There was an old gyro pilot named Father Svoboda (?) up in Canada once upon a time. Was he your "flying parson?"
Igor Bensen was a Russian Orthodox clergyman, too.
That was the one Doug. His name was "Father Svoboda" If I spelled his name wrong it will not be the first time. I am not Catholic and was not religious at the time but I recall praying that the pilot was religious and we would have a safe flight.
I figured that was a good idea because I was sitting in the seat beside him.
I think that is the first time I had a prayer answered . It was around 1977. I am still alive and still typing. I also recall encouraging him to go up 4 more times. He did , and then he folded his hand. He tried to explain how hard it was to pre-rotate by hand for 4 flights in a row on a short grass strip. He also mentioned he was 70..
I find it also interesting that Igor Sikorsky was a Russian Orthodox Christian who spent his spare time praying his helicopter would fly and also did a treatise on the Lords Prayer. I made up the part about Igor Sikorsky praying his helicopter would fly , We all know he leaned heavily on years of engineering knowledge and years of failed experiments before he got off the ground. The treatise on The Lords Prayer is factual.. After all , they say helicopter pilots only tell true stories. I figure that includes gyro pilots as well.
You would be proud of me Doug. For 60 days I sailed my schooner every day to my car in the morning , and every day back to my doorstep at night. My schooner is an 8 ft. long lapstrake dinghy with a 35#thrust electric motor and two deep cycle batteries , and never once did my big toe get wet. Local floods have made me think I am a Pirate or something.
I have dry feet , it allows me to type this without getting electrocuted , I love having a whole day go by without getting electrocuted.
Now that I know Igor Bensen was a Russian Orthodox clergyman too ..... well I think it is time to hoist the Pirate flag, grab a beer , and state the fact that successful Russian aviators are way too religious.
Not to mention my life depends on them from time to time.
Some day Doug , I kind of think I would like you to tour me along your dock to show me a real schooner, I would enjoy that very much. I will probably decline your invitation to go sailing , guys like me last a long time by never getting a big toe wet.
But if you ever get to be 70 and pre-rotating a tow Bensen , , I request at least 4 flights. thanks. I hope your intellect is as good as ever Doug , and you can sort out the humor in my comments. thank you for all the interesting pirate stories you tell trying to be an aviator or something.
I pray the all your prayers are answered.
Arnie.