What's Up - July 2013
The Perfect “10”
By Larry Shapiro
The only thing better than a 10 is an 11 when it’s a little young man around four-feet-nothing tall and carrying the usual ton of new pilot stuff over his shoulder. When I asked him whom he was caddying for, the joke went right over his very young head and he informed with great confidence that he was not a caddy, but a student pilot and whipped out his logbook and flashed his more than a dozen logged flight hours.
I immediately fell to my knees and begged forgiveness and quickly congratulated him on being the youngest student pilot I have ever met during this current life of mine. We chatted about the wait to solo and he said it wouldn’t be a problem … he knew he’d be facing that issue and was fully prepared to do so. With that said Mr. Eleven Year Old, (Whose name I forgot to get) congratulations and many happy landings. Keep me posted when you get to the moon.
While We’re On The Subject of 10…
Larry Shapiro with Eric on moving day for the Sky Scooter. (Courtesy Larry Shapio)It was about 10 years ago that I met a little airplane called a Thorp (Sky Scooter). It was very yellow, very neglected, but very cute. It greeted me every morning when I arrived at PAO, and I said good night to it as I departed the field every evening. I didn’t know then the amazing history and story behind it and wouldn’t for another five years.
Fast-forward five years and as I arrived at the field one morning, low and behold there was some tall dude standing next to the Little Sky Scooter and he was undressing it. That led to cranking it up and making it breath again. Being the shy and reserved gent that I am, I gently slid up to the tall suntanned dude playing with the little beauty and started with a few hundred questions.
As we went through the usual social exercises of small talk I learned that this was the son of the owner. Not just the owner, but his Dad designed, and drew the plans, created the tools, and a long list of other amazing feats, not the least of which was that he built it in the family garage a few miles away from PAO. And as they say on late night TV, “But wait, there’s more!” It seemed that this little home built was the first one of its type certified by the FAA. That’s right! A home built certified by our friends at the FAA.
As our first visit continued, my new friend, Eric, said he’d like to find a museum that would offer this little gem a new home. Well, I said pumping out my chest, I can handle that … I’m sure there will be many museums that would love to have the Thorp. This is where the word “wrong” comes into play. Five years later I was still asking every museum I talked with, visited, or flew over if they would like to have it…not one yes and always for the same reason: Gee Lar, we just don’t have the room.
Well fellow aviation fans, a new museum is about to be born up in Chico, and when I made the offer to them I got a resounding, “Absolutely, we’d love to have it.” Keep that name in your address book if you’re thinking about donating an airplane to someone and especially anything from the WWII era. Contact me and I’ll get you in touch with these dedicated and amazing folks.
Well as usual, I digress, so now that I finally have a new home for the Sky Scooter I couldn’t find or remember the name of the son that offered it to me. After asking everyone with a pulse around my field, contact information was found and I was elated (but not for long). It seemed that the son was living in another country to be named at a later date and communication was in a close tie with the Pony Express.
It took months before I hit pay dirt. I mean found the surviving kid, and even longer before his smiling face walked into my office. It was happiness at first sight and the plans were laid to transfer the Thorp to the new Chico museum. The day was picked for the event and, wouldn’t you know it, on that date I was back in the hospital being tortured – I mean receiving another treatment to extend the warranty on my life.
After five years I wasn’t about to miss this event and when no one was was looking, I snuck out the sterile prison and zipped quickly back to PAO for the changing of the guard – from Eric/me to the museum.
Many hands contributed to a safe journey for the little Sky Scooter. (Larry Shapiro)They arrived with their truck and trailer, plus a plethora of tools. But then something truly wonderful and amazing started to happen. The aviation community of airport bums and others started approaching this little jewel, and before long there were 20 or more spectators wrenching, lifting, pulling and pushing. Six hours later … well, you can see by the pictures, the Thorp had landed on the trailer with it’s wings in the truck, plus all the original drawings, paper work, airworthiness certificate and engine logs. Heck, we had the original prop box.
