Triple Tree Fly-in 2011

     
Thursday (239 photos)                           Friday (343 photos)

     Triple Tree Aerodrome (SC00) has over 7,000 feet of immaculate grass runway that looks more like a golf course than a runway. This year, the fly-in dates were September 8 - 11, 2011. Four of us flew up on Thursday, September 8th ... Randy, Eddie, Larry, and Don (left thumbnail above). Stan and Don Schmotzer (front) and Ron and Mitch Lindsay (rear) flew up on Friday (right thumbnail above). Jim Herpst and his father flew up on Saturday. The weather was good every day, and we all had a wonderful time! Several hundred aircraft of all descriptions  (e.g. airplanes, rotorcraft, ultralights, powered and unpowered parachutes, even RCs) visit Triple Tree during the fly-in each year. It's like a mini-Oshkosh! Friday night was "cook your own steak" night, and Saturday featured a BBQ and shrimp dinner with a "wounded vets" presentation. For 582 great photos of the event from chapter photographer, Eddie Price, grab yourself a cup of coffee, click on the thumbnails above, and enjoy Eddie's photos.

August Meeting - 8/21/11

    
Eddie's Photos                                Kelsie's Photos

     Our August meeting held at Gaston Airport was well attended.  We enjoyed a spaghetti and tossed salad lunch about 1:00 pm, followed by a business meeting around 2:00 pm. Several members flew their planes into the meeting, notably Neil Deye (Twin Apache), Phil Lumpkin (Sky Ranger), Norman Davis (Baby Ace), Eddie Price (C-140), Jim Herpst (C-140), and Kevin Bell (Piper 180). Neil and Millie Hoemer recently acquired the twin Apache shown at right above. Guest, Ron Angerman of Gilbert Airpark, came with Neil. Jim Wheat and two guests from White Plains Airpark rode their motorcycles to the meeting, while James Keisler followed in his car with tea and ice for the event. Around 3:00 pm, Don Schmotzer gave an interesting presentation on some of the legends of aviation who were responsible for many of the great aircraft that we see and fly today, including the Wrights, Curtis, Cessna, Piper, Taylor, Stearman and Beech, among others. Click the thumbnails for photos taken by Eddie Price (above left and below) and Kelsie Temples (above right and below).

Rodney Allen Dowdy

    About 5:00 pm, a memorial service was held for former chapter member, Rodney A. Dowdy, who passed away on Sunday, July 31st. His wife, Miriam, thanked Don Bledsoe for allowing it to be held at Gaston Airport, our chapter for coordinating the memorial service, John Baker for performing the service, and everyone who contributed food and other items. Several members commented on their life experiences with Rodney. Jim Herpst, Don Bledsoe, and Eddie Price made a touching flyover reminiscent of the famed "missing man formation".  Leon Strock presented Miriam with a nice plaque commemorating Rodney, after which Don Schmotzer read the poem "High Flight". For photos of Rodney and the memorial service, click the thumbnail above.

Gilbert Airpark - 6/12/11

     Thanks to the Gilbert Airpark Association for hosting our chapter meeting at Gilbert Airpark (SC45) on June 12, 2011, and especially to Ron Angerman for hosting it in his hangar. Chapter members and airpark members enjoyed a joint social event and luncheon featuring hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, various covered dishes, vegetables, fruit, and several delicious desserts. Six members flew in separate planes, several were already based there, and the rest drove in due to the hot weather and poor visibility. In spite of the hot weather, everyone seemed to have a great time. Later in the day, chapter members moved down to Neil and Millie's hangar where Neil gave us a presentation on their recently completed Culver Cadet project. Additionally, three new members joined our chapter at this meeting: Jim Wheat, James Keisler, and Kirk Chapman. Click either thumbnail above for photos taken by chapter photographer, Eddie Price.