ROC on Wednesday, October 11th
ROC on Wednesday, October 11th
Just got back from ROC for today (Wednesday, October 11th).
I had a good, long conversation with the new owner of the Aiken Aviation FBO -- Mike Laver. He and I got along well -- we both know some of the same airplane people. For example, a fellow in EAA 172 (Pea Patch -- near Augusta, Georgia) -- Earl Hildebrant -- built a plane for Mike using a Jabiru engine which Mike said he introduced to this country. Mike has been at the Pea Patch a number of times. I might have met him but don't remember. I'm also in EAA 172 and their secretary and Webmaster. Mike said that he bought Air First (in that fancy building right next to the ROC spot) and also the FBO with all the hangars, offices etc. This happened when Zipper Robbins retired this year. Zipper and Mike were partners and Zipper sold his part of the partnership to Mike when Zipper retired. For those who haven't been to the Aiken, SC, airport, here's a photo of Air First on its Website:
http://www.air1st.com/aboutus.php
Mike said he has watched ROC throughout the years --- his office was the one on the second floor closest to our fly-in site. He said he wants to have all aircraft from gyrocopters to the big ones at the airport. He enjoys watching all of them fly. Mike said if we need any help, his people at the FBO are waiting and eager to help us in any way. For example, he sent his fuel truck over (with AVgas 100LL) to see if anyone needed any. The linemen in the truck said that if we needed some either go to the FBO and bring a fuel container or they can send a truck to us.
Yesterday Michael O'Brien, from Paxton, MA, came in. He is a friend of Dana and Laura Linn.
Now to ROC -- Yesterday, Tuesday, was not too active. Steve McGowan flew and Dan McAllister came in. Here's a photo of Dan with his home made gyro which he said he is selling for five or six thousand. It comes with blades but needs rewiring (he had some problems with the electric prerotator, I believe).
http://jcmservices.net/McAllister101106.jpg
Ron Awad came twice -- once with his gyro, then with another trailer. Rusty Nance came in today (Wednesday). Here's a photo of Steve McGowan, Ron Awad, and Rusty Nance having some "serious" conversation, I guess.
http://jcmservices.net/McGowanAwadNance101106.jpg
Bud O'Neal is in from his new home in Ider, Alabama, near Chatanooga, Tennessee. Here's a photo of Bud with Steve McGowan. At the left is Rhonda and Hannah who came in with him.
http://jcmservices.net/Bud&McGowan101106.jpg
John Sligar flew in today from the Pea Patch in his Rans S14.
Mike Driggers came in with his Mosquito Air (shown somewhere earlier in this thread).
Around 7:00 PM Ernie and Connie Boyette came in but since it was getting dark Ernie just parked in his spot.
Phil Degelia also came in and may have done some flying -- he was too far away from me when I saw two gyros in the air, one was Tim Verroi's -- I was at the main ROC entrance putting up flag banners. Phil is from Norfolk, Virginia.
Louis Hartzler, from PRA Chapter 56 -- Rome, Georgia, came in. He has his "famous" red-tailed gyro. But he, Rusty Nance, Michael O'Brien, and Steve McGowan left for a couple of hours to go to Rusty's house in Pelion, SC, to look at the Air Command that Rusty has for sale. Word is that Louis bought it.
Also coming in today was Tim Verroi who flew more than anybody. Here's a photo of Tim -- note the blue sky and puffy clouds.
http://jcmservices.net/VerroiInAir101106.jpg
The weather was great, not too warm, only got up to 84 degrees. We may have some rain tonight as a front comes through, but then the weather is expected to be in the 70s during the day throughout the weekend. However it may be cold at night especially Friday night -- in the 40s!
George Hammack was at ROC helping put up tents etc. Dan McAllister also spent a lot of time helping us put up the tents. The last two days were too windy to put up the tents or the covering around the shower. Of course Ray Pierce was here much of the day working on some of the final wiring of the last camping spots. Note that many of the spots are taken and only a few are left. Those who reserved early perhaps got the best spots.
See:
http://jcmservices.net/ROC2006CampingLocation.pdf
An add-on to the above post.
Tim Verroi asked me to let his wife, Teresa, know that he got into ROC OK and he's all set up and doing fine and he loves her very much. He also said he is having a wild time partying --- no, that last sentence is a joke -- he isn't having a wild time but is pining away for Teresa.
John