On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:29:03 -0700, Stella Starr
wrote:

I don't come to the groups much any more, for reasons including a move,
new job, and loss of newsreader program. I miss the days when I found
good company here, though, and many fine people willing to answer
questions and engage in entertaining conversation.

I've just been back on the news groups for a couple of days, but
didn't see this until cleaning up the groups. Then I had to restore
all un read to find this post. But I've been gone for several years.

This is not the kind of news I like to see when coming back home. I
sure am sorry to hear about Highflier's misfortune, but glad the cat
survived.


Among my favorite friends I never met was Highflyer, and I finally got
to meet him at a antique airplane fly-in and then his own annual event.

One thing and another I regret I was just never able to make it and
it's only a little over 3 hours from here in the Deb. I did call him
some years back and guess I'd better do it again.

I actually met my new husband at Pinckneyville, and he proposed on the
runway, under the stars one night in May 2006.

I heard about that and congratulations.

Highflyer's on Facebook, as many of my geezer friends are these days,
and though he seldom posts there either, one of his daughters just
posted photos of his hangar after a fire that did extensive damage this
past week.

I have an account on there, but they don't like my address so I've
never used it..


Sadly, the Red Lady was inside when it happened, and is badly damaged
also. No one was hurt, and even the hangar cat seems to have escaped
harm. Still, I have many fond memories of beer, barbecue and good
company in that hangar...and of rides in that wonderful plane.

I got my medical back just about a year ago, and have flown more in
the last few months ( this winter) than the two or three years
combined before I lost it. I'm almost back to normal and flying down
to P-Ville has always been on my mind.

The poor old Deb needs lots of TLC after setting so long, but I did go
out and warm 'er up on a fairly irregular basis. Actually the engine
seems to be in better shape than the radio stack and instruments. AI
died, KNS-80 died, KY-197 died, ...and I have to take it up to TVC
this week for the pitot static and altimeter checks, but I still want
to get down there.

Best to the whole group and those remaining.

Roger (K8RI) Halstead


Here's a story about the fire.
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details...=9703&type=top