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(FAC NATS Geneseo 2004... pg 4) |
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Sunday, Day Three The music stayed the same, but the air had changed once more. I was still on Cloud Nine from the day before, so it didn't matter as much. Even so, my card was full, so I had to keep up with the events. I've been fortunate to have a flock of birds that have stayed around for a number of years. A few have parted OOS, but for the most part, the group has remained or been replaced. My Loose Special flew well but not until after a
few days of squirrely trim flying. She seemed to have lost her groove
during the Shell Speed dash, but luckily got in the Thompson final.
A tad more power and a little nose weight seemed to be the fix.
Starleaf was the man to beat in this one, but none of us came close.
The Loose was second to his impressive Cessna CR-3, which beat us
all by at least 30 seconds round after round. |
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One of my favorite observations throughout the day was catching Marie and Dave Rees playing tag team as they timed for each other. Here's Marie with a winning flight: |
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The rest of the day was an exercise of dodging rain storms in our attempt to get some official flights. Felt as if the Hand of God had placed a ceiling on the field. But the wind was down, and after 2 days of chasing, our legs were probably pleased with these conditions. Most memorable was the tribute to Bob Thompson at
high noon. The co-founder of the Flying Aces had passed away earlier
in the year, and a short ceremony was held in his honor. I watched
from 300 yards away as the crowd launched a model of Bob's attached
to a dozen helium balloons. An emotional sight, seeing this model
rise slowly toward and into the blanket of clouds. If not for him
and Dave Stott, many of us would never have known the hobby we so
enjoy, along with the many friends along the way. |
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 Tribute to Bob Thompson at 500 feet |
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| Somehow through all this
enjoyment of three days and nights of flying, I beat out Chris Starleaf
for the Grand Champ honors. I knew it would be close, but it still
came as a shock when they called my name. I first needed to shake
Chris's hand, as he had been the top man for the past two Nats. Our
canopies were side by side all weekend long, and we had shared many
laughs, flights and memorable moments. Classic FAC. Friends flying
together. |
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Epilogue-Travel Day Homeward It has been my tradition to touch base with the
field one last time before heading home. John launched his twin pusher and nocal, while I
flew my Cessna C-38 and Mitsubishi. |
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The sky was brilliant, with dark clouds coming in
from the west. Thunder and a flash of lightning were close behind
when I left the field around noon. As I turned onto 390 south, Nora
Jones was still playing softly on the stereo, fittingly singing
about how she "...always take(s) the long way home..."
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Movies for your enjoyment: Starleaf Twin Tom's Cessna Kelsey One Kelsey Gyro Gee Bee Frank's Blue Max Barish Wing Vance's Flamingo |
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