Tuesday, November 1st Fly the Jetwing?

We got up before dawn knowing the wind would be light. We arrived at the airport at about 7AM, just as the sun was rising. The sky was clear and it was a very pretty morning.

We got the JW out in the area of the hanger. Larry bundled up in his flying suit and we started the JW. Rather we TRIED to start the JW, but it would not start. Nothing we did would get it started, and eventually the battery died. So Larry suggested we go with “Plan B”, which was to fly the Northwing 2-place. It’s a fine airplane. Larry was in front and I in back. We did some T&G’s and he let me do a couple of landings, which worked out without incident. It was the first time I had flown this year since I flew with Don Lindemann. It seemed like I had not forgotten how to fly WSC.

After the flight, I suggested we put the charger on the JW battery and go into town (Luverne) and get a cup of coffee and let the battery charge, which we did. But by the time we returned from town, the wind had turned gusty (20+ kts) as it had the day before. As a matter fact, when we got back to the airport, the JW, which we had not secured, had been blown in an entirely different place on the tarmac. Had we not gotten there when we did, it is not inconceivable that the JW could have been blown into the hanger and been damaged.

So the only thing left to do was to take down the wing and put the JW on the trailer. When we took the wing off, the wind almost took it for a ride without us. It was a little scary; we put the wing on the leeward side of the hangers so we wouldn’t lose control of it. We put the wing into the wing bag, during which time Larry gave me many pointers on how to fold up the wing properly. We got the JW carriage onto the trailer, secured it, and attached it to the truck. We said our good-byes and I took off. Again, without incident I arrived home after about three hours.

So the results of the trip were bittersweet. On the positive side, I was pleased that the trailer and JW travelled so well, that Larry gave his blessing as an experienced JW owner that my JW was in good shape, but on the negative side, it would have been good if Larry and/or I could have flown the JW. I am pleased that I got to meet Larry in the flesh, and consider him a good friend even after meeting him only the one time.