I stayed on the ground Sunday. With black thunderheads and at least one well-developed line squall rolling across the sky, periodically it didn't look too good. It was possible to fly during the day at intervals, but unless you had some place to go, there wasn't much percentage in it.

Frank Saemann, who lives in what used to be the J. O. Zimmer home on White's hill, east of Warsaw, owns two Stinson airplanes and flies them himself. He gets technical assistance from Dale Tucker on difficult cross-country hops. Sunday, Frank came scooting in just ahead of the black-stuff and under the rain, made a dandy landing at Smith Field in the changeable wind. right behind him came Paul Lowman's red Stinson. The pilot put-over a darned good cross-wind landing on the north and south strip.

I get a thrill out of watching these little planes, winging their way to home base when the black clouds begin to roll. They look lonely up there, black wings tilting under the woolly clouds. Pilots, running for cover trying to beat a storm, oftentimes feel as lonely as they look too.

 

They were busy as beavers at Municipal airport Sunday, rushing to completion the four hangar units left undamaged by last week's windstorm. The hangars are wooden framed affairs, covered by shiny corrugated aluminum, will make a nice addition to the field.

Some time ago, we mentioned Lee Eikenberry in Sky Writing. He had flown a number of years with Ira Nine, from near North Webster. I didn't tumble to his identity at the time, but Alfred (Pat) Pattengale, of 1215 East Center street did. Pat sent Lee a copy of the column, got a nice letter in return. Eikenberry is one of those early birdmen still in the business. Lives at Flora, Ind., and is the state Piper Cub dealer. Pattengale used to fly with Eike, until his sinus trouble forced him out of the air.

The National Air Carnival for Women will be held at the Second Annual All-Woman Air Show of the World, to be held June 5 and 6, at Miami, Fla. This show is being put on by the 99er's, the female pilots organization of which Helen House Outcelt is a charter member.

And for you model airplane fans, the 1948 National Championship Model Airplane contest will be held at the Olathe, Kansas naval air station. The joker to this announcement is that they forgot to say "when".

We don't go in for sail planing around here, but it's a big sport in some sections of the United States. An international sailplane contest will be held in Samaden, Switzerland, from July 19 to July 31, according to the National Aeronautics association. Entries must be in by June 1.

And the National Aeronautics association annual convention has been set for June 27 to June 30 in Minneapolis. The Twin Cities Chapter of the NAA has promised a great time. Boy the hangar-flying that will go on there!

Don't forget to work on a design for a Warsaw Aero club emblem. Stan Arnolt is offering a $50 cash prize for the best emblem. That is worth-while sugar for a little bit of drawing. Entries close on June 1.

I'm still looking for the oldest reader of Sky Writing who wants to take a free airplane ride over the old homestead. drop us a line. You may qualify.

Warsaw Daily Times Mon. Mar. 22, 1948

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