4TH Quarter News

[15A]

BEAUTIFUL overhead shot of the parking field!

(But who let the Square-Tail in?)

[170C]

Hey Joe, can't a guy get a little respect around here Somebody has to try to keep this group "STRAIGHT" and GREEN Believe me its a BIG job

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

[GAHorn]

Hey Joe, can't a guy get a little respect around here Somebody has to try to keep this group "STRAIGHT" and GREEN Believe me its a BIG job

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

(For those that haven't noticed...both Joe AND Frank are flying Square-Tail airplanes.)

[blueldr]

I know of another one with a square tail and a Lycoming engine conversion but it is a real honest to Clyde C-170. It belonged to Bob Dentice down in southern California. Seems he bought it with the tail pretty well torn up and he grafted on a tail he had off of a C-175. I ran across it at a fly in in Porterville, CA, many years ago and assumed it was a converted C-172. I was diligently looking for the belly patches where the tri gear had been removed and was really puzzled on how the job had been done without any sign of the former landing gear leg fuselage exit holes. A couple of guys were sitting under the wing of another C-170 nearby and I heard them laughing. I looked up and one of them motioned for me to come over. It was Bob Dentice, the owner, and he jokingly asked me what I was looking for. When I said I was looking for patches, he laughed and told me the story. He said it took him a couple of years fighting the fuzz and only got approved because an inspector who was a friend was retiring and signed it off. It made a nice looking airplane.

[GAHorn]

Bob Dentice was a very talented and active aviation-nut and had so many ratings and certificates it was bewildering. The last time I heard of him his 170 was for sale and he'd gone into ultra-lights...and landed one on the highway out of gas. When he got some gas and fired it up a passing motorist honked the horn at him and he raised his arm to wave back at the motorist and lost part of his hand in the running propeller.
Anyone seen him lately?

[blueldr]

George,
You're right. Bob Dentice was the consumate ratings collector. I can't think of any one FAA rating he didn't have. I never heard of the unfortunate accident with the ultralight and his hand. What a shame.

[GAHorn]

The news story made the NY Times, but as usual, was not as accurately portrayed as we might hope. (The surgery to reattach the finger was not successful.)


Arcadia
Pilot's Finger Reattached
San Gabriel Valley DigestSeptember 09, 1993

An Arcadia pilot who brought his ultra-light down on a busy highway in Riverside County and lost part of his finger in the propeller while directing traffic around the plane is recovering at home after surgery.

Robert Dentice, 62, was released Tuesday after surgery Monday to reattach a portion of his right index finger at Methodist Hospital of Southern California in Arcadia.

Dentice and his friend, Raymond Britton, took off Monday morning from the Lake Riverside area south of Hemet in two ultra-lights, which resemble motorized hang gliders, authorities said.

Dentice had engine trouble and, because of the rugged terrain, had to land on Highway 371, which was packed with Labor Day holiday traffic, said Sgt. Nick Gnatek of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Dentice landed safely and began trying to push the ultra-light off the road. But as he waved passing cars around it, the still-whirling propeller cut off his right index finger above the second knuckle, Gnatek said.

Britton tried to land to help his friend, but wound up crashing in nearby brush. He was unhurt.

The two men searched for Dentice's finger but were unable to find it, so they flagged down a passing car that took them to a fire station four miles away, where Dentice received first aid.

The men then got a ride to Sharp Healthcare in Murrieta, about 20 miles away.

Meanwhile, witnesses at the crash site found Dentice's finger, which was relayed by a series of sheriff's deputies to the Murrieta hospital.

Another pilot friend then flew Dentice and his finger to Arcadia for the surgery, authorities said.

[blueldr]

George,

Thanks for the update on Bob Dentice.

[flyguy]

George, Thanks for the update on Bob Dentice.

WHOLEY MOILE ELDER YOU SO FAR BEHINE U TINK A ARTICKEL FRUM 1993 ISAN UP DATE ? ? ? FER ME A UP DATE IS A CUPLE HOURS

[blueldr]

Gar,

Ease off, will ya. I'm pedaling as fast as I can.

[flyguy]

OK AW RITE BLUE, IMA TRIN TU BE GOODER TO OLE PEEPLES CAUSE I AM WUN TWO. HAY! U GETCHERSELF A MARRY CRISMAS AN IMA SURE SO HOOPY URE OLERN ME TU

[blueldr]

Gar,
On the 16th day of November, I went over the hump and started the downhill slide to ( and I have to hesitate here while I grit my teeth) 89 on next May 15th.
How I often wish that I had, early on, known that I was going to live this long. I can think of a lot of things i would have done either differently or not at all. However, I sure had a hell of a lot of fun along the way.

[Kyle Wolfe]

Blue, I sure hope you're writing down your stories or tellin' em on tape or something! If not, maybe I've got to grab my wife and a bottle of some ol' brown stuff and crank up the 170 and come your way some day.

While I'm not thinking I'm old yet I have lost quite a few friends who had wonderful memories and have lived quite a life. I shed a tear last Wednesday when they played the marines hymn for the recessional at an 86 year old friend's funeral. My friend (Bob Klein) had 3 purple hearts and many interesting stories. I enjoyed his fellowship and wish I had those times spent together on tape.

I do hope you're doing that Bluelder (and all you other vets too)! Your generation has paid the price for which I am greatful.

[flyguy]

I agree with you Kyle. I have regrets that I didn't get to hear all the old stories my elders had in their memories. Even when I tell my stories to my grands and friends some of my peers ask if I am writing or keeping them in some form for the youngsters. I haven't done that yet - - - too darn busy.

And Blue, keep doing the things that keep you in good health and happy! We have a good friend who just turned 74. We both play guitars and enjoy the making music together. We cook and share food and friendship. His Dad, Mr JB, is 96 and they were at our house for Christmas dinner today. He is lively, has a good memory and a great sense of humor. I am setting my sights on his recipe for long happy life. He loves to cook and at least one Friday a month we go to his house for fried fish and lots of other stuff. He makes a mean peach cobbler. He had to give up driving but he insists that "If I need to I can get myself to the store and back"!

Hope all of the gang here on our forums had as good a day as we have had. Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!