Gary~What's the plan for Stratolina?

[retroaviation]

Gary, you have the coolest projects!

Thanks, but one day I'd like to have the "coolest finished stuff" with no projects laying around.

Gary

[Speedy]

So, when are the Stratolina T-shirts coming up for sale?

[Only half jesting, by the way]


Saludos,


Tulio

I would so get a Stratolina T-shirt

You running an F-1 @ Reno this year, Gary??? You could sell the Stratolina t-shirts out of the F-1 hangar. Just make sure RARA gets their commission!

[retroaviation]

You running an F-1 @ Reno this year, Gary??? You could sell the Stratolina t-shirts out of the F-1 hangar. Just make sure RARA gets their commission!

No, I'm not flying anything anymore. I've got a health issue or two that has forced an early retirement on my flying days. But I will always feel fortunate for the cool flying I was able to do, thanks to some dang good folks in my life.

Gary

[Speedy]

No, I'm not flying anything anymore. I've got a health issue or two that has forced an early retirement on my flying days. But I will always feel fortunate for the cool flying I was able to do, thanks to some dang good folks in my life.

Gary

You're in luck though....if you sit in the left seat of the Stratolina, making 'airplane noises', that counts as 'half-time' in the ol' log book.

Pretty soon you can adopt the old Skip Holm addage of "Stratolina? Yeah, I've got half my time in that..."

[tex-fan]

gary, i didn't know you raced reno, would you tell me your plane's name so i can look you up on www.rara.org anyone who raced reno is my HEROs. thanks

[retroaviation]

gary, i didn't know you raced reno, would you tell me your plane's name so i can look you up on www.rara.org anyone who raced reno is my HEROs. thanks

Here are a couple little stories I wrote about my adventures there. The plane's name was Maybee's Baby. IF1 race #64.

First, the Rookie School.....
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... +adventure

Then, the race itself.....
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... +adventure

Gary

[Jack Cook]

Rookie of the Year right Gary

[retroaviation]

Rookie of the Year right Gary

Yup. One of my proudest moments. I'll never forget it.

gary

[tex-fan]

pound for pound you F-1 boys are the kings of speed. thanks for the links

[Neal Nurmi]

Here's Gary doing his thing at Reno.

He will be missed this year...

[Robbie Stuart]

Love those pics Neal. I have always wanted to go to Reno. Wish it had been that year.
Robbie

[sgt hawk]

Looks like Gary was gettin a "little tail" in that 2nd picture.

[Speedy]

Looks like Gary was gettin a "little tail" in that 2nd picture.

Even better...I love the registration number. Looks like it's written on with a Sharpie! And I thought it was bad when I taped the race number on my son's hydroplane a couple years ago!

[retroaviation]

Even better...I love the registration number. Looks like it's written on with a Sharpie!

It was.

Just two weeks prior to me leaving for Reno, I had a very unpleasant stay in the local hospital, where the quack doctor tried to kill me (3 days in ICU, due to an infection caused by him...long story). I was in the hospital for 8 days, then out for a day before going back in for another day. I have never been afraid of dying, but that was the first time I actually felt like I was about to. Anyway, after getting out the second time, I came out to the hangar to put the Cassutt back together, which I had previously scattered all over the floor. I had forgotten to get the guy that made the vinyl letters for me to make a set of N numbers, and since I was out of time, I just put them on with a Sharpie marker.

I had actually given up all together on the idea of racing since I felt so poorly (physically and mentally...feeling sorry for myself), but Dusty Dowd, the fella responsible for giving me the opportunity to race, gave me a bit of a pep talk and convinced me to go. I'm glad he did, as my one and only Reno racing experience was without a doubt, and always will be, a highlight of my life. Thanks Dusty!

Gary

[Jack Cook]

Yup. One of my proudest moments.

having this on your license is pretty cool also
AUTHORIZED EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT: H-FB-11(VFR ONLY)