December 4, 2016 - Massey Aerodrome Open House Fly-in
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A December fly-in? You've got to be kidding! But Massey Aerodrome does it every year and usually the weather cooperates. Last year they had 170 or so airplanes. This year there was a high overcast, it was a little cool, and there was some wind, but overall it wasn't half bad. I could have gotten away without pre-heating the RV's engine, but it likes to start warm, so I did pre-heat it, then headed across the bay.
In the summer, the west coast of Hart-Miller Island will be packed with boats -- the bottom is sandy, good for swimming. But in December ... no boats.
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Direct to Massey Aerodrome takes less than 15 minutes. What fun is that? I take a little longer route down the Chester River.
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| Looks like someone is building a serious waterfront estate on the Chester River. Nice location! |
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This duck blind has multiple fields of fire.
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| I showed up at the peak arrival time. Runway Two was in operation. For good situational awareness, I like to fly an upwind leg; gives me plenty of time to see where everyone is in the pattern. Here I am on upwind leg for runway two. |
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| Now on crosswind leg. |
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| After landing, I headed to the main hangar which is where the food is. It was packed. Look at the line for the food table! |
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The food table. Pretty good food, too.
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| A couple of Massey projects stand sentinal outside. Many people inside eating; not too many outside in the cold. It really wasn't that cold. 50s I think. |
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Some immaculate show cars were on hand.
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| This Woody is deserving of a closer look. |
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| The Mercury Cougar always brings back memories. I didn't have one but I knew three people who did in my teens. Great cars. |
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| Paul C.'s SuperCub. Seven years in the making, he is now having some serious fun flying it around. |
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A number of RVs were parked together near the grassy knoll.
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| I've seen this pink Citabria at Massey many times. |
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Two serious aerobatic planes: a Cap 10 and an Extra.
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| Most of the planes were in the main parking area, including my favorite fly-in plane of the day: the Republic SeaBee amphibian. |
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| I haven't seen this RV before. Like the paint job. |
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| I was parked on the other side of the runway. This picture explains the RV's great performance. It probably has the same horsepower as the other airplanes but is much smaller -- less weight -- and is aerodynamically clean. |
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The SeaBee was the center of attention.
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Checking out the SeaBee's cockit.
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| Notice the little rudder aft of the tailwheel. |
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| The Extra looks very muscular from behind. Those ailerons are almost the length of the entire wing! |
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They started parking planes down the side of the runway. Last year it was both sides.
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| Jim T. showed up in his RV-8, complete with rubber chicken launching device! |
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The yellow paintscheme reminded me of my old Citabria. I had a lot of fun in that plane.
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| I saw this plane making a circular approach, wing low, from the downwind leg. I thought to myself, there's only one pilot I know that flies like that. Can do that. |
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| Sure enough, it was Tom B., in Delta Delta. Tom was one of the famed Trunk Monkeys I used to fly around with in the Citabria when we would do "All Grass All Day" flying trips. I talked with Tom later in the main hangar. |
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| The SeaBee taxiing down to the end of the runway for takeoff. |
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Another one of my favorite planes: the radial-powered Cessna 195. This would be my plane of choice for long cross-countries with Lynnette and another couple.
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Not as many people on the grassy knoll as usual, watching planes takeoff and land. But there are some, including Paul C.
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| Another Essex Skyparkian, Whitey, takes off in his 172, heading for home. (Photo by Massey Photographer) |
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| The 195 takes off! (Photo by Massey Photographer) |
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| The Extra and a Yak cruise by in formation. Another neat photo by the Massey Photographer. |
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The SeaBee climbs out. Photo by Massey Photographer.
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| Well, most everyone has bugged out, so I guess I should too. |
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There I go. (Photo by Massey photographer, obviously)
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Heading home in the late afternoon with the winter sun shining on the bay.
I always enjoy the Massey fly-ins. There are always interesting planes to look at and friends to talk to.
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