AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2014 - 10

LETTERS

FROM OUR FEBRUARY 2014 ISSUE

Legendary Popularity
Barry Schiff's story on the Cessna 180 seemed to indicate the author did not find the
venerable aircraft attractive-au contraire, his word "handsome" was omitted in editing.
I never thought the day would
come when I disagreed with
Barry Schiff, but it has-after all
the words of aeronautical wisdom he has published through
the years.
My disagreement involves
a matter of visual taste, the
appreciation of graceful aircraft
design rather than aviation lore.
In his article about the Cessna
180 Barry states, "The Cessna
180 Skywagon is not a beautiful airplane...." He and I differ
in that opinion. I think the 180
is an outstanding design that
artfully combines brawn and
attractive proportions. In
that regard the 180 is probably exceeded only by the 1930s
Cessna Airmaster and the 1950s
Cessna 195. I'm certain Barry
and I would agree that all three
of these aircraft are very sturdy
and capable designs, have their
wheels in the right places, and
are known for being pilot's airplanes. You're forgiven, Barry,
for as the saying goes, "Beauty is
only in the eye of the beholder."
Gene Vickery
AOPA 550803
Prineville, Oregon

I thoroughly enjoyed Barry
Schiff 's mostly accurate article on the Cessna 180 (although
I take exemption on slips with
full flaps). In the 1950s, '60s,
and '70s my family tamed the
wild northern Sierra Madre of
Northern Mexico with Cessna
170s and 180s. These wonderful
aircraft helped turn otherwise
inaccessible areas into profitable cattle ranches, and I grew
to love and appreciate the 180
from the earliest of my aviation
10 | AOPA PILOT April 2014

History on Parade

VIdeO exTrA

View the CAF
Airsho and an
interview.

Veterans share spotlight at fiftieth
Commemorative Air Force show
By mike collins
PhotograPhy By the author

A c-47 LeAds a formation
of former military trainers
over Midland International Airport
(above). Sentimental Journey, a
CAF B-17 based in Mesa, Arizona,
stands regal at sunrise (left).

70 | AOPA PILOT February 2014

For 50 years, members o f t h e
Commemorative Air Force have gathered
each fall to present an airshow featuring
the organization's vintage military aircraft,
primarily from the World War II era. CAF's
Airsho isn't just about warbirds and civilian
airshow acts, however; it has become a magnet for former military aviators, and regularly
plays host to veterans' groups.
The organization, then known as the
Confederate Air Force, began the annual
event in 1963 at what it dubbed Rebel Field
in Harlingen, Texas-today operating as
Valley International Airport-with only nine
airplanes in attendance. Now the CAF has a
fleet of 159 warbirds, many of which flew over
Midland, Texas, during the fiftieth anniversary show, held October 12 and 13, 2013. The
weather was perfect for the first day of the
event, but Sunday morning dawned with a low
overcast that began to lift at midday, just in
time for torrential rains to move into the area.
Sunday's airshow eventually was cancelled.

www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 71

It is always interesting to read
about the greatest airplanes
that the greatest generation
flew during the greatest war the
world has ever known ("History
on Parade"). The CAF started at
Rebel Field in Mercedes, Texas,
in the late 1950s and by 1963
they had already had numerous air shows at Rebel Field. I
used to watch them practice
and maintain their aircraft for
those of us who loved the aircraft. Being only around 14 or
15 at the time, I used to play
in the discarded T-6s that sat
across the road from the airstrip. Pretending to fly was the
best I could do in those days.
The CAF move to Harlingen did
not happen until the Air Force
base there was closed. That was
after 1963 when I first left home
to join the United States Army
after high school.

"I enjoyed Mike Collins' article. I was touched
by Mr. Klinger's comment, It's just a place
where you went to the office every day, and
that's what you did. I'd do it again. But I don't
feel special. If people say I am, that's their
business. I flew a Huey in Vietnam for a year
in 1970 through 1971, and that is exactly how
I felt. Get up in the morning and do your job.
Bob Garcia
No heroes; just do the job. And I have never
AOPA 1415877
Blanco, Texas
felt special, but I would gladly do it again. It's
special for me to hear a fellow Army aviator Crazy 8s
I liked Dave Hirschman's artifrom another generation voice that feeling." cle ("P&E: Technique"). His
Dennis Gulich
AOPA 1092940
Centennial, Colorado

years, especially when I reached
the status of company pilot.
Among other aircraft in my stable, I am now privileged to be
the caretaker of a 1955-vintage
180, which I've owned for more
than a quarter-century, and
which has been a faithful and
loyal companion on our aerial

expeditions ranging from Costa
Rica to Alaska. Restored to new
condition, it is, hands down,
my favorite mount. In regards
to the 180's beauty, and Barry's
thoughts thereof, I will let you
and your readers be the judge.
Tom Navar
AOPA 469858
El Paso, Texas

Crazy 8s are the only lazy 8s
that I have ever done. I wasn't
aware of the FAA version. It
has been something I do when
I just want to fly. And when I
practice, I see how radical I can
make them (i.e., how tight of a
pattern and how much altitude
can be gained from the bottom).
Dave could have mentioned that
to have a nice pattern, one needs
to hit the same altitude at the
top and the bottom.
Dugan Uekert
AOPA 6366103
Darby, Montana

http://www.aopa.org/pilot

AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2014

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