The Copperstate Fly In, which is held in Casa Grande, a little South of Phoenix, every year, took place a couple of weeks ago. The event, the forth largest of it's kind in all of the world, brings together planes and pilots from all over the country. As the pilots wander around the airplanes they take care to examine them. Just as an automobile aficionado would do at a Concours d'Elegance, or a shopper in front of a counter full of tomatoes, they rate them.
Now here are as sorry a looking bunch of tomato raters as I've ever seen. Starting from the left there's David, Randy, Doug, Roger C., Ron, Roger S. and some dude hiding under a hat and behind sunglasses. I'm betting the law is looking for that one - probably lawmen from several different states. All kidding aside, several of these guys have built their own airplanes from scratch, a couple of others have torn apart and rebuilt their factory produced aircraft, there's a master mechanic and machinist in the group, and an A&P rated mechanic is with the bunch of them, as they rest under the wing and around the side of Jeff's bird. Ya'd never know it just by looking, but if you were to spend an hour with anyone of them you'd quickly realize they are the cream of the people who have earned the right to call themselves pilots. They KNOW airplanes, and willingly share their knowledge and will always lend a hand.
Experienced judges who help to plan and host the event also look at the planes that flew in - and their eyes are much more discerning. You see, not only have they bought tomatoes, just like the group pictured above, they've grown them. This year a buddy of mine, Jeff Scott, was judged to have produced the "Best Custom Built Replica" aircraft at the show and brought a little extra weight back with him on the way home. A blue ribbon and a wall plaque celebrating his work.
The winner.
You folks have seen this airplane several times before on this blog. Always before I have marveled at the quality of work that went into building it. Seems another qualified group of Aviation Experts agrees with my assessment. Way to go, Jeff.
Now, I have a favor to ask of you, big guy. Can you hang the plaque on the hanger wall to the right of the Choo-Choo and to the left of the Luckenbach sign?
Thanks.
If ya want to see more of Jeff's work, follow the link http://jscott.comlu.com/Cub/completed/Completed.html
I hadn't checked your blog recently. Glad to see you're writing again.
ReplyDeleteCopperstate was fun as always. I don't know about those judges. Their judgement may be in question, but based on the blue ribbon, they sold two more tickets to the banquet, which may have been their ultimate goal. At least two of the guys in this picture have built nicer planes than either of mine and another one or two in this photo are near finishing their own show stoppers. And yet another in this picture will have his show stopper restoration project flying this weekend. My plane just fits into a different category with little competition. That's much more by coincidence than design (my tastes in airplanes is a bit more eclectic), but it is how it works out.
Sitting under the wing was David, Randy, Doug, Thomas, Lloyd, Roger, and Rob W (owns the RV-9) hiding under the hat. I had vacated the chair under the wing tip to take the picture.
Figured that was your chair - Wish mine could have been next to it. I guess my flying days are over - couldn't recognize a couple of the best buddies a guy could ever hang with so my eyes are bad enough I'll never get another medical. Seems I'll have to settle for rides with old friends. :o)
ReplyDeleteI'd blame the low resolution of the photo. I wouldn't have recognized them either if I hadn't been the one taking the picture. :o) Hey, I qualify under both old and friend, so whenever you're available, we'll take the Cub and drop in to visit Jack G. over in Arroyo Hondo.
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