2009 DULUTH C-170 CONVENTION (kinda)

[170C]

Boy, we've covered a lot of subjects in this thread! Guess most of it is my fault, but of course no one has to read it or add to it unless the want to do so. Its been fun George, thanks for adding that link regarding Russell Field and others. I may have missed it in my rush to see all the posts, but I was surprised not to notice the 3rd British flying field at FW. Hicks. The current Hicks Field is a busy place and is a bit north of the original training field. Very interesting. My first recollection of Russell Field was after I moved to FW in late 1967. I am not sure when I first saw a blimp (Goodyear as I recall) moored out there. That was when Goodyear had one of its 3 blimps based in Spring, TX. It was in FW to provide aerial coverage of the Colonial Golf Tournament. I never flew into Russell, but have had conversations with a lot who did. I didn't realize you did George. How old are you anyway Luck Field, which was the most recent airport to close on the South side of FW was an interesting place to go into. I flew in there numerous times as well as into Sycamore when Charlie owned it. I've been in a couple of times since the apartments were constructed on the north end of the runway. Should never have been allowed to occur. I am surprised that it has survived as long as it has with all the development surrounding it.I had the opportunity to fly into Oak Grove quite often before it was closed with the opening of FW Spinks which now includes what was Oak Grove. Mangham Field was also a nice, friendly airport as well as Goode Field, both of which succumbed to urban sprawl as did Saginaw Airport where I learned to fly in 1983. Triple S @ Aledo was my home field for 21 years and it too is gone now. I understand from AOPA that a bunch of airports across the country close every year. A way of life is slipping away from aviation. Hope we can stop it before it is too late

[GAHorn]

I landed at Luck Field while looking for a place to base the patrol airplane I was employed on. It was my first introduction to the area. Saginaw was a reporting-point on the pipeline I flew which delivered avgas to FTW (that's Meacham, bluElder).

I bought my FIRST airplane at Goode about 1979. I was driving by on my way to Mangham to look at a Swift and got sidetracked by a young man wiping down his Aeronca Chief. I pulled up, talked to him, and bought it on the spot. (I had asked him what he'd take for it, and he replied, "If anyone offered me $5700 for it I'd probably cry as I took it." I responded, "Would $5750 help dry the tears?" He grinned and we made the deal.)

The Goodyear Blimp tied down at Russell while I was there in 1972. Don Jones, the local Gulf Oil representative, who was my contact for pipeline patrol operations, had a brother who was in charge of operations of the blimp. He offered me a job in which I'd get my rating and fly that thing. I politely thanked him, but turned it down. (In 1972 I still thought Delta Air Lines had a secret need for me.)

I never flew into Sycamore, but I've wanted to before it's too late. I landed at the old Oak Grove a few times. Oh, dear.... we're sounding like old fuddy-duddies....

[Brad Brady]

The Goodyear Blimp tied down at Russell while I was there in 1972. Don Jones, the local Gulf Oil representative, who was my contact for pipeline patrol operations, had a brother who was in charge of operations of the blimp. He offered me a job in which I'd get my rating and fly that thing. I politely thanked him, but turned it down. (In 1972 I still thought Delta Air Lines had a secret need for me.)

George,
In, I think 1998 I got to fly the Fuji Blimp at Oshkosh....I was flying the photo plane for Plane and Pilot, at the time......probably the only reason I was allowed to fly that sucker....Thanks to Jim Lawrence.....But the pilot said I had a good hand....and asked me if I would want to fly for Fuji....I didn't have an answer, but no....I have other commitments.....I still wonder......Brad

[GAHorn]

It's comical how as young men we were determined to "go somewhere". Here I am, 37 years later still flying a 100 mph taildragger and thrilled about it.

[DaveF]

It's comical how as young men we were determined to "go somewhere". Here I am, 37 years later still flying a 100 mph taildragger and thrilled about it.

How true that is. After I got my license I came close to buying a 170, then a Chief. But I wanted to go places and over the years bought a series of higher performance airplanes. It took a while, but I finally figured out that wasn't why I learned to fly. Now, every time I fly my 170 I remember.

Dave