Words aren’t going to be enough – or at least my skill at writing them – to tell the whole story. It was one of the happiest days I have ever spent on an airfield and one I will never forget. I’ll keep you posted on the date we celebrate the opening of the new Chico Museum and I’ll personally introduce you to the beautiful little Sky Scooter. To my new friend and colleague Eric, your dad would be very proud of you. As proud as I am to be your new friend.
Love Story # Two (Handshakes Are “Still” Alive & Well) PS…
Last issue I shared with you my excitement about extending my record of successful handshake deals. I also mentioned that most of them were really far out of my zip code. Well, I’m happy to report I’ve added another handshake deal that was made in my own back yard. Ain’t life grand?
I’m Just Saying… Up-date…
For those of you that remember or even care, I survived my cancer surgery last month. Suffice it to say I am now radioactive and I glow in the dark, which if I had my ticket, would be very helpful for night flying. This is probably a good time to tell those of you facing that decision as an avenue for treatment that it’s a walk in the park if you have the right attitude and a sense of humor. I actually enjoyed the experience because of the sentence above, but then, look who just said that. Let me say once again that cancer is not a sentence it’s a word.
And Now A Few Delicious Words
I’ve said many times that good food served badly is a lousy meal. I’ve also said that bad food served well usually ends up to be a great meal. Please don’t argue with me about this, it’s my column so I can say what ever I want and by the time you finish reading this you might give me a “Push” on this one.
So, while sitting outside on the patio at one very popular northern California airport restaurant, with a name that matched the Runway Numbers along with two friends enjoying the sun, great weather, and getting ready to order some spectacular fish and chips, I noticed our server was thumbing through a copy of In Flight USA. Seeing that, I said to her, “take your time,” we’re in no hurry and with that she put her IF USA down and slid over to our table to get our order.
After some idle chit chat and mild flirting she took our order. I did my best to confuse her, and off she went towards the kitchen. I did my absolute best to make her crazy but I failed.
As we munched through our F&Cs I again noticed that she was engrossed in whatever article she was reading and then finally put it down. As she refilled our ice teas she starred at me and said, “You look a lot like that guy in the article I was just reading.” Of course being overly humble and my deep seeded humility bulging at the seams, I thanked her but told her some cockamamie story why that couldn’t be me. The meal was concluded, the food and service were superb, and three aging pilots slowly lifted their stuck butts off their seats and headed to transit parking.
As we crossed the manicured lawns towards the “very secured gates,” we heard our server yelling at us as she came running across the fore mentioned manicured lawn. The first comment I made to my friends was, “did we pay our check?”
Hang in here with me, this is where it gets really good and time for the tissues. She was waiving her copy of In Flight and yelling; “it is you,” and for what shocked us for a minute was that she was crying and started hugging me. This is not usually the effect I have on my readers, and especially when they’re so young and attractive.
When I was able to calm her down, and help wipe away her tears, I naturally asked, “Hey darl’in, why the tears?” In her sobbing response she said, “this is you and I just read about your cancer.” That was followed with, “I don’t want you to have cancer and I want you to come back here, and now I’m really upset.”
We eventually established that her wish was my wish, I didn’t want cancer either, and I too wanted to come back. So my friends, we now have experienced a great meal, great service, great caring, and I hope a great story. Okay, I’ll admit the tears were contagious and I was seen to be wiping a few off my face as well.
As the three of us headed for our airplanes it seemed to have gotten very quiet for a few minutes. Need I say more?
On Final
July, July, July – what a great month. BBQs and lots of great food, great weather, time to reflect on our great country, remembering to wish one of my favorite daughters a happy birthday, and another excuse to proudly wear and show off our stars and stripes. I was getting ready to trek off to Texas to surprise my second oldest on her birthday when she called to tell me she was coming here to surprise me. I guess great minds think alike.
As I always do, I wish you a happy and safe 4th … and remind you that fireworks are to be viewed looking up, not down. Forget about flying above them for a better view, at best you’ll just shoot yourself down.
As always, thanks to our troops in uniform for making it possible for us to do all the fun things we do at this time of the year … why not invite a few over to your place to share the fun.
Until next time …
That’s Thirty! “Over”
