May 11, 2024 - Massey Fly-In
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The weather has been lousy the entire spring it seems like. We might get a good day, but followed by three or four bad ones. Today was the annual Chili Fest Fly-In. Although yesterday it rained and was IFR all day, today dawned sunny and clear. And there was no presidential TFR (until the evening when the fly-in would be long since over with). So the Massey Fly-in was a big GO. I was excited about it because I haven't been to a Massey fly-in the last couple of years for various reasons: weather, broken plane, other plans. I've missed it.
Chuck's outboard leading edge is fixed and his RV-7A is fully operational. The two of us are heading over to Massey this morning. Not a good showing for the Massey fly-in by Essex Skyparkians today.
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As we taxi to the south end of the runway, I spot some foxes crossing the runway. By the time we taxiied to the runway end, they were watching us from the treeline.
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| Shortly thereafter we were on the ground at Massey. Despite raining all day yesterday, the grass was firm and dry as a bone. |
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Nhu-An had flown her red C172 in from Martin State just before we arrived; that's it, third from the right.
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| I don't think I've seen this RV-6 before. |
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| We arrived a little after 10AM. The food doesn't start until 11 AM. The people are waiting. |
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This big, beautiful Republic SeaBee arrived.
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| Look at that spacious four-seat cabin! |
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Later, the SeaBee taxiis out. We talked with the pilot. He's based out of Wilmington, Delaware.
The SeaBee is probably the only plane I would consider giving up my RV for.
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| The SeaBee on its takeoff roll. |
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| Big cowl on a Cessna 195. Another one of my favorite planes. But I wouldn't trade my RV-7 for it. |
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| It's 11 AM! The food line is open. By 1PM the food was gone! |
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The RV row. Not many this year, only five. The turnout for the fly-in was OK but I thought it would be much higher given the spectacular weather. I think maybe the Rehobeth Beach TFR -- it doesn't go into effect until this evening but it still shows up yellow on Foreflight and other web sites -- which includes Massey scared people away. As you can see, Mugsy has arrived from Easton.
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| I've seen these two Kolb ultralights at many fly-ins over the years. |
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The two Kolbs heading for home in formation.
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| Your's truly at the Massey Fly-In. |
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| Chuck and his repaired RV-7A. |
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| Nhu-An and her Cessna 172. |
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| A colorful little ultralight about to take flight. |
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This T-6 is painted in U.S. Navy World War II 1943 colors.
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A unique Stampe et Vertongen SV.4; a Belgian two-seat trainer/tourer biplane developed in 1933. 1050 were built. This particular aircraft was built in 1949 in Algeria, North Africa and was a French military trainer until 1957. It flew around Europe as a civilian plane until arriving in the New Mexico in 1981. And now here it is at Massey in beautiful condition. |
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The big Antonov AN-2 on static display.
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| Looking inside the big biplane. |
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| People started bugging out around 1PM. Here Nhu-An and Russell taxi out. |
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| On the takeoff roll! |
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| And they're airborne. |
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| Three classic muscle cars: Camaro, Mustang and Cougar. |
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| An old Model-T. I bet they never looked this good back in the day. |
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I departed Massey and headed for home via the Chester River. Here a flotilla of dingeys heads for the dock.
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I flew down the Chester at a leisurely 500 feet, enjoying the beautiful day.
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This has to be the best waterfront estate on the Eastern shore; or anywhere for that matter.
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| About to go feet wet over the Bay. Look how clearly you can see the Bay Bridge; visibility is outstanding. |
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| Let's see how the Key Bridge cleanup is doing. Supposedly they were supposed to get that big bridge piece on the ship's bow removed today. |
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The lastest word is that it will take $2 Billion and four years to rebuild the bridge.
On Thursday morning, crews were preparing for a controlled demolition that will break down the largest remaining span and send it tumbling into the water. Then a massive hydraulic grabber -- largest in the country -- will lift the resulting sections of steel onto barges. Also on hand is the the Chesapeake 1000, one of the largest cranes on the Eastern Seaboard.
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On final for runway 16 at Essex Skypark. Great aviation day.
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