Went up today to celebrate my birthday, Two days late because of snow and ice on my hanger ramp; finally melting off. Born 12-23-'36, spent my first year and a half (fourth generation) in Elijah Ransom's (civil war vet) old farmhouse south of Traverse City, Michigan.
Unseasonably warm at 45 F; strong east winds made for moderate turbulence with the surrounding mountains here in eastern Oregon. A short flight with a few bumps on landing: 90+mph airspeed with the gps showing 70 mph on short final to runway niner. Still have fun in my stock KR2, retrac gear that has had the gear legs replaced three years ago with my version fabricated out of 1/4" cold rolled steel plate after one of the aluminun legs failed. Replaced the spring bar last year when it failed at the left side pivot attachment, metal fatigue. But then with 1412.3 hours as today on the books I guess its expected. Missed a lot of flying this past summer and monthly saturday breakfasts and wednesday chili lunchens at our EAA chapter hanger in Prineville, OR due to a three month battle with the flight physical people in Oklahoma City. They finally conceeded that I am healthy enough to pilot, and don't want to hear from me again for another six years (still gotta do the biannuals here). Hmmm... in six years I'll be 80, doubt if I'll be around to fly!
