KEEP READING FOR HOW THIS DAY REALLY ENDED.... The C2C crew filed for 1 pm CT departure from Mountain Home after a fun-filled, three-day visit. Wrote Anne Culver, relayed from Bob Hawkins, "As far as I can tell, the townspeople will have a parade today, led of course by the Blues Brothers’ Chevy, but I have no information if the parade is before they leave (in celebration of their visit) or after they leave (in celebration of their departure). There must be at least one beer hall that is going through the stages of grief [View Full Entry]

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HAD TO LEAVE EARLY Good luck to the rest of Dragon Flight 2008. Dan, Bill Davis and I had to turn back to GAI/FDK due to weather for the rest of the week. We were blessed with a very good tail wind, home from BPK to FDK, wheels down at 1930 local. Thanks to all on the Dragon Flight for the fellowship and experience. We will continue to follow your progress and keep you in our prayers. [View Full Entry]

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While the weather was good enough for Dan, Scott and Bill David to escape eastward in Scott's 182, it was not good enough to permit us to head west. After another diner breakfast -- the waitresses pretty much knew us by name, and Donna by biscuits, by this time -- Bruce once more picked up the remaining crew from the motel in Lakeview and kindly prevented cabin fever. Despite the intermittent rain and drizzle, we welcomed his tour around the area, including a ride around the shore of the lake Bull Shoals near the town. We finished off the cold cuts [View Full Entry]

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Dawn broke...and the weather looked iffy right away: 100% solid overcast with occasional drizzle. The forecast suggested maybe a break in the afternoon, but the entourage advised the proprietess, "...we may be staying..." and confirmed that after breakfast and more weather reports. Watching the weather became an all-morning, eventually all-day, pursuit via a combination of phone to Flight Service, computer services, and channel-surfing the retail forecasts just for levity. Bruce picked up Ruth and Janice, who went out to forage for groceries and brought lunch provisions back to the room. We [View Full Entry]

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So who bet on the Cherokee being down? Who came up with the idea, anyways? Does superstition mean anything? So the Bendix starter assembly is snapped. Valerie, the mechanic and an IA at the airport, lent us her tools. Bill Hughes and Dan headed to a warehouse south of Memphis in the loaner car to pick another one up. 7 hours down, 17 to go. The bill's going to Joe Stubbelfield. ********************************************* Get another account, too -- see Janice's blog at http://dragonpilot.blogspot.com/ ********************************************* OK, here is the NON-pil [View Full Entry]

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'Twas an hour before the scheduled C2C kick off, when all through the Airpark all the C2C crew was scurrying about looking for Bob's office keys. The CFC credit card was in the office. Finally, when Bob found the keys in one of his numerous bags and had the card in hand, Dick and Ruth took off in the Cardinal at 10:38 with Dan, Geoff and Bill Hughes behind them in the Cherokee. Bob and the 9BA Crew (Janice and Donna) straggled behind in the 9BA - AGAIN, Bob could not find the keys. Our rummaging in the bags halted abruptly [View Full Entry]

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Flight planning at 6:45 AM local. Arrived at M04 by 9:10 AM local. Flight plan filed at 9:30 AM local. Dick and Ruth taxied out first. Bob and the 9BA Crew had the engine started second! Maybe hussling can get 9BA in close third? Well, no one's going anywhere. Bill Hughes walked over. "Starter's gone." Bob signaled to cut the engine off. Donna thought she had screwed something up royally. Fumbled her way through shutting down the engine. Dick and Ruth got the word and taxied back. There's no maintenance here. Just a private one for the ag planes. So Bill [View Full Entry]

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