July 13, 2013 - Memorial Service Fly-Over
|
|
Tragically, one of the pilots I fly formation with -- Tommy Geoghegan -- crashed his airplane off Ocean City, Maryland last Sunday. Today a bunch of us were doing a missing man formation flight over his memorial service. Tommy was a great guy who loved flying his big CJ. We had just flown with him at Sky Manor the day before. We'll probably never know what happened, but he was seen from the beach doing aerobatics over the ocean and just went into the water.
The first annual Mid-Atlantic RV Fly-in today at Carroll County Airport was supposed to be this morning but the weather was horrible so it was postponed to tomorrow. So I attended the Essex Skypark Association meeting at 10AM. Just as it finished up, Mugsy showed up. We launched soon afterwards and headed over to Cambridge for lunch, then on to Ocean City. Here we are just approaching the ocean.
|
| |
 |
|
|
The weather was clear along the shore and lots of people were on the beach.
|
| |
 |
|
| Heading south along the Ocean City beach. |
| |
 |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
| The southern tip of Ocean City where the Boardwalk and amusement park is. |
| |
 |
|
| Further south is Assateague Island and the Ocean City Airport, visible at the center of the picture. |
| |
 |
|
| Looking west at the airport. |
| |
 |
|
|
On base leg for landing.
|
| |
 |
|
| On final. Mugsy can be seen just about to cross the threshhold. There was a little crosswing that added a little excitement to the landing. |
| |
 |
|
|
Safe on deck.
|
| |
 |
|
| I landed here a few times in the Citabria but this is the first time for the RV. |
| |
 |
|
| This picture shows how small the RV is compared to the massive T-6. |
| |
 |
|
| Looking east towards the FBO. |
| |
 |
|
|
We briefed inside the FBO building. I think there were three Yaks, one CJ, two T-6s, a Bonanza and three RVs: mine, Mugsy and Chef.
The taxiway to runway One Four was under construction so our ten plane formation had to back taxi on the runway. A Cessna 172 announced he was turning from downwind to base for One Four. Our lead, Mozam, said, "Um, we have ten planes backtaxiing on runway One Four." Cessna 172: "Uh, I think I'll go around." Good idea!
|
| |
 |
|
|
We took off -- one of the Yaks did not take off due to a magneto problem -- and formed up. Since we had to fly over the service at a specific time, we flew a big north to south racetrack pattern while we waited. We weren't in a massive nine ship formation, but rather three small formations with 500 ft or so spacing.
This was the only picture I took since it was bumpy.
|
| |
 |
|
|
In our small formation, Soprano was lead in the Bonanza. Chef was #2, I was #3, and Mugsy was #4. The next few pictures were taken by Soprano's wife in the Bonanza.
|
| |
 |
|
| Mozam was lead in his Yak. |
| |
 |
|
|
The CJ and two T-6s flew together.
|
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
| |
 |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
Smoke on as we approach the church where the memorial was being held.
|
| |
 |
|
|
The CJ pulls up as the missing man. Rest in peace, Tommy.
From Mozam: Here is a video of the flyover at today's service for Tommy. They brought the casket outside for the flyover. There were about 50 police officers in uniform (many from neighbouring communities) standing in rank at attention and perhaps 100 or so others with heads turned upward. The moment was very moving, it seemed a fitting farewell and I bet Tommy would have been proud. Well done.
|
| |
 |
|
| We headed home after that. Mugsy, Chef and I flew together for awhile then split up just before the Choptank River. This is the Tuckahoe Creek which is an offshoot of the Choptank on the north side. |
| |
 |
|
| A boater enjoys the pretty solitude. |
| |
 |
|
|
This cloud was striking so I took a picture of it and amazingly it came out.
|
| |
 |
|
| Mark on top Waterman's Crab House at Rock Hall. |
| |
 |
|
|
A nice residence overlooking the water on two sides.
|
| |
 |
|
| Another home owner that doesn't have to worry about the neighbors too much. |
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|