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Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by Bob Parks, Sep 24, 2012.

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  1. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    Nov 29, 2003
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    #1 Bob Parks, Sep 24, 2012
    Spasso and I had brunch at a wonderful little cafe at Arlington Airport, Wa. and when we were paying our tab we heard a voice, " Hey! I know you!" Sure enough it was an old friend and fellow pilot from almost 40 years ago with whom I flew many times in his Travel Air and we went to many fly-ins accompanied by two other Travel Airs.We had a most exciting renewal of friendship and stories. Sadly the recall gathered up too many of our old friends who had passed on and too many of the beautiful Travel Airs that had met unkindly demises. Never mind. We went to his hangars and viewed his collection of old machines; two 1928 Essex autos, the bones of two Travel Air 6000's, a 1918 Hispano-Suiza engine, a 70 HP Le Blond, a 1918 Buick that is drivable, and the 1929 Travel Air in which we had so many good times. He then showed us a " hit -and-miss" type of old engine and a 1928 MayTag washing machine engine, all running. It was one of those serendipitous moments that come once in a blue moon and reaffirms the seemingly " flighty adventures" of a much younger compatriot.
    Younger, indeed, for I remember seeing those hit and miss engines running cement mixers and bailers and those little two cycle washing machines doing their thing. A pretty good weekend with my son and some warm memories.
     
  2. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #2 Spasso, Sep 24, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    A very nice day indeed.
    I forgot my camera this weekend but managed a few shots from last weekend.

    We have been going to the revamped cafe at the airport, called NASA, which I thought at first was an odd name for this kind of place until I realized that this airport used to be
    "NAS Arlington" in WWII, stocked with Wildcats mostly.

    GREAT food!!!

    Note: The Desault flew in for a 2,000.00 hamburger at the NASA cafe.
    Testing out some ILS issues.
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  3. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #3 Gatorrari, Sep 24, 2012
    Gee, a couple of Grummans.

    I hope that Mallard's wing structure is in better shape than the ones Chalk's owned down in Miami. (After the one crashed fatally, they checked the rest of the fleet and promptly grounded them all.)
     
  4. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 jcurry, Sep 24, 2012
    First pics I've seen of the API winglets on the Dassault. They look good.

    It is very difficult to test the ILS at KAWO. 100% failure rate.
     
  5. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    #5 Bob Parks, Sep 24, 2012
    Regarding Chalks airplane failures, due to salt water/air corrosion?
     
  6. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #6 Gatorrari, Sep 24, 2012
    That, apparently compounded by incompetent basic maintenance. If they had kept flying, it is almost certain that another Mallard would have lost a wing before much longer. "Pappy" Chalk would have been dismayed.
     
  7. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    #7 Bob Parks, Sep 24, 2012
    I remember seeing a Chalk's seaplane in Miami in 1940...a Fairchild 71 on floats, painted silver overall.. I have a picture of it somewhere. A tough environment for aluminum structures and poor maintenance.
     
  8. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #8 Spasso, Dec 27, 2012
    I don't think they were testing AT KAWO, probably came over from KPAE for lunch.
     
  9. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #9 Spasso, Dec 27, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  10. ferraripete

    ferraripete F1 World Champ

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    #10 ferraripete, Dec 27, 2012
    2004 challenger owned by wells.
     
  11. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

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    #11 Tcar, Dec 28, 2012
    Didn't PanAm also use the Fairchild 71 back in the day? Tough plane...
     
  12. viking1979

    viking1979 Rookie

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    #12 viking1979, Dec 28, 2012
    Where is this located?
     
  13. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    #13 Bob Parks, Dec 28, 2012
    NASA is located on the east side of Arlington airport which is located 40 miles north of Seattle. Lots of antique, homebuilt, and vintage jet activity. The EAA holds its convention there in July. The NASA cafe has the best food we've ever experienced at a small operation. Pretty and very nice ladies serve and windows to watch airplanes while you eat.
     
  14. viking1979

    viking1979 Rookie

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    #14 viking1979, Dec 28, 2012
    Thanks, Larry Cranmer
     
  15. sowest

    sowest Formula Junior

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    #15 sowest, Dec 28, 2012
    Just yesterday, at lunch, I read a great article in "Aviation Quarterly" about the 1929 National Women's Air Derby. It was run from Santa Monica, California to Cleveland, Ohio.

    It was won by Louise Thaden in a Travel Air. There were a couple of other Travel Airs in the race also.

    Amelia Earhart was fourth in her Vega.
     

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