Tailwheel Training After I'd placed my order for the kit in late August, 2002 I began looking around for someone offering tailwheel training. A friend in our local EAA Chapter who flies a Cessna 140 suggested I should find my initial training in a Champ as it would be a very close match to my kit and he was right on the money! I had absolutely no luck finding anyone within 200 miles who was currently instructing tailwheel and had about decided to just go back out to Hays, KS and get the endorsement at Rans when I received a reply to a post I'd made on the AOPA discussion board about training available (delivered in a Champ, no less) at Lowell Aviation (C97) which is about 250 miles from my home in Evansville, IN. I contacted Lowell Aviation and spoke with Don Bailey, the owner who said he'd pass my name and number along to the two available instructors. I indicated I could make my schedule as flexible as necessary and that I'd like to come up and do the required training over a continuous period if possible and then I waited...and waited...and waited. One thing I have plenty of at age 46 is patience and I was still happily waiting for a reply nearly a month later when I received a phone call late one Sunday night from Father Bert Pepowski who explained he was (in addition to being a priest) a CFI calling in reference to my request at Lowell Aviation. We scheduled a two day block of time for three weeks later and after four hours in the front seat of the 1948 7DC Champ, N4515E, I found myself ready to try it solo when Fr. Bert asked if I wanted to. I received my tailwheel endorsement the following day. I have made three 'first solos' in my short aviation life, consisting of my 'first' first solo in the 152 Aerobat at 14 hours of training, my first ultralight solo in Mark Smith's 'Quickalike' single after about three hours of dual with Mark and now this in the Champ and while each was very significant in it's own way, I think that turning base to final flying solo in the Champ was probably the most exhilarating feeling I've had doing something alone in my life. I can't say enough good things about my training experience with Fr. Bert, the folks at Lowell Aviation or my wonderful hosts at Lowell, Bud and Mary Lou Hays (See Bud's Sparrow Hawk in the July, 2002 issue of Sport Aviation on page 68. Bud and Mary Lou also have a beautiful Waco UPF-7) and if you have an opportunity to visit C97, please don't pass up the chance! I plan to go back to C97 and visit my new friends at Lowell, IN when my Coyote is finished, if not before. Lowell Airport at daybreak in
November!
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My training Champ! |
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Last Updated - 11/01/2003 |
