Delta Airlines tour with Jimmy Payne

[SFC Hiatt]

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=ho ... 1414296956

[Captgrumps]

Great pictures--did you get a good look at my old Travel Air 6B (6000B)? That was a 8 year, 6000+ hr family restoration. Schedule wouldn't allow us to work on it full time. Sorry I missed you at Peachstate--family beckond.

Doug

[SFC Hiatt]

This one Doug? What a beautiful airplane. Don't worry about missing me at Peachstate, I'm joing the flying club there so I can fly the "tailwheel" citabria. See ya soon.

[Captgrumps]

Yep--that is it--When I bought it, it had been a Johnson Flying Service smoke jumper airplane in pretty sad shape--the N number was N447W Bill DeCreef has it now), which I changed to N452N to honor one of the original Travel Air test pilots, Truman Wadlow, who flew a sistership in the 1930 Ford Air Tour.

When Delta bought it in 1985 they flew it for a while and then changed the N number to NC8878 which was the NC number of one of their original Travel Airs. I flew it over 100 hours--when delivered to Delta my son, now a Delta pilot flew co-pilot with me and my wife was a pasenger. Delivered it to the Atlanta airport wth a hand held.

Alot of fun to fly with great short field performance--90 gallons, seven seat filled and use about 800 feet. I still have the Towend ring cowl, big wheel pants and burled wheel covers (Delta didn't want them).

Sad to see it just sit now and not fly, but there are not many of the new guys that would understand its quirks including the R975 Curtiss Wright..They messed it up once.

Doug

[SFC Hiatt]

Mr. Doug

I'm heading home next weekend to spend Thanksgiving with the family but after I get back I would like to pay you a visit.

Chris