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It was spring of 2022—Mark’s 70th birthday. I could not resist coming up with a special event in honor of my dear friend. Mark and I have been friends for more than 30 years. We shared many interests, but our passion for aviation was the key ingredient for this special celebration.
With the help of a co-conspirator, Susie (his wife), we came up with an excuse for him to visit me in Northwest Arkansas. As planned in the conspiracy, Susie had to “change her plans last minute,” so she deposited Mark onto a direct flight from Atlanta to Arkansas. Little did Mark know, the adventure had literally just taken off.
Upon landing at KXNA, the surprises began. Mark was greeted by a first officer, but not just any first officer, it was Mark’s daughter, Allie. Allie had just become a new first officer at Atlas Air. She greeted her dumbfounded father in full uniform. Mark’s tears of joy and surprise flowed freely, setting the tone for the rest of the weekend.
That evening we talked and laughed over dinner. We reminisced about the days when we became private pilots. Like many, I had periods of sporadic flight time over the decades, but I had been flying consistently for the past 15 years. Mark’s passion for general aviation endured, despite not logging many hours since the ’80s. Allie had taken the professional route, now navigating “heavy iron.” Yet, her passion for general aviation remained.
We discussed our agenda for the weekend which included a ride on the B-29, Doc, stationed in St. Louis for a WWII era airshow. The historical backdrop held sentimental value for Mark and Allie, tying back to Mark’s father who had bravely jumped at Normandy on D-Day. The weekend also included tickets to a Jimmy Buffet concert in Bentonville followed by two days of air show fun back in St. Louis. Everyone was excited for the upcoming weekend which would include several hours of GA flying.
I am a member of the FlyOz Flight Club in Bentonville (KVBT). The next morning, we were scheduled in the club’s SR-22T, N328WH. The flight plan was for KVBT to KSUS for our B-29 ride. We would return to KVBT that afternoon for the Buffet concert. The morning after the concert, we would return to KSUS for the airshow in one of the club’s Cessna 182s, returning in the Cessna after two days of airshow fun. General aviation provides such great opportunities!
Forecasted weather was CAVU for the entire weekend. We left home early for the airport, allowing plenty of time for a nice on-field breakfast at Louise. Additionally, there would be ample time for a thorough preflight, with time to introduce Mark and Allie to the Cirrus, an aircraft in which neither had flown.
Despite the forecast, a foggy drive foretold a foggy airport. While we could see blue skies peaking through, low hanging fog over KVBT meant a delayed departure. Despite our best efforts, we were going to be tight on time to make the flight on Doc. But spirits were high as we were enjoying the fellowship and breakfast. We took the delay in stride. Little did we know that this delay would yield some of the biggest highlights of the weekend.
We shared stories along the way, with Allie in the right seat and Mark in the back.
Once the fog lifted, we departed KVBT on an IFR flight plan. We faced “clear and a million” skies for the entire route, but I like having the extra set of eyes that center provides. We shared stories along the way, with Allie in the right seat and Mark in the back. We enjoyed the scenery as the Ozarks and southern Missouri passed below. Mark and Allie were amazed at the modern feel, comfort, and speed of the SR-22T. Everything about the flight was a joy. Despite the weather delay, it looked like we would arrive at KSUS in time for our ride on Doc.
As we neared KSUS, we were transferred to St. Louis Approach Control. Approach vectored us for the downwind for 26L. At 1,000’ AGL on mid-downwind, we could see Doc parked at the FBO. We were going to make our ride. Then the radio broke: “N328WH, extend downwind for an arriving flight of two.” I acknowledged the instruction, looked at my passengers, and momentarily we were disappointed in another delay.
It seemed we all saw the offending traffic at the same time. Two F/A-18 Hornets, the Blue Angels, on low approach, sped towards the runway on final. They made their “carrier break,” circling to land. We were excited with our vantage point for the early show. A Blue Angel viewed from pattern altitude is not something one sees every day. Allie gave us a “pretty cool, huh” over the intercom. We were all smiles as continued on our extended downwind.
Our traffic—two F/A-18 Hornets, the Blue Angels.
Eventually, approach cleared us to turn base. But, before sending us to tower, we received another call: “N328WH, I need you to extend again. There’s additional traffic in the pattern, a B-17. Let me know when you have the B-17 in sight, then follow them in for landing.”
I looked at Mark and Allie and said, “did he just tell us to follow the B17,” at which time Allie said “I got her at 1 o’clock.” It was the Yankee Lady. I told approach we had the traffic, and we were cleared to follow the B-17 to land. Before being sent to tower, approach thanked us for our help and apologized for the delay. My answer was, “I’ll be happy to fly circles all day to watch the Blue Angels and follow a B-17…see ya!”
More traffic to follow—B17, Yankee Lady.
We felt a little like a fighter escort as we followed the Yankee Lady to an uneventful landing. We were all smiles when we got to the ramp, where we were parked one aircraft away from the Blue Angels. We agreed it was the best approach and landings the we had ever experienced. We did make the B-29 ride, the concert, and the airshow, and prior to departure, we had to hold short as a Corsair landed right in front of us, but that’s another story.
Allie, Mark and me with Doc.
- Extend downwind for an arriving flight of two - September 4, 2024
- Friday photo:upside down smiles over Arkansas - August 23, 2024
- Friday photo:half cuban eight - July 12, 2024
He is also an avid Naui scuba diving instructor well-versed pilot. I’m proud to say he is a very good friend. A lifelong friend bless to spend the wonderful hours with him and his wife flying and enjoying so many adventures above and below God‘s beautiful oceans on earth.
While landing at KRDG for the WWII Flyin with my seven-year old son, I was asked by Tower, “Can you make the next taxiway?” I could and immediately did. Why? B-29 (Fifi) was right behind us.