Smoke On!

Welcome aboard my Second Annual Airshow Support Barnstorming Roadtrip! The Little White Barnstormer is going strong! She had an oil change and a correction made to the alternator belt made on Christmas Eve. The squealing has subsided, but still happens every once in a while. Major maintenance on the horizon are replacing the shocks and brakes. I've cut off the internet from my cell phone to save on that expense. It's painful, but I will adapt. I can use the wi-fi at McD's, Denny's and Barnes and Noble to name a few. I officially kicked off my Second Annual Airshow Support Barnstorming Roadtrip when I arrived at Cable Airport after ICAS. My friend at Aviator Flight Training was repairing an engine on his DC-3 and granted me the opportunity to clean its belly. It took the good part of three days- just a little longer than cleaning a whole T-6. ;-) My friends at Cable Airport provided cozy accomodations and great socializing at their hangars. In addition to cleaning the belly of the DC-3, Chuck and Mary gave me an opportunity to clean the belly of their Cessna 172, and I helped Kim wash his car. I had a nice time visiting with Frank Donnelly, who will perform an airshow act in his clipped-wing Taylorcraft at the Cable Airshow on January 11 and 12. http://drds-oldtime-aerobatics.com/ After a great week with friends at Cable, I drove up to Lake Arrowhead to visit Rob and Susie Harrison. Rob performs at Airshows in his Zlin as the Tumbling Bear, with Susie working alongside him as the narrator for his show, while serving as his performing partner. Rob is on the verge of retiring from Airshows, but ask any Airshow Pilot, it's hard to do! What was intended to be an overnight in Hollister at Frazier Lake Airpark, turned into a week-long opportunity to clean the Lonnies' planes, primarily Lonnie Jr's. I had met Lonnie Sr after the Hollister Airshow at his hangar party, and was instantly smitten by his career as a pilot and Aircraft Mechanic. He was impressed that I knew what the Charles Taylor Award was, and during a subsequent visit, he gave me a ride in his Cub. So, when The Lonnies asked me to stay and clean their PA-11, Spartan Executive, Cessna 180, and J-3 Cub, I changed my plans and stuck around. Lonnie Sr. is one of my favorite people! So, after spending Christmas up in Sacramento, Woodland, and Chico, I have returned to Frazier Lake Airpark to resume cleaning the Cessna 180 and two more airplanes until Jan 3, when it will be time to report to my friends at Cable Airshow to clean some airplanes and help with set up, and Airshow Weekend.