|
Ice-boating is the next thing to flying. If you have seen that red and yellow streak traveling around Center lake, you'll know what I mean. Max Bumbaugh, who is also an airplane pilot, has built the snazziest version of a power boat seen here in many a day. The short mile and one-half circle of Center lake is not sufficient to "open her up" Max framed her streamlined boat of airplane tubing, giving it strength, but keeping it light. It is absolutely deluxe compared to the boats that Paul Shunk, Bob Caywood and I used to play with 15 or 16 years ago on the same lake. [See photo below] Max has powered his ice scooter with an airplane motor. It accelerates from a standing start to 75 or 80 miles per hour in just a few seconds, must be almost immediately shut down again to keep it within the icy borders of Center lake. It is a genuine thrill to travel over the ice at that speed. |
 |
|
In contrast to the ice of our lakes and vacation spots is the five-day vacation in Havana, Cuba now available to the person with only one week to spend. Chicago & Southern Airlines have put out a little brochure teasing its potential customers with gay, romantic Havana. They offer a flying cruise to Havana, five days and six nights in the glamorous Cuban city, for only $242.96 including everything. From Chicago to Havana, you travel by C. & S. Dixieliner, go by way of New Orleans. Its unbelievable, but you leave the cold north one morning and arrive at tropical Havana that evening. The fare includes hotel and meals during the vacation. It wouldn't be so hard to find the week necessary to try this southern vacation by air, but the two-forty-two. Boy! Civil Aeronautics inspectors Weisbruch and Jackson will be at Warsaw Municipal Airport all day, Wednesday, January 14. They will give written examinations, answer questions, confer with operators and all those things inspectors can do to be helpful to the men and women who fly. Special attention is called to the boys who are waiting to take a written exam for their Aircraft and Engine Mechanics' rating. If you have any questions Wiesbruch and Jackson are the boys to get the answers from. [note: correct spelling of the name is not known] Loafers at Municipal got free "cokes" Sunday morning from Don Engle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Engle. The young grocer had his shirt-tail clipped and nailed to the wall in the traditional ceremony, just a few minutes after he soloed his first airplane. Did a nice job, too. Was then required to buy drinks all around. No one ever turns down a solo coke. Sunday turned out flyable, but just. visibility was O.K. the first two-thirds of the day, but the wind was cutting nasty capers. It was rough and bumpy upstairs with gusts hitting 30 to 35 miles per hour. Ground winds were averaging 15 miles per hour. Chalmers Dome and I flew over the county lakes, watching the ice fishermen who were hardy enough to brave the cold. About all you could do with an airplane was keep it head in the general direction you wanted to travel. Looking down at the tiny black figures, with talcum powder snow swirling around them. I thought "None of that for me". It's all in your viewpoint though, for I suppose they looked up at our light airplane bumping and twisting in the turbulent air and also thought "None of that for me". Of course the wind again knocked out the air-race for the Sky Writing trophy. Jack Doswell and E. Kaye-Smith, race judges, now announce that it will be run Sunday, February 1, starting from Smith airport. Come on pilots, let's take the cup away from the weatherman, who seems to be in permanent possession of it. Warsaw Daily Times Mon. Jan. 12, 1948
|
