1976 - Flying The Bi-Baby

 With the airplane back at Dalton Airport and signed off it's time to fly the plane.  Bud Banks made the first flight after work one evening in July.  While we waited for him to get out of work there was time for some of that hangar talk which is what flying is all about.  L-R Bob Voto (sitting), Willis Free (airport mechanic), Dennis.  Bob's Keheler Lark is parked in the entrance to the hangar.

Bud was flying a Luscombe which Pete Bowers always said was the closest to flying the Fly Baby so a good choice for a test pilot.

He's off the ground.  It's now officially an airplane again.  It's also signed off to switch between the Biplane and Monoplane wings.

Some speck-in-the-sky fly over passes and it's back to the tie down.

Ernie got to fly the Bi Baby for the first time July 12th.

On July 14th Ed Dalton held his annual Dawn Patrol (pancake breakfast charity fund raiser).  The Bi Baby and Dennis' hang glider were moved up front to a place of high visibility.  Hang Gliding is just great fun.

Dennis' sons Beau (R) and Wade (L) escaped Mom and Grandma for a little cockpit time.

With the show over it was time to return the plane to the tie down for the afternoon.

Ernie was back that evening for another hour of flying.  The next 2 weeks were busy with flying about every other day to get the hours flown off before Oshkosh.

Bud Banks got another chance to fly and help fly off the 20 hour restrictions.

Bud taking off and landing.

This is Ernie at Price's Airport south of Flint (at Linden) enjoying his freedom.

On July 26th the FAA signed off the restrictions in time for a trip to Oshkosh.  AC Spark Plug, where Dennis was working as an Engineer, was still sponsoring the Flight Rally from Flint to Oshkosh.

On the flight line at Bishop Airport Ernie patiently waits for his takeoff time.  Slow planes took off first.  The Rally was a handicapped race to Oshkosh.  The idea was the pilot who came the closest to his planned flight time and fuel consumption won.  Mostly it was a good excuse to go flying.  The route in 1976 was from Flint - Mishawaka, In. - Morris, Ill. - Waukesha, Wi. - Oshkosh

I seem to have misplaced the pictures at Oshkosh.  I'll add them when I find them.

Ernie was able to make 2 flights at Oshkosh.  That was when they still had regular Fly By's for people to show off their planes.  He returned to Dalton airport via Waukesha, Lewis Lockport, Michigan City and Brooks.