Download | Duration: 00:05:24

 Stopped out at KPRB to look in on Gary Corippo and N75SJ, a 1944 C-47 that's being readied for a 6 am takeoff next Friday, July 23 to join at least 40 other C-47s and DC-3s at the Whiteside County Airport (KSQI) in Rock Falls, Illinois for a celebration of the airplane's 75th birthday at an event called The Last TimeThe Last Time.
After two and a half days of swapping flying stories and admiring airplanes--while trying to remember to stay upwind of the engines to prevent being dotted with Doug Honey--60 weight oil which only drops off of radial engines when there's a clean shirt in range-N75SJ will head north on Monday the 26th with other Last Time -3s and -47s to AirVenture 2010 AirVenture 2010 .
After interviewing Corippo we stepped out of the air-conditioned comfort of the EAA EAA Chapter 465 meeting hall into the blast furnace 104 degree heat--yeah it was a dry heat but that's still plenty hot--to check up on preparations.
Corippo estimated it would take 5 1/2 hours to KABQ, then on for 3:20 flight hours to an overnight stop near Wichita. The next morning they will fly N75SJ on in to Rock Falls. Estimated speed enroute is approximately 135 knots.

I have spent  over 40 years working on airplanes as a mechanic. I feel comfortable in that arena. The past 18 years I spent working as a technical representative and editor for the Cessna Pilots Association (CPA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). I'm now freelancing.  My niche is writing about nuts and bolts but the machines we fly and work on are only a small part of aviation, The biggest and most interesting part of aviation is the designers, builders, pilots,  technicians, and yes, even the regulators that make American aviation  work.
Baby Boomers make up a large percentage of the people on this list. As Boomers age we have to begin dealing with "issues"--don't you hate that word--that weren't part of our flying lives just a few years ago. Things like caring for aging parents, changing long-standing habits and working harder to maintain currency as well as learning to deal with and compensate for our own age-related health problems. When these issues  began to spring up in my life I had only a vague idea--do the right thing and it will all turn out fine--based on a hippy-dippy philosophy from yesteryear of what to do and how to do it. I have since found that I need to admit there's a problem and then reach out for help. This has always put things in perspective and has helped get me through new challenges I have bumped into on the alleys and byways of Boomerhood.
 I used to laugh when my wise Aunt Nan told me that in her experience when old-timers get together they usually begin talking about golf scores and politics before morphing into tales of physical woes and medications that she calls "the Organ Recital." I have only to reflect back on the topics kicked around the table with my Friday lunch group to realize I spent time today at a similar recital.
I started this blog to create a site where Boomer Pilots can share their experiences on airplanes, flying and the joys and tribulations of life in the Boomer Years.

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.