Folks on " the ground keep a weather-eye out for robins and such things. Airmen glance aloft at Stearmans, Wacos and Travelaires and know that spring is not far away.

When pilots sniff the air and get the itch, wheel out these open cockpit ships, sulfur and molasses time is just around the corner.

Freddy Strauss had his Stearman biplane uncovered and flying Sunday.

Have you ever noticed how Mother Nature creates her own set of checks and balances--sometimes? Mighty potential floods were stored away in the tons of snow which recently blanketed the entire central and northern section of the country. The ground was frozen three feet deep, which meant that spring-thaw water was all going to drain off through surface facilities only. None would sink into the earth. Planes were grounded for several days during the thawing process last week as snow melted and the frost went out of the first few top inches.

all this water slowly moved downward through contour channels toward the seas, gradually swelling streams and rivers and threatening floods. Then the temperature dropped, things stiffened up for a few days. In this period, millions of gallons of water have moved downward, lessening daily the chances for an immediate flood.

Airmen have made hay these few colder days. Runways became solid again. Sunday, especially, all the boys had a swell time.

My brother, Max, has a cottage on the south end of Winona lake. With the ice smooth and strong again, I made several take-offs and landings there about noon Sunday, took my wife on her first airplane ride. I really enjoyed flying off our frozen lakes and I hop Mrs. M. enjoyed her initial aerial voyage.

At Municipal airport, Johnny Noble, of Pierceton, won his student wings Sunday, was turned loose for his solo flight. Lost a nice hunk of his shirt-tail immediately afterwards. Harry J. Firestone of Larwill, is a new birdman too. Soloed this week.

Jack A. Terman came all the way from Columbia City to Warsaw Municipal airport to receive his private pilot's certificate. That is the ticket most of the boys are shooting for.

Stan Arnolt, Warsaw manufacturer and president of the Warsaw Aero club, flew to Pittsburgh, Pa., with Jack Doswell one day last week. They stalled around one hour and thirty-eight minutes getting there in Arnolt's Bonanza. Try making Pittsburgh in an hour and one-half in any other means of transportation.

The Bonanza, by the way, has been moved to Fort Wayne for the spring muddy season. Some day Warsaw will have a good hard-surface runway on Municipal airport and all this maneuvering to keep them flying won't be necessary.

The boys at Smith field are the tradingest bunch of people you ever saw. They put Tom Sawyer to shame. Paul Lowman started with a house-trailer, which he traded for a Plymouth, which he traded for a cracking good Cessna 140, equipped with everything. The Cessna now becomes part of the regular flying equipment at Smith field.

At the same time they lost an airplane over there when Howard Smith traded his low-winged Swift for a new Packard at DeKalb, Illinois. Doswell and Wilbur Smith flew the Swift 180 miles to DeKalb in one hour, five minutes. Spent two hours and fifty minutes coming back in the Packard. You have got to have a pilot's license to make that kind of time on the highways, too!

Mary Edith Gerard is now looking for more sorority conventions to attend so she can fly. Mary E. recently flew from Fort Wayne to Dayton to one of those female affairs, became an enthusiastic air-convert.

Bob Brindle, Barbee lakes pilot, now has his private certificate. Got his training at Smith field.

Rumors of a big banquet about the second week in March, sponsored by the Aero club, but not restricted to members only. If plans jell, you will be privileged to hear one of the state's most able airmen--a man who really knows the ins and outs of private and commercial aviation--Col. Clarence Cornish, Indiana director of aeronautics. We hope it jells.

Warsaw Daily Times Mon. Feb. 23, 1948