From: ericth@i88.isc.com (Eric Thiele)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation
Subject: Re: umwaufi report
Date: 1 Sep 92 19:39:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: i88.1992Sep01.193933.25940
Organization: INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation, Naperville, IL

I've been too busy making flying lesson tokens ($$) to post about the umwaufi.

Lessee what do I have to contribute?

Right after departing DuPage, we got bounced by a northbound F-15 presumably 
heading for Glenview NAS.  I don't think he missed us by more than 1000 feet.

Then, our LORAN didn't want to play - what *is* Skywave Warning, anyway?

Coming from a 152, I didn't really realize that our 172's groundspeed shoulda 
been *much* better westbound.

From a student perspective, it was fun to just be a passenger, and watch
smooth piloting.  Now that I know what I'm looking at on the panel, I was
amazed that it is indeed possible to hold altitude and heading, simultaneously,
for periods lasting more than, oh, 30 seconds.  Gives me something to strive
for.

I learned that 172s have a neat seatback latch cleverly located under the front
corner of the seat - after we were on the ground, after having had to lean 
forward for 2 hours after my seatback reclined of its own volition, and didn't
want to rise again.

Bill graciously demonstrated crosswind landing technique at Ottumwa - well, I
promised Bill I wouldn't tell anybody anything more :-)

Outside of the unfair landing scoring (a 4???  We didn't bend any metal),
(must've been the judge from Greece) the flyin group was very friendly - I 
really am proud to be a part of the aviation scene.  The field appeared to be 
a classic WWII training field, with cavernous <empty> multi-story hangars, 
barracks, 5 Usenet Air Force craft and one PO'ed wasp.

The FBO Budget Buick (it even had an 8 track!) was something else.  But it ran
well, and fit 10.  "Fill it, and they will come" - you shoulda seen the looks
of the farmers watching us tool around.  Me missing the Stop sign might've had
something to do with it...  Heh, they let me drive back to the field too, so 
I'm not *that* bad a driver.

Bill LeFebvre and I brought up the rear flying into Antique, and that was
embarassing - if it weren't for the spotter/judges we might've been looking for
quite a while.  Well, I shouldn't speak for Bill - *I* didn't see 'em

This was my first exposure to turf runways.  The uphill grade to midfield,
the tilt to the right and the effect of oak trees in 85 degree weather on short 
final all contributed to my attentiveness index - I think *only* 3 
bounces was still a good job, Bill.

Yes, there were 3 airport dogs, a souvenir stand with a book profiling the
adventures of pilots flying bootleg booze during prohibition (I wonder what
sort of research the author just HAD to do, and got to write off, for that one).
Quite a number (100?) of fotos of noteworthy a/c that've flown into Antique,
including a twin (sorry, I don't "know" my twins, but I think it was a KingAir
XXX) into a 2200 ft turf field.  Also a snapshot of a Piper Cub dragging a
wingtip through the grass by a stunt pilot - foolish but awesome.

:-) :-)  They also had a huge poster of a Beaver on floats, loaded to the
gills, highly aerodynamic raft across the wings, misc junk strapped to the
landing struts.  No way it could've been airborne, but it got my attention.

The museum was quaint, and obviously a labor of love.  Nothing was cordoned
off - you could stick your head inside every aircraft.  The BD-5 with the
BMW nose badge was funny - powered by an R-75.  Some unique craft - I really
liked a 108knot ground effect boat/plane.  If you're within 100 miles sometime,
I'd recommend visiting.

The sequenced takeoff was interesting - we all taxied to the departure end, to
give as much room as possible to the active runway.  Someone (Steve?) asked if
anyone had the lawnmower in sight :-)  This was a problem, actually, you 
couldn't see the other end, due to the midfield hump.  Takeoff was much easier
than I'd anticipated, and doing MCA into the 50-60 knot wind afforded us quite
the opportunity for revenge as landing judges, while everyone else landed back
at OTM.  One plane after several minutes eventually completed his final (that
*is* a bit of a wind, ain't it?) and greased the numbers and the centerline.
I forgot who it was, but he got 9's from both judges.

That return trip groundspeed sure was a bit faster

A good time was had by all
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