"Oh crap. What the hell is she doing here?"
As Uncle Johnny taxied up to the tie down, she backed out of the tie down, but stood to the front facing the area. Very ominous.
Uncle Johnny pulled the Murphy Renegade into the tie down, which you should know, by now, is the name for an airplane parking spot. Turning off all systems and shutting down the engine, he was staring at Annie and she staring back.
He was in no mood for this bird at the moment. He just finished a perfect flight in a dream machine and he didn't want to be looking at this one. Systems off and controls locked, he popped out of his cockpit and reported to the pretty, yet not attractive harbinger before tying N04UJ down.
"Hello Annie. What's up?" said Uncle Johnny feigning indifference.
"Hello Uncle Johnny. I have a special flight for you."
"Hmm, she's getting right to the point." thought Uncle Johnny. "But what is the point?"
"The beacon you have in that plane you just parked is not the right one. The right one is in a restaurant in Farmingdale, the 56th fighter Group. You need to go to Farmingdale to pick up the right beacon."
"I'm not going to Farmingdale. You said if I ever go to Farmingdale, this is all over. I will lose access to these planes."
"That was because you can't show these planes to your friends. You have to go to Farmingdale and get the right beacon."
"Sorry, not happening Annie. I know this is a trick. I'll land, get out and then all of this is over."
"This is no trick."
"I don't trust you."
"I have never lied."
"Sadly, I believe that's true."
"Of course it's true. If I wanted all of this stopped, it would happen anyway, regardless of what you do. You must not waste anymore time."
"So, now I'm going to Farmingdale? And I will still have planes to fly? Do you promise? Do I have your word?"
"Yes, you have my word, but you don't have much time."
"Okay, I'm going into the FBO here and getting the weather forecast."
"You just landed. You know the weather. You also know you always find good weather, but check if you must."
Uncle Johnny nipped along smartly into the FBO. It was mere feet from where he had just tied down. Nobody was in, which seemed odd. How would he pay for the tie down. It wouldn't matter, he was leaving momentarily.
As expected the en route weather forecast was perfect. Out to the ramp he went.
He stepped out of the FBO and looked at the ramp. The Murphy Renegade he flew in on was gone. Annie was standing in front of a Cessna 172 that was now tied down in the first spot. It's November number was N05UJ.
"How the heck does she do that? And why a 172?"
The most remarkable thing about the Cessna 172 is that there is nothing remarkable about it. It's very middle of the road. There is nothing this plane can do exceptionally well. It's not the slowest bird out there, but not the fastest, by far. It's handling is very average. It's ability to carry people or things, known as it's payload, like the rest of it's performance ratings is nowhere near remarkable. Speaking of holding people, the plane has four seats, but you will almost never see four people in one unless one just got out of a VW at the circus.
"Alright Annie, I'm not going to ask you how you do the switching thing, but why am I in a 172 now? A 172 after the likes of a Renegade, Chipmunk a Pitts. Now a 172?"
"You're still interested in going aren't you?"
"Of course. But I could fly this plane in my sleep." Uncle Johnny walked to the plane and patted the spinner, which is the pointy cone on the propeller and started his walk around inspection. "After a line-up of two seated tigers, you put me in a plane that has four seats. She's beautiful..."
"I'm glad you noticed. You're running late. You have to leave right now and get the beacon from the manager of the 56th Fighter group restaurant. You can tie down right next to it. You will find you already have clearance and will be number one for takeoff."
"You seem a little too interested in getting me on my way to Farmingdale. Is this a trick?"
"It's no trick. I already promised that. Once you get the beacon, you will see your next stop. Same as always. But while you're there, you may have about an hour to kill."
"If I may have time to kill, why do I have to rush?"
No answer.
Uncle Johnny very hesitatingly, got in and completed his check list. All was in perfect order, once again, as always. The engine kicked right over. All instruments came to life and the radio kicked in, granting him clearance to taxi.
The 172 was very nice and handled as predicted. She rose off runway 35 nicely, turned nicely and behaved nicely. Not the least bit demanding, like the last few.
His thoughts weren't as much on the flying as what he was flying. Why was he in this plane? Why a four seater? And, why Farmingdale, especially after being told never to go there? He was also dismayed at having no waffle.
"The hell with it all. I'm flying, it's all good."
