<VV> Corvairs and Pilots

[J R Read_HML]

Hi Bill...  Yes, one and the same.  I still "owe" the final installment on 
the route 66 adventure.  Just been kind of crazy lately trying to get ready 
for Iowa.  Won't make Portland.

A "few" Corvairs - sometimes I list them at the bottom of my posts.  One 
will be for sale in the near future.

Dad was kind of a frustrated machinist in his time off work.  Seems like we 
were always rebuilding SOMETHING..  A Model A, A Vespa scooter, A '36 Ford 
(I spent hours on the milling machine making a windshield frame for that 
one), A don't know the vintage (late 30s - early 40s?) - Ryan PT22 trainer 
(it took a long hot summer to do the fabric wings).  This was an open (2) 
cockpit job with a radial (Kinner) engine - 5 cylinders, - 4 exhausted 
through a combined stack and one was on its own short stack.  Made a very 
discernable sound if your ear was attuned to it.  My very first student 
hours were in that plane.  There was no working communication device on 
board, so you would have to throttle down and holler if you wanted to say 
something to the other pilot.  It was a low wing tail dragger and you had to 
zig zag down the taxi way in order to see ahead - the engine was blocking 
the view straight ahead.  It was kind of like flying a kite from inside of 
it, so no real problem to throttle down for a conversation.

He was probably gone from AA before your son got there.

I had applied (in '65) to Navy AND AirForce.  Wanted to learn "heavys" so I 
could come out and get a job with an air line.  Fighter jets would have been 
OK, too - just for the thrill.   I missed on the eye exam by one lens on one 
eye.  Had guessed wrong because I could not see a difference on two of those 
lenses.  They said 1/4 diopter (the smallest measurable amount) of 
nearsightedness - left eye.  Anyway, had been putting off marriage because 
cadets had to be single.  Went ahead with the wedding and got a call while 
on honeymoon that I now qualify.  Well, "I'm married, now" - "That's OK, 
too".  They were looking for heli pilots for Nam and I (and my brand new 
bride) were NOT interested in that sort of duty.  I lost a couple (college 
fraternity buddies - ROTC types) over there.  One day, 8 helicopters were 
shot down the same day!

Oh...  I'm near Chicago.

Attachments (if any) are scanned with anti-virus software.

Later, JR
'61 Rampside Standard 4/110
'65 Monza Convertible 4/140 (temporarily X 2)
'66 beater Coupe - icemobile 4/140 (1/2 ownership)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <billpat at telusplanet.net>
To: "J R Read_HML" <hmlinc at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2005 5:16 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Corvairs and Pilots


> Hi JR,
> I'm assuming you're the same JR who made the epic cross country trip in 
> the
> vair recently posted on VV.  Great stuff. My trip in May was far less 
> exciting.
> Took a 66 Monza with PG from Victoria, BC to my home here in Rocky 
> Mountain
> House, Alberta.  Over the hills with no trouble at all.  Am most 
> interested in
> what you shared about your family and flying. Especially your Dad and his
> extensive background with military and commercial flying. Touched me since 
> my
> own son flew Navy fighters for 13 years active and now in the Reserves for 
> the
> past 5 years (F-14 and F-18's) and is currently with AA flying the 737
> domestically. AA trained him in the 757/767, the 727, Super MD-80 and the 
> 737
> so he has accumulated a few.  I got my license in 1974 with most of my 
> active
> flying in Cessna 185's in northern CAnada between 1979 and 1992.  Since 
> then
> not a whole lot.(have to pay for it now)  How about your Corvair interests 
> and
> do you have more than one.?  Seems like most of of do have two or more. 
> I've
> only been in this Corvair thing since last September so am still a 
> 'newbie'
> but learning fast. Will be in Portland for sure, maybe even with my 66 
> Coupe
> Get back if you wish. I'd like to hear more.
> Bill Kronen
> P.S.  Where are you, by the way?
>>