My last blog reported on the Cub fly-in at the airport in Elizabethton, TN. This blog is about the Fly-In/Cruise-In at the airport in Greeneville, TN.
"Fly-In/Cruise-In" was a new term for me. Turns out it is a gathering of old aircraft and old automobiles, including the models you dreamed of owning, and which you perhaps flew/drove in your youth. That’s a strong combination. Breathes there a pilot who doesn’t also love fine cars?
I looked at the aircraft first, of course. There was a single-engine Piper Comanche which reminded me of the one I flew back in the 1970s, while selling cropdusters in MS. It even had the same paint scheme. The feelings of déjà vu were so strong that I wrote down the “N” number just in case it was the same aircraft. Alas, my log book proved otherwise.
Also on hand was a Luscombe Silvaire that, again, reminded me of the one I flew in MS. What a great little airplane that was. Built back in the 1940s, the Luscombe was guaranteed to embarrass me any time I landed while others were watching. A sneaky little devil, it would lull me into false feelings of competence during many happy, smooth and beautiful landings—when there were no witnesses. Then, when I attempted a landing in full confidence in front of at least two spectators, that Luscombe would bounce the full length of the runway with loud, metallic noises that can only be described as WHANG, WHANG, WHANG. That little airplane taught me a lot.
A Stinson Voyager was there. I never flew a Voyager—never even rode in one—but I always wanted to. Ditto for the short-nosed Piper Aztec of the 1950s. I flew and sold the later sleeker Aztecs (though no Aztec was ever truly sleek), but never the old, short-nosed version.
There were also old military planes, but I never flew any of them, and have always felt that I couldn’t have. They were surrounded by folks a little older than I, explaining the virtues and faults of each model.
The antique and custom cars included the 1955 and 1956 Chevrolet models. When they first came out I knew in my teen-aged heart that if I just had one of those cars all of my social problems would be solved and I would dwell in the house of beautiful girls for all the days of my life. More’s the pity; neither dream ever came true.
I love these local events on local airports. They attract folks who may not see their airport at any other time during the year. That’s gotta be good for the airport and the industry.
NOTE: I will speak at the ADMA conference at Marco Island, FL, later this week. I'll report back.
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