The trip wasn't long so it wasn't long before Uncle Johnny was reducing power to land. He contacted Farmingdale tower and was given number one for runway 19. This meant a straight in approach. Not his favorite approach, but he didn't feel like arguing. Besides it was the quickest and he was in a rush for some unknown reason.
He taxied over towards the 56th fighter group restaurant and spotted a tie down very close to it. He didn't notice anything odd or different as he tied Uniform Juliet down. All secured, he walked into the restaurant which was not yet crowded.
A very cool place. Lots of war stuff and old music but not enough airplane stuff. Still, a good try.
He walked straight to the bar and asked the bartender for the manager.
"You just missed him. He left to get something for some airport. A bulb or some nonsense."
"Do you mean a beacon?"
"Oh are you the guy? You're looking to change a bulb or something?"
"Not change a bulb. I need the beacon."
"Yeah, whatever, relax. He'll be back with it in an hour. You want something to drink while you wait?"
He got a coke and sat down at a table near the window to look out at the airport.
"Hmm. What to do? For an hour. How did she know? I have an hour to kill."
"Excuse me. Did you just fly in here?"
At the table next to Uncle Johnny's was a couple who were also looking out at the airport.
"Yeah, I just flew in from Danbury Ct."
"Yeah, we think we heard you on the radio intercom."
"That was me if you heard Uniform Juliet."
Uncle Johnny instantly liked these two, which was rare. Actually, it was rare if he liked one. They were well put together. She a perfect lady and he a gentleman, neither boring.
"Boy that must be a great way to get around." The man said.
"It is. I love flying."
"That plane is pretty. Up close they don't really seem so big." She said.
"No, they're really not big at all. Some are two seaters, that one has four seats. You want to come out and look at it?"
They looked at each other and agreed. "Sure. That would be great. My name is John and this is Claire."
These two had manners. Uncle Johnny forgot to intro himself, but interpersonal communications were never his speciality.
"I'm Uncle Johnny."
On the way out to the plane, Uncle Johnny saw that she walked perfectly, but he had the slightest hint of a limp of some kind.
"The bartender just received a call from our friends. They're going to be late. We have an hour to kill." John said.
"You have what? An hour to kill? I have the same." And a great idea came to Uncle Johnny. "Hey. Wanna go for a ride?"
"Oh thanks but I don't know..." she said.
"It's fine, we'll be back in an hour."
"Your plane is nice and..."
"It's not my plane. I'm flying it for someone."
"What about gas?"
"Don't worry. It's all covered. The owner wants this plane flown to break it in and I have an hour also. We'll be back in an hour. Easily." BEACON
They looked at each other. They looked again. "Sure, if we're not going to keep our friends waiting, that's fine."
Uncle Johnny could tell these two are used to looking out for others.
The three of them did the walk around together, talking the whole time, which was fine with Uncle Johnny.
"Your friend, the owner, keeps this plane very clean." Claire said.
"Well, they have nothing else to do."
Claire and John thought this guy a little awkward, but not enough to stop. They continued the walk around inspection.
Claire asked really good questions about the plane. John untied the ropes and after a couple of quick knocks with his knuckles on the fuselage and wings expressed being underwhelmed by the structural strength of the plane.
"These things aren't very heavy are they?" asked John.
"No, all loaded they shouldn't weigh much more than two thousand pounds."
"So, it's just sheet metal over ribs and spars."
"Yeah, exactly. You know about these things?" asked Uncle Johnny.
"Sure I once owned my own aircraft. Briefly. And I had a flight plan." said John. Claire looked at him and smiled.
"When I was kid, I had the wings of my own design, prepped and ready to be skinned. They were stored up in our garage. Actually, hidden, might be more accurate. My flight plan was to jump off said garage and fly down the alley."
"What happened?"
"My father found them ahead of time and trounced upon them heavily. I was disappointed and he was right."
"Do you own your own plane?" asked John.
"No, for now I specialize in flying other people's planes."
Preflight inspection complete, John helped Claire get into back seat which is not an easy task at all. He helped her get buckled in.
For balance purposes, especially in light airplanes, the heavier people should be up front to begin with, but it seemed these two planned to have John up front, regardless.
"John, before you get in, would you get the wheel chocks away from the wheel?" asked Uncle Johnny.
John stepped over to the wheel, dislodged the chocks and deftly threw them clear of the tie down. In no time he was in the front seat, turned around asking Claire if she was comfortable and belted in. She was.
