I need a airplane hanger!

Hopes here for your swift-as-possible recovery Duke. It's no fun being restricted, but hopefully it's an investment toward a bunch of fun this summer.

Beaming Positive MoJo your way !!!

Vintage Successful Back Surgery (1991) Veteran Kim

Thanks Rusty and Kim. Today feels like another good day. And I feel like I need the pain meds less and less, which is a good thing (I hate feeling DOPED up).
That's for Rusty's AMA-American Medical Asso.

It's going to be another beautiflu day out there. I'll just dream.

duke.johnson wrote:...It's going to be another beautiful day out there. I'll just dream.

Hey, Duke, I fly ten times better in my head. I proved that to myself with my Youtube videos. And the repairs are a lot easier too.
If you ever see me sitting and smiling outside of apparent context, you'll know I'm daydreaming about flying... mostly.

Yes Gentlemen,

I believe it is for us to admit and submit to this deep-rooted affliction/addiction that drives our psyches, even in the face of pain. When we cannot physically commit the act of aviation, the addiction takes whatever course is left open to it.

Two short stories, both involving atmospheric levitation and Walmart:

1. I once severely aggravated and embarrassed a future ex-wife by refusing to stop staring at the sky in a Walmart parking lot. A semi-inflated plastic Walmart bag had been boosted into the air by a passing thermal and it's accompanying whirlwind. The magic of it's spiraling, high-speed climb caused a near-panic to get myself home, retrieve a sailplane, and return to give the bag some companionship. But alas, I had indentured my afternoon to several hours of Mall-Shopping and visitation with inlaws, so I had to bid the bag and it's adventure an envious farewell.


2. Again in a Walmart parking lot, on a cold and dreary, overcast day...a lesson in humility: Parking the van, I spotted two buzzards (turkey vultures), descending in a low glide above the subdivision across the road.

"Ha!", I said under my breath. "You're gonna have to work for your carrion today!!! No thermals to give you a free ride in all this goop!"

Where upon, the lead buzzard suddenly broke into a hard-left turn, and started a climb that I would have been proud of on any boomer day. Followed immediately by his chum, they both climbed easily to what appeared to be four or five hundred feet, before breaking straight away and continuing their search for road-kill possums.

"Well...shows what I know..."

Yes, I was standing there, staring at the sky again, talking to myself, with people walking around me...a guy gets to be locally well-known for kind of behavior.

Sorry for this semi-hijack Duke, just couldn't help expanding on Rusty's thoughts of "Mind Flight" .

I've bolted for the door so many times when I hear a plane or heli coming over that the dog has become conditioned to also heading for the door when she hears a plane or heli. Many times she will alert before I can hear it and is barking and jumping to go out --- we both hit the yard and start looking. This is a little weird and I'm almost ashamed to admit it.

That's funny, I see so many real planes that it has become normal for me. However, I can pick up the sound of a model engine a mile away.

Get well soon Duke!

Get better, don't overdo it too soon, and may you have more good days than not!

Phil

Meanwhile we'll entertain you with tales of goofy excitement over flying machines.

I live, as the helo flies, within a mile of Fort Jackson, and my house is apparently in the middle of their flight path. Probably flying back and forth from McEntire JNGB where they are stationed. I have a daily view of Apaches, Blackhawks and Chinooks flying low over my house. Sometimes a crewman will wave back at me. About a week ago, I saw a freshly painted and polished machine flying over and when it emerged from the cover of the Maple tree it was a Huey. I figured it must be a General's toy, restored and immaculate. The color was green but not quite the right shade. If you watched news feeds from Desert Storm showing F-16s, most had South Carolina or New York on their tails. The SC planes were from McEntire. Those pilots had the lion's share of ops over there. I see them sometimes and hear them more often. Shaw AFB, about 30 miles down the road is awaiting the first F-35s. I can't wait to see those.

Thanks guys. I had my son shuttle me around again, he has his permit and loves to drive the big blue truck. So he was game for a hobby store trip. I needed something to solid balsa wing tips on the new P-51 carrier plane. It' nice to dream of flying if we can't get out there for bad weather, honey-do list, injury, poorly placed promise.