- Joined
- Feb 23, 2005
- Messages
- 4,573
- Location
- Georgetown, ME
- Display Name
- Harley Reich
- Home Airfield
- KIWI
- - - and one never knows where next he'll meet another pilot.
I was at the shopping mall near Brunswick Naval Air Station today. A seasonal set-up in the concourse area had several showcases of glass artwork(http://www.gypsymoose.com) and other pieces of art. While in conversation with "Jeff" I inquired about the cost of such a seasonal accommodation in that high traffic area. Somehow, flying came into the discussion. Jeff is a recreational pilot. But it got more interesting.
Jeff and the Mrs. hail from down in Winter Harbor, Maine. "Down" because one can't get much further Down East than Winter Harbor. There's a Naval Air Station there. Jeff was training in a C-150; so one day he was in conversation with a guy who also was interested in aviation. The fellow, when asked what he did responded, "I'm an astronaut." Well, that was an interesting response but what would an astronaut be doing "way down here," Jeff thought.
At a later occasion they happened to be in a like location and the "astronaut" guy was signing autographs. It turned out that he had a 2nd home in the area; and he's a flight instructor. One thing lead to another and Jeff flew with the fellow. Eventually, Jeff had to have an authorized signature on his certificate. Rick Hauck. Google the name; and if followed by astronaut you'll get a bunch of hits.
Jeff said they were flying one day when the C-150 began to sputter. Because they had been practicing for emergencies he thought that the CFI had "rigged" the occasion. "What are you going to do about it?" he was asked; and both were soon aware that the emergency might be authentic.
Looking down, Jeff saw a landing strip on some island and said, "Well, there's a spot but it doesn't look very long." Coughing and sputtering, the plane was set down on the island. When I asked him which island he said that he didn't know "but it's the one where John Travolta has a place."
(Islesboro)
Somebody came running out, waving; the small group of pilot/owners there are familiar with just about every plane that lands there, "and this cougher/sputterer wasn't one of them." Whatever was troubling the shifty 150 was remedied after some adjustments by the CFI and off they went without further problems.
Pilots are the most interesting people; and this one owns a couple Harleys to boot.
HR
I was at the shopping mall near Brunswick Naval Air Station today. A seasonal set-up in the concourse area had several showcases of glass artwork(http://www.gypsymoose.com) and other pieces of art. While in conversation with "Jeff" I inquired about the cost of such a seasonal accommodation in that high traffic area. Somehow, flying came into the discussion. Jeff is a recreational pilot. But it got more interesting.
Jeff and the Mrs. hail from down in Winter Harbor, Maine. "Down" because one can't get much further Down East than Winter Harbor. There's a Naval Air Station there. Jeff was training in a C-150; so one day he was in conversation with a guy who also was interested in aviation. The fellow, when asked what he did responded, "I'm an astronaut." Well, that was an interesting response but what would an astronaut be doing "way down here," Jeff thought.
At a later occasion they happened to be in a like location and the "astronaut" guy was signing autographs. It turned out that he had a 2nd home in the area; and he's a flight instructor. One thing lead to another and Jeff flew with the fellow. Eventually, Jeff had to have an authorized signature on his certificate. Rick Hauck. Google the name; and if followed by astronaut you'll get a bunch of hits.
Jeff said they were flying one day when the C-150 began to sputter. Because they had been practicing for emergencies he thought that the CFI had "rigged" the occasion. "What are you going to do about it?" he was asked; and both were soon aware that the emergency might be authentic.
Looking down, Jeff saw a landing strip on some island and said, "Well, there's a spot but it doesn't look very long." Coughing and sputtering, the plane was set down on the island. When I asked him which island he said that he didn't know "but it's the one where John Travolta has a place."
(Islesboro)
Somebody came running out, waving; the small group of pilot/owners there are familiar with just about every plane that lands there, "and this cougher/sputterer wasn't one of them." Whatever was troubling the shifty 150 was remedied after some adjustments by the CFI and off they went without further problems.
Pilots are the most interesting people; and this one owns a couple Harleys to boot.
HR