Uncle Johnny thought that was quick. And what happened to the limp?
The plane kicked over perfectly and they all put on their headsets.
"So you two are meeting friends and family at the restaurant later?"
John was scanning the instrument panel. He was taking it all in without making any typical comments like "hey that's a lot of instruments."
Claire answered "Just our friends. They are coming into town from all over. But our children are all busy today."
"Okay we're ready to move." said Uncle Johnny. He turned on the airplane beacon. He pointed out the flight instruments to John. Then he pointed to the engine instruments and what they were showing. All were where they should be.
"Okay" said John "We're ready to go."
As they taxied out, Uncle Johnny asked how many children they had and where they were.
"Oh they're all over. Our first is in Virginia."
"She moved to Virginia?"
"Oh yeah, my Greenie could live anywhere. That one can do anything she wants to. She moved to Virginia with no problem. She put herself through school. She always wanted twins, she got them. She likes to root for the underdog. She's great. She befriends anyone she wants to and stays a loyal friend. And no one plays the beginning of Born Free like Greenie. Yeah Greenie really is something."
"So she's your favorite?"
"No, no favorites. They're all different. Our second girl is just as great. My Mouse can do anything she doesn't want to do. I found out later she never cared for some of her schooling, but she always was a great student. I don't remember her being crazy about blood and yet she became a nurse. She liked to root for her family. She put up with Catholic Daughters and candy striping. One of my favorite swimmers. But she stood tallest while all of her colleagues were chasing their batons and she remained twirling.'
"And no favorites?"
"Not a one. Our youngest one, also great. My Mrs. Gooch. She can do anything we'd never expect. She just always amazes us. We never know what to expect from her, but she has an idea of what to expect of everyone. She tells people when they do a good job singing 'Wonder Woman."
"And you had boys?"
"Yeah two sons. The younger one, now that sniveler is great. He can get everyone doing what he wants to do, whether they want to or not. In the end, they are always glad they do what he wants. If he doesn't care for you, I'm not sure how that would turn out, but if he does, you have a great ally. He doesn't just root for underdogs, he adopts them."
They were nearing the end of the taxiway at the end of runway 1.
"The last guy? Yeah, he's great too. But he writes some weird shit."
"Okay. Uh huh. Wait, what..."
The radio came to life. "Uniform Juliet, Runway 1 clear for takeoff with out delay. If able."
"Uniform Juliet rolling on Runway 1."
Uncle Johnny turned so he could ask both "All set?"
"Oh sure." said Claire. "Take off is my favorite part. I love the speed."
"Well this won't be nearly as fast as what you're used to in airliners, but it will feel fast, because it's much smaller."
John said "Let us vamoose!"
Uniform Juliet turned onto the active runway and as per the tower, accelerated immediately. All the instruments were good, which John noticed. Takeoff was good as well. Uncle Johnny didn't feel any difference with the added weight of the passengers.
They got to two thousand feet and leveled off. Uncle Johnny watched John. He was looking outside the airplane as all passengers do, but watching the instruments as well. This is often referred to as scanning inside and outside. This guy had the knack. He also pointed out an airplane to Uncle Johnny.
He was comfortable here.
"You want to take it, John?"
"Sure." he calmly took the yoke and the plane never felt it. The yoke is the airplane version of a steering wheel. In older planes and aerobatic planes, they're called sticks because they look like sticks.
Uncle Johnny, with his hands off the yoke, was watching him. "Okay, give us a slight left bank and we'll head out over the ocean. And pull back just a little to maintain altitude."
This was a calm guy. He handled everything with no worries. He pushed forward a little after the turn so the plane didn't gain altitude. He did this on his own.
Uncle Johnny was struck with how calm and in control John looked and hoped he would look something like that some day.
The seating in a cockpit is not by chance. The "pilot in command" is always on the left, the copilot on the right. If someone says the flew left seat, that means they captained the flight. Uncle Johnny was in the left seat, of course, John in the right.
Uncle Johnny suddenly remembered to check in with all passengers. With his hands off the yoke and John at the controls, he turned around to Claire to ask if she was okay.
"Sure. Why wouldn't I be? John can drive anything. If it has a steering wheel, he can drive it. He can drive cars, buses, trucks - from the front or back. So if it has wings, he can fly it."
