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NORDO News
CONVENTIONAL News for Unconventional People
July 2005
HELP US HELP YOU
BUY SOME SEED, GET YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS
Disaster strikes again…….after many hard weeks of work and an untold amount of spent dollars, three weeks of drought was followed by a cloudburst that washed every single seed of grass away from the new runway extension. Currently, two tons of grass seed is well on its way to New Orleans. Now, we find ourselves with no choice but to reseed in a time of year when it is prone to fail.
If anyone wants to purchase an empty grass seed bag, we have 80 of them at $50 (fifty dollars) apiece. Anyone purchasing a bag will be honored here at Lee Bottom with their name placed on the website as a person who supports “grass roots”, and will also receive a framed “Thank You” to hang on their hangar wall. If every bag gets purchased, we will put your names on a permanent wood and brass plaque remembering you as the people who are the “Ultimate Supporters of Grass Roots.”
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Lee Bottom Continues to Attract Rare Aircraft
Just before dusk on Sunday, June 26, 2005 the distinctive throaty roar of a radial engine filled the valley surrounding Lee Bottom. When Ginger ran outside to see what it was, on final approach to landing was the only flying Sopwith F.1 Camel in the United States.
Yes, this Sopwith F.1 Camel was a replica but an extremely accurate one. The owner, Tim Plunkett, was on his way to Florida with his new plane when he set down here to spend the night. While here, he told us this rare aircraft would join his Fokker Dr I triplane (another WWI-era fighter aircraft) and would also become part of the educational program he offers to local enthusiasts about the importance of early aviation and the historic achievements made in aviation during WWI.
One thing of interest was how Tim described the valley. Having spent many years at Delta Airlines as an International Transoceanic Captain on Boeing 767s, he had often seen the Rhine River and couldn’t help but notice how much our area resembled it. He is the third person to say that.
Sinful Sunday this Sunday. . .
This Sunday is the next Sinful Sunday at Lee Bottom. In light of the “natural disasters” that have occurred at Lee Bottom over the past year, this month’s tasty ice cream treat of choice will be “That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles” . . . . an Oreo Cookie Shake.
RV-3 for Sale
Anyone who knows RV-3s knows that this will be one of the nicest ones flying when re-assembled. It has every beef-up known and more, a 160-horse engine, and a slick paint job. There is much more. If interested, please email Rich (ifitsoldillflyit@msn.com). Don’t bother if you are not truly looking to buy. The plane was flying, was then beefed up, and is now very close to flying again. $29,900. Our airport is taking all of our time and we have too many projects. Only good homes considered.
Thanks, The NORDO News AD Worked
Hi, Friends....
An interesting story....I just sent out one of my Black Sheep Squadron signed Corsair prints to a guy in Provo, Utah. When I get a call like that, I usually ask the caller how they found out about me. The guys says, "well, I own a Taylorcraft and am a Corsair fan...and I was surfing the net last week and came across a site for a little airport called Lee Bottom somewhere in Indiana, near Louisville, KY and your name was linked"……………”So a Big Thank You”
David
Note: David Lord used our advertisements in the NORDO News a few months ago and is now listed as a sponsor on the Wood, Fabric, and Tailwheel Fly-In page. It’s a great way to sponsor a “grassroots” aviation event while helping your business.
Email Info@LeeBottom.com for more information.
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David Lord - Automotive & Aviation Art
317-243-3425
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The New Warbird Museum in Town
Paul and Diane Redlich visited with us today in the Tri-State Warbird Museum’s newest addition, a Stearman. The plane was beautiful and I think they made a good choice. But what about the museum? Paul is the President of the museum and Diane does the administrative work (or is that most of the work?). Whatever the case, we would like to ask all of you to visit this wonderful new operation.
Paul is an anomaly in the warbird community. If you visit the museum and get a chance to meet him, you will see exactly what we mean. He smiles, he’s friendly, and he’s not the least bit arrogant. The museum is across the way from Sporty’s (not meant as an endorsement) at Clermont County Airport in Batavia, Ohio. We should mention that Diane is also a pilot and although we’ve just met her, we are already impressed with her knowledge of aviation. Do us a favor; show them your support and go visit them. When you are there, be sure to let them know we sent you.
The Real Story
Everyone by now has heard that the Vickers Vimy replica has made the amazing recreation flight across the Atlantic. Everyone has also likely heard by now what a great feat it was and that it is thanks primarily to Steve Fossett, the pilot. But I would like for everyone to know what I truly believe to be the real story. John Lanoue and Mark Rebholz are the real reasons this flight happened and they are without doubt the reason the aircraft exists.
