Little Wing at Mentone

[RHerron]

Hello all,

This is to let everyone know what is "cooking".
Andy Keech's LW-5 is in my hangar from his last flight over from Washington, D.C. and his last closed-circuit speed record.(500 KM)
He has been experiencing turbocharger problems and is to meet with Eric Tucker at Oshkosh to discuss the issue and arrange for (hopefully) a new unit.

We have decided to trailer "Woodstock" to Mentone and then to Oshkosh since circumstances preclude doing it differently. Andy has just returned from Sweden and will drive straight over to Mentone from D.C.
I will leave Monday or Tuesday A.M. with the autogyro and hope to see everyone Wednesday or Thursday.

I will feel naked without my radial but I think (hope) everyone will enjoy getting a chance to see this machine if you haven't already. It is scheduled to be displayed at Oshkosh anyway so this seemed to be the best option.

See you in a few days. Please pass the word around.

Sincerely,
Ron Herron

[Rotornut]

Great Ron, But no Radial. Glad I got a look at one again at BD Days. Enjoy the Fly-Ins. Be Safe. MJ :)

[fdarby]

Rotornut,

It is a 1300 mile round trip to mentone and back but if you want to see the radial I will bring my bird, if you will share the cost of the gas. I figure your share would be about, oh, $1.00. Let me know if you want me to come. We can work out the finacial arrangments later. Frank

[richard lidke]

It was a real pleasure to meet and see Frank Darby in person at Mentone this year. What an outstanding job and fine craftsmanship. Frank, what a beautiful job, if a machine can be beautiful! And Boy, what a radial to boot. See, others are coming along very nicely with their projects. And Ron Herron and Andy Keech are to be complimented for bringing Woodstock too. It was great to see the award winning machine which has set so many records in the last year or so. How much better can it get. I felt intimidated since my machine is sort of there (the frame at least), but at least I am moving a little each day in the right direction. (I had a 2+2 Littlewing with yellow seats) Hope you guys liked what I had done so far. I really really appreciated meeting at least about five new fellow Littlewing Builders who are starting or have already started on their own projects. Suprise! - several are near me! Now I can go hangar fly with some neighbors who are on the same wavelength as I am. It really made me feel great to see new starts on this wonderful little bird, and I am proud to be a part of the growing flock of these first class machines. Our second machine was the frame that Bob Randall was working on, he was only able to visit for a short time, but was kind enough to let me camp out in his trailer for a couple of days. Thanks a lot Bob. It was great to see my friend Fred Blair on the last day. My compliments to the cooks etc etc etc for the fine dinner that was presented at the Mentone Banquet. Very nice, and the museum was able to get a nice hanging plaque with a historic momento too! At any rate, I was back at it tonigh, third coat of polyurethane on my left front foot board. Got to keep plugging away to get this thing flying as soon as I can. Hope you guys don't mind my carrying on about the great Mentone gathering. I thought it was great. Anyone with interest in the Littlewings is welcome to visit me anytime, just give me a call to co-ordinate. 1-219-778-2708 Littlewing Booster Rich. :) :)

[richard lidke]

:) I almost forgot, thank you again (Why) and Andy Keech for providing us three Littlewingers a nice Tee Shirt of the events which Andy had made history with. How kind and thoughful to give us a shirt commemorating these great events. Never expected one just based on my construction project. The best to you guys, and thank you again for your kind expression from Booster Rich, Jim McNeilly, Bob Randall , all of us Littlewing Boosters. :)