Bill's RV Project

Unfortunatley, Tappahannock, which normally has some of the cheapest Avgas around, had no gas. So we continued south and landed at Hanover County, just north of Richmond. They had gas but it was a little on the highside.

However, we got to talking with some of the regulars outside the FBO and had the priviledge to meet John Greenwood. John was nice enough to give us a tour of his hangar. He is quite an accomplished pilot. Here's his bio from one of the many airshows he has performed:

"John Greenwood has entertained thousands of people with low-level aerobatics, in his Pitts S-2A, for many years. A native Virginian, John served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict, flying B-26s and B-29s. He has been performing aerobatics since 1959. He purchased the factory-built PItts, which he uses today, in 1979. The plane is powered by a 200 hp., fuel-injected Lycoming engine with inverted oil system and smoke. The airplane weighs only 1000 pounds and has the symmetrical airfoil. John has performed for several governors of Virginia and Maryland, as well as the Vice President of the United States."

Virginia is currently suffering from a drought.

Looking north. The Citabria is next to a Challenger ultralight.

I was told a women in her 80s has been flying this Taylorcraft for the past 40 years. I wanted to talk to her but didn't get a chance.

Looking south. Everybody liked the Christian Eagle, of course.

A Helicopter taxiis out. Quite a variety of aircraft at this fly-in.

Matt's Adventura. This plane looks like FUN!

Anthony moving his Cub onto the flight line.

House overlooking the James River.

We stopped in at Culpepper around 6PM. They had had a fly-in earlier that day. Here's Ray standing by that nice looking T-28.

October 13, 2007 - Merlin Aerodrome Fly-In
Today I was flying down to Merlin Aerodrome, a private field 30 miles southwest of Richmond, for their Fly-In. A friend of Bruce's lives on the airfield, plus some other friends were going as well. I invited Ray, who sprayed my panel for me, to fly with me. We took off from Essex, headed across the Bay, flew south and circled around my Sister-in-laws house. She came out and waved a white towel at us. We continued south, then recrossed the Bay to stop at St. Mary's airport and take a Go Fly America picture. We left there and continued south to Tappahannock airport. I had landed her once before, at least five years ago. I was on final when someone came across the radio and told me the airport was closed but that there was a new one four miles south. So we headed south and sure enough, there was this brand spanking new airport. It had just opened the previous Tuesday.

Unfortunatley, Tappahannock, which normally has some of the cheapest Avgas around, had no gas. So we continued south and landed at Hanover County, just north of Richmond. They had gas but it was a little on the highside. However, we got to talking with some of the regulars outside the FBO and had the priviledge to meet John Greenwood. John was nice enough to give us a tour of his hangar. He is quite an accomplished pilot. Here's his bio from one of the many airshows he has performed: "John Greenwood has entertained thousands of people with low-level aerobatics, in his Pitts S-2A, for many years. A native Virginian, John served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict, flying B-26s and B-29s. He has been performing aerobatics since 1959. He purchased the factory-built PItts, which he uses today, in 1979. The plane is powered by a 200 hp., fuel-injected Lycoming engine with inverted oil system and smoke. The airplane weighs only 1000 pounds and has the symmetrical airfoil. John has performed for several governors of Virginia and Maryland, as well as the Vice President of the United States."

We approached Merlin Aerodrome from the northeast. Notice all the trees. The area around the north semicircle of Richmond is nothing but a sea of trees.

Virginia is currently suffering from a drought.

Looking south.

The only other Citabria at the fly-in.

I liked the paint job on this Champ.

Looking north. The Citabria is next to a Challenger ultralight.

Nice looking Skybolt.

I was told a women in her 80s has been flying this Taylorcraft for the past 40 years. I wanted to talk to her but didn't get a chance.



Looking south.

Looking north on the ramp. The runway is to the right. You can see my Citabria way at the end.

Looking south. Everybody liked the Christian Eagle, of course.

They served lunch in the hangar at 1PM. The food was superior! Beef sandwiches and I'm talking a thick slab of something close to prime rib.



A Kolb Slingshot taxiis by behind two Rans. It was good to see so many ultralights at the fly-in. People flew more Ultralights into this fly-in that they did at Sun 'N Fun or Oshkosh.

Quite a few Cubs at the fly-in. The two Rans are airborne in the center of the photo.


A Trike taxiis out.

A Helicopter taxiis out. Quite a variety of aircraft at this fly-in.

The fly-in was winding down so we walked over to Matt's house.

Matt's Adventura. This plane looks like FUN!

The view from Matt's porch. Nice!

An RV-8 back-taxiis for takeoff. Everybody stopped and watched the RV take off.

I took my neice Jenny for a ride in the Citabria. Here's a good look at Merlin Aerodrome.

Anthony moving his Cub onto the flight line.

Anthony taking somebody for a ride in his Cub.

House overlooking the James River.

Ray and I caught up with Anthony and his wife in their Cub.

We stopped in at Culpepper around 6PM. They had had a fly-in earlier that day. Here's Ray standing by that nice looking T-28.

Ray and the Citabria at Culpepper

Pretty Northern Virginia country with the sun setting in the west. We landed at Essex Skypark with the last shreds of daylight. I ended up putting five hours on the Hobbs meter. Chalk up another great flying day.

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October 13, 2007 - Merlin Aerodrome Fly-In