Hi, Jay,

My cousin Barb and her husband Bob Zeigler, live in Nauvoo, Illinois. They
have a Lake Amphibian--and a summer home in Ephraim, Wisconsin. Could well
have been their plane you saw in Janesville--you don't really see them very
often.

Small world, all right.

I'm lurking on this group because of an emerging interest in flying. It's
been there for a long time, but life is what happens while you're making
other plans, all right. So now--at age 72--I'm getting more serious about
it. (I LOVED that post about "It pays to be a pilot.")

Anticipation is a lot of fun in its own right. I've spent hours looking
over websites devoted to the Ercoupe--which seems like an inexpensive and
truly delightful way to get into the air. And snooping at plane ads.
Printed out an ad last night for a lovely 1977 Cessna 172--with only 752
hours total time. Fun dreaming.

Anyhow, your splendid flight was delightful. A thoughtful way to add some
pleasure to your friends' lives. And the joy of flight came through with
clarity.

Thanks, and blue skies to you.

Dick Behan
Lopez Island, Washington


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:6Iagf.347584$084.246083@attbi_s22...
Friends of ours are going through tough times. With two little kids, and
a third on the way, my friend recently lost his job, and is having a
difficult time finding equivalent work.

He loves to fly, and his wife's father was an active pilot, so we thought
we'd cheer both of them up with a brunch flight to Janesville (KJVL),WI
today. Our kids are finally old enough to stay home alone, and our
friends managed to find a sitter for their little ones, so the plans were
made...

Conditions weren't pretty today -- 2000 to 2500 overcast, with light
winds -- but comfortably doable in the flat Midwest. (And it can be a LOT
worse here in November!) So, after surviving our last crazy home football
weekend at the inn (Iowa 52 - Minnesota 28 -- Go Hawks!), we loaded up and
arced into a leaden sky.

Mary took the outbound leg, and wanted me in the right seat. This left
our friends in the back to snuggle and enjoy the ride, and -- although
visibility was advertised as 10 miles -- there really wasn't much to see.
All the fall colors are gone now, and the harvest is complete, so this is
the absolute ugliest time of year to fly in the Midwest. No snow yet,
leaving nothing but mud and barren trees for hundreds of miles...

Nevertheless, they didn't seem to notice, and were just delighted to get
airborne. Thankfully the air was fairly smooth under a stratiform cloud
deck (pregnant women + flying gives me the "barf-bag-willies"), and our
conversation flowed easily.

Our arrival at JVL was uneventful, and there was a VERY cool Lakes
Amphibian starting up as we taxied in -- the first one I've ever seen
outside of Florida or Oshkosh. (We always seem to see one or two unique
aircraft at Janesville!) Brunch at the CAVU Cafe was good, as always, and
the conversation continued to flow nicely, with everyone very laid back
and comfortable...

On the flight back I let my friend fly. He's a lapsed glider pilot, and
will someday be a very active GA pilot when his financial ship rights
itself. With the girls happily yacking away in the back seat (and the
intercom set to "Crew Isolate", at their request), we had fun circling
barges on the Mississippi, and over other points of interest. He's a good
stick, and his steady hand flew us all the way into the pattern at Iowa
City, where I was lucky enough to grease a squeaker. (Can't have any
clunkers with a preggo passenger! :-)

All in all, a most splendid way to spend a fall afternoon. Flying is
always fun, but as I get older it's most gratifying when we are allowed to
share it with friends who feel comfortable enough with our skills and
equipment to fly with us to brunch in another state...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"