The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-21
Aero Chatter

|Y
Excitement ran high at the air.
port Friday afternoon. One of the
students Was shooting landings in
the T~aylorcraft with Warren Pen
nlngton, using the north-south run
way. One landing took them so near
the end of the runway that very
little of the plane was visible, and
after a few seconds yells were heard
to come from that direction, and
everyone felt sure that student, in
structor, plane and all had rolled
down the steep embankment that
marks the end of that runway.
Quickly a car loaded with people
sped to the spot, to be followed by
another. Arriving too late to ride
down there, we waited nervously at
the hangar, with all sorts of visions
running through our mind. Present
ly the Taylorcraft took off, and the
cars started back up the field, while
we almost ate the wings off the Cub
in sheer desperation. Imagine how
we felt when they told us what had
caused the commotion. Warren had
sighted a little woods kitty running
know, the black variety with the
white stripe running down its back.
No wonder they held their noses
when they returned Now we won't
even be surprised if some day me
of us finds an alligator hat has
strayed out of the creek onto the
airport.
All of which goes to prove thai to
find the unusual, just visit the air.
port. But not so unusual was the
fact hal another Of the students So
loed this past week, for it's getting
to be quite a habit these days. This
time it was George f. Hatch who
made his first solo hop here last
Monday.
Friday brought an old friend to
the field, none other than C. A. A.
Inspector Jimmy Nall of Charlotte,
who flew down in his Fairchild. An
other inspector, Milton Schultz, of
Pa1ajUb y-ac of tbn fold tnn thot
day. I know that Mrs. Burk Render
won't readily forget Schultz for it
was he who gave her her exam and
flight test that led up to winning
her private license, the goal of all
students. Congratulations, LaVerne,
to the third pilot and first feminine
pilot to get a private license at this
field. Also on that day Jimmy Pen
nington did figure SIS, 36O's, 1905,
and spot landings with the Stinson
tri-motor to get his 3-M rating, with
Schultz supervising again. Who's
next for a license?
Visitors of the week: Last Sunday
looked like Stinson day here for two
105's flew in hat day. And we found
someone who doesn't like the third
seat in the 105 either, for after no.
ticing the way the boy who held
down the real seat in the n from
r o Ike staggered out, and
after trying it out ourselves, we pro-
nounced it to be the most uncom-
Portable seat in any ship. Just re-
member to get a front seat in a los
for comforts sake! Monday brought
a Cub Cruiser to the field, and We'll
cast our vote for that three-place
light plane Two fellows flew
down from Lumberton yesterday for
a weekend at the beach. The plane
in this case was a Luscombe. Did
va see 80. The three Navy planes
that flew over Tuesday the
Army Douglas DC 2 that winged its
way north over the field Thursday,
or the Army Douglas CA hat passed
over at a very high altitude Friday
morning? More military ships were
around as Mickey Davis flew an OBJ
servation plane down from a field
in Maryland. This was u first look
at the type ship Mickey flew down,
a Douglas 043A, quite an unusual
looking ship Billy Codington
flew down on his way to the farm
yesterday afternoon, flying his new
Waco.
Slips and spins: The Aero club is
planning on a swell time at its
watermelon party Monday night.
Members will gather at the chamber
of commerce at 7:30 o'clock and from
there go on to the big doings. Mem
bers who plan to go are asked to
call the secretary not later than 6
o'clock this afternoon and let her
know of their Intentions. The secre-
tary? Oh to be sure, that's me! And
then there was one of the boys who
said why not have the affair in the
Stinson, for he had eaten water
melon everywhere else, and that
would be quite a novelty The
newest group of fledglings who are
learning to master the art of flying
include Roy Rowe from Burgaw,
Frank FAIRLY, Wallace Corbin, and
Antony Sondey Upon noticing
the u%nderside of the observation
plane that flew in, one of the
students shifted and remarked that
while peering through the pyralin
inspection plate in the floor of the
Cub we get the same effect. Tried