October 29, 2007 - Last Flight in the Citabria

It is with a heavy heart that I report that the Citabria has been sold.  It was always our -- Bruce and my -- plan to sell her after the Fall flying season.  Now that the end is in sight on the RV, I need to stop flying so much and hunker down and finish the RV.  Plus I needed the money to pay for the RV's engine.  The Citabria will be in great hands.  Bill B., who soars with us at the Flying Cow Farm, is the new owner.  He will fly the Citabria probably more than we do, and take great care of her.  In fact, he will base the Citabria at the Flying Cow Farm. 

Anyways, today was the day I flew the Citabria for the last time, ferrying it out to the Flying Cow Farm.  Bruce took off from Essex in his new (old) Cub, and I followed in the Citabria.  Because we're still breaking in the new piston & rings, I couldn't fly form on the Cub, but had to weave back and forth overhead at 2300 RPM.  It was quite a bit of fun, actually.  Here Bruce is flying over the Liberty Reservoir area, northwest of Baltimore. 

 
You can see we've been having sort of a drought here as well; althought not nearly as bad as Atlanta. 
 
The leaves are turning, but not at peak yet. 
 
Looking west down the Potomac towards Harpers Ferry, approaching the Flying Cow Farm from the north.  I was very conscious of this being my last flight in the Citabria.   I flew down the field at 500 feet, then turned downwind, and base-final.  I'm happy to say my final landing was a smooth one on the grass.
 

Jan, Mai, Bruce and I had pear cake, then it was time to head back to Essex.  I hand-propped the Cub for Bruce, then jumped in the front seat.  When Bruce gave the Cub full power, it seemed to me like the engine was hardly turning!  I'm not a small guy and Bruce had trouble seeing from the rear seat.  We were weaving all over the grass runway, then staggered into the air.  When it looked like we were going to clear the trees at the end of the runway -- and not by much -- I yelled back to Bruce "I think we're gonna make it!"  Bruce had the door and window open, and the view out the right side was breathtaking.  I immediately started shooting wildly with my Digital Rebel.

Crossing the Potomac to the north side.    Is it much me, or do those Cub struts look backwards?
 
The railroad stock yard at Brunswick.
 
The view is pretty good at 500 feet and no window.
 
The bridge from Brunswick that leads to Lovettsville.
 
What can you say?  Pretty country on a beautiful autumn day.
 
Now I know why Cubs are so loved.  The ultimate low and slow machine.
 
 
 
Bruce and I stopped at Frederick for gas, then Bruce let me fly from takeoff to landing back to Essex.  The Cub pretty much just took off by itself.  Landing from the front seat was easy -- very similar to the Citabria.  Landing from the backseat when you can't see over the nose will be more of a challenge. 
 
Farewell, trusty friend.
 
 
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