"Okay, that was clear." thought Uncle Johnny. He looked back at John who still held the plane level and on course and seemed to need no assistance. Uncle Johnny began to wonder who was the "pilot in command."
In no time, they were out over the ocean.
"Pick up a westerly heading and stay off shore." said Uncle Johnny. He said it and John complied like they were flying together for some time. Uncle Johnny talked John through a few steep turns and circles. Both pilots and passenger had a great time.
"Boy, this is some way to travel. How long would it take us to get to Albany from here?" asked John.
"Well, from here, in this plane, about an hour." said Uncle Johnny.
"What about stopping?" asked Claire.
"There's no need to stop on the way to Albany."
"There's no need not to stop, going to Albany." said Claire.
"You have friends in Albany?"
"Usually" said John "but today they will be at the airport when we land."
"Okay," said Uncle Johnny "Want to head in and meet up with them?"
"Yeah, this is great, but time is up." said John.
"Okay" said Uncle Johnny. "Pick up a northerly heading and we'll get back in."
On the way back in, Claire and John both were looking out the windows.
"There's Grumman" said John.
"There's Meadow Lane" said Claire.
"Time for another circle?" asked John.
"Sure. Make it to the right so you can both see out. I'll look out for traffic." There was no traffic and Uncle Johnny knew it.
John leveled off and Claire said "There's Our Lady of Mercy!"
John said, "There's Juniper St!"
Uncle Johnny said, "Time for another circle to the right!" Uncle Johnny loved flying these planes which didn't belong to him, but he really liked it with these two on board.
John rolled into level flight and they headed for Farmingdale.
"Uniform Juliet, Runway one cleared for landing." came over the radio.
"Okay, you got her from here." said John.
"Thanks." said Uncle Johnny. And he meant it.
The same tie down was still open, to no surprise of Uncle Johnny. As the engine went silent, Claire said "I can see Marion and George in the window. And Pat and Jack. And Jim and Betty are looking through the door. They're all here. Helen and Gene. We'll help you close up the plane and then..."
"No. I got it. Get going. Go see your friends." said Uncle Johnny. He really didn't mind at all. He liked shutting down planes.
John was out of the plane in no time. Not a hint of a limp. He helped Claire out like they were both in their twenties.
Uncle Johnny turned off all systems and put in the control lock. When he got out, he saw he wasn't alone. John had put the chocks under the wheels and was tying down the wing. Claire was half way into the restaurant.
"You have to pick up your beacon, now, right?" asked John.
"Yeah, thanks for reminding me. I almost forgot." They walked towards the restaurant.
"Boy, Claire is quick." said Uncle Johnny.
"She sure is. You never know what she's thinking. I have never been able to guess or say what my little Moon Beam will say next. Completely unpredictable. And when she argues, there's no one better. She can tie up anybody and do it without insulting them. They often don't realize it happened. But she's not much of a jumper."
Inside the restaurant, Uncle Johnny watched as the crowd of friends circled John and Claire. They disappeared in the crowd like two socks in a working washing machine. Uncle Johnny knew John wanted to introduce Uncle Johnny to the crowd, but the beacon called. Uncle Johnny really had no interest in meeting their friends anyway. He liked seeing them surrounded. "These two are great." he thought.
Uncle Johnny got the beacon from the manager and slithered out of the restaurant unnoticed.
Uncle Johnny did the preflight inspection and noticed the knots John used to tie the plane down. Nice job.
Throttle. Mixture. Carb heat. Prime. Ignition. Engine running beautifully. Plane Empty.
Uncle Johnny thought about the flight and had to admit he had a great time in an otherwise profoundly adequate plane. That was saying something considering the impressive line up of beauties he just flew.
Uncle Johnny pulled out of the tie down and onto the taxiway. As he passed the restaurant he saw the door open. Out stepped John. He stepped clear of the door and stood perfectly straight, without smiling, almost at attention.
Uncle Johnny watched but wasn't sure if he would wave or salute or give the thumbs up sign which is still somewhat common among pilots.
The two made eye contact. John put his right hand under his chin with the palm down and waved his fingers.
"The high sign!" yelled Uncle Johnny.
Uncle Johnny finally got to the active runway. After a nice adequate take off and reaching 500 feet altitude, he waved his wings. He hoped John saw it, but didn't mind if he didn't.
"Boy, right now I could go for a waffle."
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