Mr. Fossett was simply a financial avenue to get the flight completed. We all know what a media hound Fossett is and in the next few days, while everyone is calling Mark Rebholz the co-pilot, I want all of you to remember him and his team as the real reason this flight happened. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to see something through to the end and I believe that is what Mark did. Congratulations Mark on having the savvy to get this done. “Our family” will never forget who the real pilot was.
The Newest Airport Family Members
photo: Kirk Wood
Most of the regulars have already met our newest airport family members — Pam and Kirk Wood (and their loyal companion Muffy). Pam and Kirk are retired and live full time in their RV (recreational vehicle). In fact, they are among a growing population of people known as Work Campers, a term used to describe volunteers who live in their RVs and move from spot to spot every four to six months in order to see more of the country.
What is great about the Work Camper philosophy is everyone benefits. The Work Campers exchange 15–20hrs work of work a week for an RV hookup site. Since the typical monthly hookup rate is around $500, these people are able to share their energy, knowledge, and desire to give something back while keeping their cost of living to a minimum. This summer you may see Kirk on the mower as they are helping us with the mowing. Although they are not pilots, they have a keen interest in learning about aviation and as Kirk comments, “love to observe” . . . so if you happen to be in the area and are looking for a passenger to go siteseeing, please don’t forget them.
Visit their webpage to learn more about them and the places that they have previously visited: http://www.1tree.net/adventure/adventur.htm
Photo: Nick Stroud
One of the biggest startup hurdles for Time Pieces to overcome the "bad apples" in the aviation business. When things got really bad, we started looking for ways to keep positive. What we decided on was a list of the good operations we came across along the way.
Ace's list is a way to honor those businesses that have provided us a good experience. Since it would be hard to mention them all, please don't despair if you aren't on there. We'll try every way possible to send you business.
Ace, our airport dog and trusty companion, was rescued from a shelter about two years ago and had to relearn what it meant to have a loyal and loving family. Today he pays it back to us daily and definitely knows what it's like to be loyal and trusting. Therefore, we've named this part of the newsletter after him.
Having started on a 700-mile venture in a Corben Junior Ace (an experimental NORDO aircraft) that I was only introduced to minutes before the flight, I decided to call it quits for the day (after only 300 miles) when the alternator stopped working. Believing that your mind can only handle so many mental distractions at a time, I have a rule of thumb that states when three things are not working (including non-essentials), it's time to put it on the ground and address the issues. Looking for an uncontrolled airport within fuel range along the course, Cordele, Georgia, appeared to be a good choice. Realizing that most small airports have gone to self-service fuel and it’s like a treasure hunt trying to find an actual live person, I was a little skeptical on what I would find after 5PM on a weekday at a little country airport. However, seconds after touching down, I realized this little airport had potential. Across the way there was a radial-engined Thrush cropduster sitting in the grass, a hangar door that was open with a duster sitting inside, and a 150 outside with the cowling off.
The entire experience could not have been better. After being greeted with a “What a beautiful landing . . . many people don’t know how to do a slip to a landing these days. That was nice.” I had only to mention the alternator issue and the aircraft was in a hangar with a battery charger installed, a courtesy car had all my belongings in it, the mechanic from the shop next door had stopped by to see if he could help, and I was given a map with directions to the Best Western and some local eating establishments (since the airplane was going to spend the night in the Best Western’s owner’s hangar I should probably stay at his place).
After a very restful night’s sleep and an excellent meal at the Zydeco Grille Cajun restaurant where I experienced my first bucket of “mud bugs” (crawfish), the same friendly group of individuals greeted me to help get the day underway. However, minutes after departure, I realized that something else was not right with the electrical system causing the electrical oil temperature gauge to “wack out” (that’s a technical aviation term) and returned back to the airport. The mechanic at J&M Aviation stopped everything that he was doing and fixed my airplane’s problems. Here was a guy that could really troubleshoot the problem and understood old fabric and piston airplanes. He had parts brought onsite, skipped lunch to keep working on the plane, and had me going within a few hours. I’ve decided that next to Lee Bottom Flying Field, Cordele is my next favorite airport. It’s the way an airport is supposed to be . . . lots of hangar flying, a good cup of coffee, and a maintenance shop that understands airplanes (and is also reasonably priced). I almost didn’t want to leave but I climbed back in the cockpit for the uneventful flight home. (gdd)
Cordele Flying Service, Inc
Crisp County Airport (CKF)
Managed by Dub & Cecile Cooper
229-273-3124
J&M Aviation
Aircraft engine and Aircraft Repair
229-273-9530
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Lee Bottom Flying Field
Identifier: 64I
7296 S. River Bottom Rd.
Hanover, IN 47243
812-866-3211
Time Pieces
7296 S. River Bottom Rd.
Hanover, IN 47243
317-501-2773