45GG Scrapbook

Odds and ends that I've collected regarding 45GG.  Not much here, but I've only had the plane since September 1999.  Hopefully I will continue to add to the collection and begin to organize it so it makes a little more sense.

First picture I ever saw of 45GG.

With God and luck...

First time I slopped the fuel around I got a big surprise!!  Turned out to be a lot of junk in the fuel system and I must have knocked it loose.  I cleaned the lines and drained the fuel until it was clear the following day.   On run-up the engine didn't miss a beat so I flew it out... which was much more disconcerting than flying it in!  After I got home, I took the carburetor off and sent it to Florida to be rebuilt.  Its been behaving nicely ever since...  knock wood!

“The Introductory Flight Lesson” 

Coupon says: Come fly airplane. One lesson. Ten dollars. Decide this is fine. Always wanted to fly. As kid used to jump from tall trees.  Must convince wife. Point to coupon. Wife point to worn rug. Smart. I make remark. Wife make remark. Small argument. She pushes me outside. Bird overhead. Soars gracefully. I point. Flap arms. She points to squirrel in tree. Flaps mouth. I flex biceps. She laughs. Oh well. Need new rug anyway. Will get one sometime. Sometime else. Not now. Am happy. 

Back auto out of garage. Son's bike makes crunch. Son's birthday next week. Will enjoy new bike. Finally on way. Drive.. Drive.. Drive.. Now know why pilots fly. Too damn far to drive.

Arrive airport. Lots of airplanes. Don't stare. Flyboys think I am square. Sign over door. If got air, we'll get you there. Clever. Light apparently very bright. Everyone wearing sunglasses. No one speaks. I cough. No one speaks. I shuffle feet. No one speaks. I lay coupon on counter. No one speaks. Lay ten dollars on counter. Everyone says hello. Must be noisy money. Eyebrows raise behind sunglasses. Look me over. I smile. No one else smiles. Someone grunts. He points outside. I follow finger. Something out there. Chains hold down. This is airplane? Hoped it wasn't. It was. 

He stuffs me inside. Slams door. Coat caught in door. Say nothing. Lucky was not finger. He acts mad. At me. Maybe. He squashes in beside. Cozy. Push button. Fan on. Front turns. Fast. Faster. Suddenly terrible noise. Engine starts, I guess. Whole plane shake. Me Too. Should buy sweet wife new rug. Too late. We are moving. Stop at long pavement. More pushing knobs. Engine strains. Gauges move up. Gauges move down. Stomach moves up. Stomach moves down. Noise gets worse. Stomach gets worse. Plane careens down pavement. Engine roaring. Can't hear myself sobbing. Sunglasses grunts. Moving faster. Plane shakes. Groans. I can't take more. Close eyes. 

Pretty soon, open one eye. Open other. Whoooeeee!!!!!!!! I am pilot. I am high in sky. I look down. Oh, Hell. Must be crazy. Granite face turns steering wheel. Plane going to turn over. I scream! Grab something to hold. Him. He screams in my face. Vulgar pilot. Points to torn flight jacket. I produce twenty dollar bill. Disappears into his pocket. I'm not falling, I guess. He grunts. 

Know damn well should have bought darling new wife new rug. Tell pilot. Eyes narrow behind sunglasses. His lips move. Can't hear him. We swoop like swallow. We fly like duck. We soar like eagle. I'm sick like hell. He pull knob. Engine stop. Heart stop. Can see headlines now. Vulgar pilot, handsome student, sob! Oh boy. Close eyes again. Pray. Listen for angels. Hear grunt. Damn. He still alive. Open eyes. We are on ground. Pilot has door open. Pry my hands from panel. Drag me out. I'm OK. Nice ride, I say. Smile. Yeah, he says. Grunts. Tugs at torn jacket. Feel like Lindbergh. Maybe come back tomorrow, I say. Forget new rug. Wife can go to Hell. Yea, He says. We say good-bye. Very bright out here. Need to go buy sunglasses.