Today was a good and interesting day at the flying field. First of all a very old friend and flying partner came out for the first time to volunteer in coaching my flying. Some of the older hands here will remember Steve Johnston from the 1970's contest circuit including the Nats and two team trials. He laid down the handle last about 38 years ago and did well for himself in the real estate business. Today I shoved him out to the handle of my old Only Vegas for the first time since then and did just fine. It will be great to have him as an asset to my training. I've attached a photo of him today at Trible International.
While I waited for Steve and readied to fly a couple Shawnee Policemen drove up. They had seen the circle for two years but never knew what it was for until today. They got out of the car and asked many questions . One showing interest in the plane and eager to see it fly, the younger one-"what's that pink stuff" (my fuel) and "does that fly on lines?" I heard the other reassuring him as I slipped my hand into the safety thong. Anyway it all went very well and I think friends were made. Now here's the fun part. I've had a lot of problems with jerks plowing up the flying circle with four-wheelers and motor bikes. I'm always patching ruts. Two weeks ago I decided to try something new. I went down the road a few hundred yards and mowed out a new area much bigger than the circle and right next to the road so it couldn't be missed. I hoped this 'decoy' field would be their target and they would leave the field alone. Well when I got to the circle I was glad to see there was no more damage to the circle... I mentioned it to the cops. They told me the jerks rolled their truck over down on the decoy field, it caught fire and burnt into scrap metal..

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)))!!
Dave