Joe Brown managed to finally get his box of nuts, rivets, sheet
aluminum, wires, pistons, instruments and various other parts into the air on
Saturday, January 25 at approximately noon.
The day dawned clear and cold as Mr. Brown headed to the airport confident that the two new (but bad) spark plugs would no longer cause him to remain on the ground. The offensive plugs had been replaced and the engine ran like a fine watch on the previous day. Cowls were in place, the 150,000 parts had been meticulously put in their proper place over the last 7.5 years. Canopy and windshield had been cleaned of every fingerprint in anticipation of this long awaited day of the first flight.
On the way to the field Joe’s thoughts were on every screw, bolt, cotter pin and widget he had installed in his pride and joy. Did he put that in place, was that bolt tight, what about…. Too late here is the hangar.
“OK one last preflight, Wheels, Wings, Rudder, Brakes…………DAMM NO BRAKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BUT IT WORKED LAST WEEK.”
no sweat, just add fluid. BJ and Vance are here to help. Wadda mean it won’t fill up? Ok, we’ll work through the problem and still fly today. Finally after a couple of hours and disassembly and reassembly of the right brake system the cowl goes back on, ready for first flight. Two gallons of brake fluid lay on the ground, evidence of the fight to beat the odds.
Joe pulled her out of the hangar and headed over to the gas pumps.
The
gang had assembled watch this madman who had built his own airplane, some had
brought marshmallows and hot dogs just in case.
Finally
the time had arrived. Joe the test pilot mounted his unbroken steed with the
confident air of one who has already met the dragons one on one and was not
about to let barking dogs slow him down. Helmet and goggles in place, the silk
scarf blowing behind this aviator who casually waived to the on lookers as he
closed the canopy for the last time. The Lycoming roared to life within the
cowl, anxious to be free of the bounds of earth for the first time. Check list
complete, call for taxi.
The
call was heard over the radio “Panama Tower, she’s ready for take off on one
four.” Throttle full, instruments in the green, rolling and suddenly AIRBORNE.
The
crowd cheered loudly from the tarmac as Joe and his creation soared by, engine
thundering and clawing toward the blue sky. First one pass overhead then
another, BJ and Gene tried desperately to keep up but finally turned tail for
the north practice area, not to be seen ‘til later.
Stall was observed from the ground to be gentle as a kitten, but we knew soon the throttle would be pushed forward to let the tiger roar again. Finally the call was made for “full stop” and the response of “cleared to land” was heard.
.
So
calm the aviator, and builder. But the smile was there, he had arrived. A few
bugs to fix and then into the air again.
Vance A. White,
Editor.
