It was love at first sight

On approach we flew low over I-80, approaching to land at Millard Airport, on the edge of Omaha. I spotted her there proudly sitting tied out on the ramp. "She" is a beautifully restored Luscombe 8A now at home with good company in Griff's big Red Willow Aviation hangar. My banker friend in Almena, Kansas had found her in Ohio and with one more short flight on her journey west she would come to McCook Airport for a short stay.

The proud old airplane will be residing here until Shad gets a hangar built on his fine grass strip west of Almena. The other purpose for bringing her to McCook is so that this instructor can fly her enough to be comfortable teaching her new owner to fly it.

Luscombe was one of many manufacturers following World War II that built airplanes to fulfill America's lust for private aviation. Don Luscombe had the great idea of building an all metal fuselage omitting steel tubing structure inside and using the aluminum skin itself for strength. Innovative in its time the idea is the standard in modern airplane design today. He called it the Luscombe Silvaire and this one, manufactured in 1946, is more formally known as an 8A. True to the standard of the time it sits on two wheels at the front and a small wheel on the tail. Wheel covers, they called them "wheel pants", is one of those aesthetic designs that looks just right. This one proves the rule that: "If it looks good it will fly well."

Well the proof is in the pudding so one nice calm morning last week I strapped myself in and got Tony to pull the propeller to start the engine. Yes this eighty hour since rebuilt, 65 horse-power engine is hand started. To save weight there is no generator, starter or battery, no lights, in fact no electrical system at all. Not a problem, pilots by the thousands flew aircraft just like this one even at busy airports that had control towers that communicated to the pilots with colored bright lights. Busy isn't a problem here but in deference to modern pilots that announce their presence by radio, I do use a battery powered hand held radio that works just fine in flight.

I found ground handling of the airplane quite good. The tail wheel steers and there are even rudimentary brakes that the pilot operates with his heels. On run-up the engine checked out strong, oil pressure and temperature normal. Not much else to look at basically if it is running it is good to go.

We turned our nose into the wind and I pushed the throttle full forward. RPM about 2100 -- normal. Gaining a little airspeed the tail came up and the aerodynamic forces over the rudder kept her running straight. Airspeed quickly read 45 mph and it flew off the ground as if homesick to be airborne once again. I found 65 mph to be about the best speed to climb and we went to a safe altitude to feel it out. Roll control accomplished with a "stick" is quick. Pitch forces trimmed out easily and I found her stable and nice to fly. Bad mistake! I never should have gotten into the pretty little machine because I found it even more fun to fly than my old Aeronca 7AC "Champ."

Later I made a series of landings, always a challenge in a conventional gear airplane (modern vernacular is "tail dragger") and found landing it a delight. Yep it is pure simple fun to fly and now for the challenge of teaching the new owner how to do flight like it is supposed to be done. Like a kid with a new toy I can hardly wait to share the delight!

Ann and I were there to cheer on our fellow students graduating from MCC last Friday morning. Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy did a masterful job of delivering an inspiring address to the graduating seniors. However he was overshadowed by one of our own fellow students, Jessica Petersen who delivered the student commencement address.

Jessica is a "non-traditional" student, a bit older than the normal just out of high school students. She is also a single mom who has labored in the workforce and decided to improve her lot in life. Obviously popular among the students, they elected her president of the student body and voted her the privilege of speaking at graduation. I was impressed with the organization and content of her speech plus her able delivery. She received the greatest applause of the morning. MCC and this community should be proud!

Over the years I have been impressed how MCC has accepted older students who have returned to broaden horizons and improve their lives. Jessica is just one of many in our community who have bettered themselves by returning to college as adults. I know this area is richer for their efforts.

The College Commencement ceremonies were held in the gym which was filled nearly to capacity. Sitting there I glanced over mid-stage and missed once again the beautiful oil painting of the Indian Chief that for years proudly graced the campus. The old chief represented the warrior spirit something that the student body took great pride. No more though the great warrior tradition of the Native American culture has gone the way of political correctness. A sad comment on modern values. I find it like the prohibition of posting student grades on public bulletin boards.

Now instructors assign random numbers to each student so that all you have to do is find your number and thence your grade. No more can one track his progress in relation to his peers as an incentive to improve study habits but mine, No. 15 did show an "A." Evidently showing class ranking by name bodes badly on the psyches of those who finish last. Oh my, anything to keep from preparing our students for life in the real workplace!

I'm reminded of the Texas A&M student who won this year's contest calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term. This year: "Political Correctness."

The winning entry: "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t**d by the clean end."

Indeed!

That is the way I saw it.