1989 - Moving Fly Baby to Virginia

Ernie eventually gave up trying to keep his medical and decided in 1989 to sell out to Dennis.  In the heat of the summer Dennis and Patricia drove up to Michigan from Charlottesville, Virginia to move Fly Baby to it's new home.  Dennis had been actively renting planes, including a Cub, from Caleb Glick at Waynesboro airport.  He had not flown Fly Baby since 1973 and the plane had been setting at the farm for a couple years.  It seemed smarter to trailer it to Virginia and make sure everything was airworthy before flying.

It was a beautiful day.  The first task was to remove the wings.  dad and I only loosened the landing wires so the wings could be re-attached without major rigging errors.

Two of the wing panes were loaded into the van.  Along with being our first new car with air conditioning, the back seat folded down to a bed, a perfect place to set a wing.  The wing on top of it was padded with a sleeping bag.

The fuselage was tied down to eye bolts through the frame.

Next 2x4s were screwed to the floor for the wings to rest on.  Padding was duct taped to the 2x4s to protect the wings.

Once everything was securely lashed down we were ready for an uneventful drive home.  It was sad and exciting to be taking the plane from Dad while looking forward to new adventures.

1977 - 1987 Ernie and the Fly (Bi) Baby

The 1976 trip to Oshkosh would be Ernie's last flight there in the Bi Baby, such trips on a policeman's retirement are rare treats.  For the next 10 years flights would be mostly local and to airports in Michigan like: Ionia, Harry Brooks, Sandusky, Mettatal, Marlet, Price's at Linden, Charlotte, Harrison, Maple Grove, Mason, Jackson, Midland, James Clement, Livingston County, Wagon Wheel, Davis at Lansing, Dwayne Tovillion's strip, Hyne at Brighton, Harry Browne, Evart, Ubly Heights and Chesaning.

Two flights were made to Ohio. One to Kenton Hardin county and another to Dunkirk.

In 1980, '82 and '84 Ernie was able to do his BFR in the Fly Baby since it was the only plane he was flying.

Ernie's last flight in the Fly Baby was to Chesaning and back to Dalton.  With the death of Ed Dalton the airport was being closed and the Fly Baby was moved back to the farm.  The airport was eventually condominiumized and reopened with individual hangars where the old tie-downs had been.  The old tee hangars and main hangar were removed.  Fortunately EAA Chapter 77 now has a huge hangar which is their permanent home  It was paid for by donations to the Chapter by hangar owners who's hangars were built by Chapter volunteers.

One of the other benefits of the new Chapter home was the donation by Father John MacGillivray, EAA 3974, of his Taylorcraft to be used as a club plane.  Ernie was able to get checked out in it.  Due to difficulties in maintaining his FAA Medical Ernie's last flight was in the T-craft.  He took Dennis along for that ride on Sept. 26, 1987.  A very memorable ride since this was the only time Dennis ever got to ride with Ernie as PIC.  We've flown in Dennis' Cabin WACO since then.  On that flight we also had a Close Encounter with a Beech Bonanza which passed over us going exactly the same direction and less than 10 feet above us. The slightest bump and we would have hit the propeller.

On a trip to visit Diane and her husband Don, Ernie was able to get some dual in an SGC-2-33 glider, N6582Y, at Torrey Pines, California.  Thanks Diane and Don, nice gift for your old father.

While the plane was at the farm this picture was taken of grandson John Paul June 20, 1988.

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.

1975 - 1976 Painting and Assembly

 With all the fabric work done it was time to paint the plane.  Because of the problems with the Blue fading on the bird paint job Dad decided to use automotive lacquer for this paint job.  In hind sight I would recommend just using dope so it can be rejuvenated every 5 years or so.  After 40 years the fabric is still good but the dope is completely ring wormed.  This could have been prevented by rejuvenating the dope regularly.
The paint job job was intended to represent that used on SPADs during WWI.  It turns out they brushed on the colored dope on SPAD planes and we now know what the actual colors were.  People wondered about the light blue but it is correct.  They used Lithopone and Prussian Blue which only make a light blue.

 The FAA had finally allowed smaller numbers than the 12 inch high numbers required 10 years earlier.

 Mom holding the wing panels.
The lower wings have ailerons.

The plane was moved back to Dalton Airport for final assembly.  Ernie completed a condition inspection prior to the FAA Inspection.

On June 23, 1976 the FAA signed off the plane to fly.

When we first were looking at building a plane the ones which caught our eye were all biplanes.  I think Ernie finally got the plane he wished for.  The joy of tinkering with a Homebuilt.

 Let's go fly this thing!